3rd POV:
''So Fisk is Kingpin? Who was that Daredevil guy anyway?,'' Peter asked. Once again they were in Bells man cave a few days after everyone gathered their stomach, minus Chat who didn't see the sight.
''Yup and no clue. Clearly some superhero guy, since he wants to stop Fisk. Anyway, focus. If we are dealing with the head of the mafia then things got far more complicated,'' Bell said.
''Why?,'' Chat asked.
''Because even if we put him in prison, he can just run the operation from there. It is already difficult to put him in prison, but even if we do manage it, it won't amount to much. And depending on how things play out, we may have a mafia war on our hands since some people might smell an opportunity. Still it is almost summer break, we will have time to do something,'' Bell replied.
There was only one viable solution. The reason the mafia could operate was two faced. One, money and thus bribery of officials. It has gotten a little better with Satanaelists getting more and more government positions, but the high class in pushing back HARD. Two, a lack of consequences. To these kind of people imprisonment was nothing, only a small vacation. Very few would change their ways, mostly because prisons operated on an income per head. It was in the CEO interest to shun them and prohibit them from allowing to find a legal job after having a crime on their record. Keeps the law breakers options limited and thus they will go back to prison eventually, generating profit.
Ah, good old America. Never change.
Thus one needed to speak a language that those mafiosos valued above all else.
Consequences. Life and death.
And of course changing the system, but that was for far later.
It was the same thing Bell did as Supreme Imperator. By bringing in the death penalty he brought the crimes way down. Rape? Death. Pedophilia? Death. Human trafficking? Death. Only very few crimes did not result in the death penalty. Like selling coke, stealing and a few other crimes as well. Of course even then, the question of malicious intent or manslaughter came up so there were still court proceedings. There was complexity involved.
He massively expanded the criminal investigation department. Generating jobs, keeping the money flowing and catching a lot of criminals as the police was better equipped to handle their task. Qualified immunity did not exist in his Empire in the first place so that part was no problemm and it forced people to be on their A-Game. Granted it did take almost 5 years to reach that point, but...
The point is, that they were all wasting their time. They needed to kill Kingpin, but he was working to guide them there. He was well aware that that would leave more people suffering, but friends and family came first. And in this world, lacking an ability to non hesitantly kill was deadly.
''Right. So how do we proceed from here?,'' Gwen asked.
''We build a case,'' Bell said,'' Compile so much evidence that no amount of money will get him out.''
As if.
''Well, where do we start?,'' Chat asked. Infiltrating was maybe not an option for her, but espionage was. She could help with that.
''We have a lot of other stuff to investigate. I made a list after going through his hidden servers again. We hit the places up and then we go from there,'' Bell said, giving them all a list of the same copy.
''Should we split up?,'' Peter asked, after looking at it a little.
Bell hummed.
''Probably not the smartest idea for the more dangerous places. The ones I highlighted in red. But otherwise sure. Chat, no offense but while you can help, you should always keep someone of us informed. This is dangerous and unlike us you can't tank bullets or evade them. Unless you want to refrain from doing that,'' Bell gave her the option. Chat shook her head. She would join Peter and do what he says. Her help might be limited, but she would do her best.
Peter clenched his jaw a little. He wasn't gonna lie, the idea of endangering Chat made him nervous, but he knew she was reasonable and had a good head on her shoulders. Still.
Bell wanted to roll his eyes. Geez. It wasn't like he wasn't going to keep an eye on them. Granted they didn't know that, but still.
''Well, I'll take ... a bar? Ok? It is not in red after all,'' Gwen told them.
''Turn the page on the back you will find a summarized suspicion related to the number of place,'' Bell told her. They all turned the page and read.
''Why not put the summary immediately under the place?,'' Chat asked confused.
''Look, I have my way of doing things. You are invited to hack and then compile the info yourself, if you have problems,'' Bell retorted.
Chat held up her hands defensively. Peter chuckled a little.
''In that case I will take the police department. With some luck Chat and I can also find something about Hardy. I'm still curious about that,'' Peter said, making Chat nod.
''In that case I will take the theater. Well we all have our targets, let us roll out,'' Bell said.
''Alright Optimus Prime,'' Gwen gave him a small shove and a smile.
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''You all done? You want our help?,'' Jean asked, after Bell and Gwen entered their HQ from the man cave, once Peter and Chat departed. Laura and Kitty nodded having sometimes later joined Jean after school was done. They all knew what the Spider club was doing.
''Sure, if you want. You just need to talk with Peter about already knowing he is Spider-Man,'' Bell told them. Jean hummed. Though Peter knew she was a telekinetic and a 'pyrokinetic' thanks to the news, as most people did, he didn't really talk with her about that or told her that he was Spider-Man.
Understandably. Though they may be friends, they all had their secrets. She was keeping the knowledge that she was a telepath a close secret herself. The world distrusted their kind, she found out.
''You just want to see us be awkward around each other,'' Jean accused jokingly. Bell gave a smug smile and shrugged unapologetically.
Kitty shook her head with fondness.
''Moving past that. I wonder how we will explain to the others where we will go, whenever we go to study at Kamar Taj?,'' Kitty said.
She was brought up to speed and they determined she should pick up sorcery as well. Normally they shouldn't be allowed to leave Kamar Taj until their studies were done, but special privileges were given to them. Kitty immediately knew what this meant. Jealousy.
Great.
Alas they could teleport from Tibet and back. The problem was that most of them still didn't know what excuse to give to their friends at the X-Mansion, minus Jean and Wanda as they just sometimes dropped by to read the scriptures in the Sanctum Sanctorum. Sure in a few weeks they would graduate, but it was clear that most of them would still remain at the X-Mansion.
Probably till next year and Bell buys his own home.
It wasn't like they could say the truth as Strange did not want that and Bell wanted him as an ally. It only made the lie they could tell harder to pick.
''I found a boyfriend and moved on from Zero. There. That is my excuse,'' Laura said while sipping her water. Besides, she left the mansion often enough. She could have encountered someone.
''Yes, well you are blunt and don't talk much. The others will be satisfied with that as they won't get out more from you. But, like, the rest of us. Beeeeeell, please, help us out,'' Kitty whined and threw herself through the table on Bells lap, while looking up at him and batting her eyelashes.
Bell looked at her unimpressed.
''Maybe if someone wouldn't force us to lie that much to our friends,life would be easier?,'' Wanda said as she came in with Rogue and heard part of the conversation.
''Have you told your brother about you reality warping or about Chthon?,'' Bell pointed out.
''... Fair enough,'' Wanda admitted in defeat. She loved her brother, but the powers they were dealing with would turn him into mince meat. She did not want to endanger him like that.
The others chuckled at their exchange.
''Well, Sugar won't help us out, that is clear. Anyway, what should we eat? Who is cooking?,'' Rogue remarked.
''Me and Laura. We are making puree with sausages,'' Wanda said while going to the kitchen. Laura following after her.
Bell sat there thinking a bit.
Hmm.
All road seemed to lead to the same castle.
There was no way to keep this a secret for eternity. They all had a social life and he wasn't an asshole enough to ask them to give that up. The truth about him having a harem would become public one day. The only other question was if the truth about his reality warping would also come out.
He doubted it.
He could just say he was a powerful telekinetic. It was not like they couldn't achieve most things scientifically, something he excelled at, but still he hoped that day would be far away.
Although he did tell his mother he had fire powers and technomancy as powers.
Hm.
Oh well, you win some, you lose some. That was a problem for future him.
They constantly complain they have to lie to their friends and he has to make some sacrifices as well. The consequences of his actions, of forming a harem.
Conflicting interests.
Jean and Gwen snapped their fingers in Bells face to get his attention.
''Rude,'' Bell pointed out as he began stroking Kittys back who was still sitting in his lap.
''Well, you have been spacing out. We wanted to know if you want to go shopping with us. Sure, we won't announce yet to the world we are together, but people do know we all are friends,'' Gwen asked.
She was trying to do what Bell told them a few minutes earlier to Peter, her and Chat. Try not to fixate on the Kingpin issue to much and live a little. They needed to unwind from what they will encounter. Or else their spirit will shatter.
''Sure, I can spoil you all by buying you all some things,'' Bell agreed.
''We have our own money,'' Jean said.
''I know. And you also forget that I'm a hundred billionaire several times over and that all that money is utterly worthless to me. Let me spoil you all a little. Besides, I won't come empty out of the situation. Eye candy, baby,'' Bell pumped his fist, making them all roll their eyes.
Well, more like he had 312 billion in his account. Not surprising. He was DOMINATING the entertainment industry and is the accumulation of years of work. It also cost him nothing to produce the works and he didn't spend anything except what his mother needed to pay off. Insurance, health care, that type of thing.
Probably better this way. Thanks to technomancy he could evade the government and all other people, but if people like them suddenly lived in mansions? That would raise at least some eyebrows.
After running out of movies and games from his old world, he produced some okayish products, since he had to come up with his own ideas, but after a few months he started producing even better works of art.
His most successful work is the video game 'Beyond the Abyss' and it was his own. His pride and baby. Small smooches.
Frankly he would have already been a trillionaire if he would have been more aggressive in accepting advertisement, but why would he do that?
Fuck corporations.
Although, having 500 billion as starting capital for his company sounded quiet nice, so maybe he should be a little more aggressive in that regard. At least for a while.
Funniest thing was that his mother still expected him to go to college. Bruh, as if he needed that. He had enough of school for two lifetimes.
...
He just knew that while the result would be worth it in the end,it would take ages till they picked and chose something.
''Our hero,'' Jean jokingly said. Bell,gave her an unimpressed look. She blew him a kiss in turn.
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The Bar with No Name.
Paradoxically, it was a bar with A name.
Ghost Spider looked a the entrance from the rooftop of a building. Apparently it was a bar where henchmen and hirelings of the underworld gathered.
With one web zip she pulled herself to a vent and entered it. Time to spy on them.
---
''So. How do you want to play that?,'' Chat asked Peter. As they sat on a bench a block away from one NYCPD building.
Peter knew how to work with computers and how to use their components for what purpose. Mostly using it to jury rig them to make something knew. He was the one that designed the interface in their masks after all.
And sure he knew some coding too, but it was Bell who was a beast at coding. Peter still marveled at A.R.A.C.H.N.I.Ds AI fitting in such a small data space and being able to perform that many things and so well at that. He was still a little queasy about it having access to the internet.
Hopefully, it will remain a rudimentary AI only and not gain consciousness.
''Well, I was thinking you will keep an ear out with your birds. Maybe, just maybe you will catch something? Meanwhile I send out our little robot friend to hack into their servers,'' Peter told her.
''But don't police departments keep most of their stuff analog since digital stuff can be accessed should someone hack them?,'' Chat asked.
''No. They keep evidence locked up and sometimes it is best to keep them as papers, but it would be foolish of them not to digitalize at least some of the stuff. Can you imagine the logistical nightmare of organizing everything if everything was on paper?,'' Peter explaind making Chat nod.
Course set they went about their tasks.
---
Nexus watched the theater that he picked from a nearby rooftop.
Hmm.
Smart.
Rich snobbish people are perceived as rich and snobbish by the public. Alas not everyone is as they portray themselves as. Some of them have a front.
They enter a high class fancy establishment and have an excuse to be in a building. And once inside they 'go' to the booth reserved for rich people, removing them from the peasants. A theater can't run by only accepting rich people after all.
But they actually go somewhere else in the building and then receive services. Carnal services of any kind.
Sometimes they participate, sometimes they watch.
Basically it was a human trafficking font, where all kinds of services were offered. Torture, rape. And if you were willing to pay the price you could even kill someone or permanently disfigure them.
Hm.
It seemed not everyone was part of the mafia that bought these services. Seriously, what was it with rich people and not being all that mentally alright up there in the head?
Was their yearning of filling that gaping hole in their life so huge, that neither money nor anything else could fill it? Was it a similar case to the Stanford Prison Experiment? Even his understanding of human nature failed him in that regard.
Granted not every rich person was like that, but that was beside the point. They were talking about these kind of rich people.
These ... 'people' were sick in the head. They would have already been dead in his old life under his regime. Many oligarchs changed their tune, when they noticed he was using that behavior of some of theirs to get rid of them. Granted, afterwards he mostly used their attempts at his life to get rid of a few of them.
Again. It was a delicate balance he had to maintain. Not one he needed to do in this life. If he rules, he will rule as he wanted to initially, but was constrained by the reality of his situation. No such restrictions would be on him this time.
Nexus was to lazy to enter the theater so he just used his powers to snoop around in that building.
He wasn't wrong when calling it a font. There were only a few hidden rooms. Clearly the humans were brought in from somewhere else. And only a few at a time. Right now there were three people in cages. One man, two women.
Hmm.
The question was now what to do?
He could bust up the operation, it will not bring an end to the entire human trafficking ring, but he would save at least one person. Or three in this case. Besides he was already there and involved in the situation.
The question was how to go about it.
Hm?
She would not seriously be that dumb to try and ambush him. Right?
Oh she was.
Nexus stretched his arm behind his back and grabbed the Black Cat by the throat.
''Oh my, I wasn't aware you were into that kind of play. What is the matter? Your girlfriend not willing to indulge your fantasies? I'm more then ready to,'' Black Cat purred. Nexus turned his head around.
He knew she was a flirt and a complicated woman, but geez. She immediately went there, huh?
''Black Cat. My friend told me about you. Care to explain why you attempted to ambush me?,'' Nexus asked. She was not registering as a threat, so maybe he could see were this lead to.
She was panicking inside. She knew Nexus could tank basically anything, but he lacked that spider sense some people speculated on the internet about. She was banking on him not noticing her and in the ambush her being able to steal anything from him. Either something valuable to her or something he valued and could trade for something she valued. Mainly the USB.
Time to play to her strengths.
''Oh sweetheart, you make it sound so scandalous. I was merely trying to surprise you. After all, aren't you and I basically friends?,'' Black Cat cooed. Despite Nexus grip not being that strong, she could not remove herself despite trying. Was he using his stickiness or telekinesis? Then again his neon orange cables were not out.
''Friends with benefits? You want something from me. Spit it out, I'm occupied,'' Nexus told her.
''Is it work, work, work with all of you spider people? You know, your friend was just the same. I could help you with your stress. Don't worry I won't be a tattle tale, sweetheart,'' Black Cat flirted as she let her hand glide from her throat across her breasts and just so happened to pull her zip ever so slightly exposing just a little bit more of her breasts.
''...I can tell you take good care of your body and put a lot of effort into it. It would be a shame if something... happened to it,'' Nexus told her airily. A threat, clearly.
''Oh my, I will have you know I'm on the pill, sweet heart,'' Black Cat retorted confidently, hiding her anxiety.
Nexus was the leader of the spider people. At least most people were quiet sure of that, despite only being able to speculate. She also knew, as a criminal, that Nexus sometimes beat up... certain kinds of people horribly. He had the capacity to follow up on that threat.
Nexus was momentarily silent, before beginning to chuckle, slowly descending into a full blow laughter.
She was shameless and god if that was not a subversion of expectations.
He let her go and put his hand into his pocket. He did after all, wear a jacket. While he did not have the USB on him, she didn't know that and he summoned the USB in his pocket. He threw it to Black Cat who caught it.
She gave him an inquisitive look.
''You want the USB, right? Take it, hopefully you will find your father,'' Nexus told her before shooing her away and returning to the theater. He still needed to decide how to solve that. Besides he was curios to see how things would play out, now that she had the USB back.
He could feel Black Cat press herself on his back, making sure to push her breast onto his back.
''Sweet heart, come on. Are you seriously just returning back to work?,'' Black Cat whined.
Nexus dropped his head. He was starting to understand why she dressed as a cat specifically. And not just to imitate her father.
''You have what you want. What more do you want?,'' Nexus asked.
''How can a girl not be thankful when her hero just gives her what she covets? If you won't accept my ... offers, then perhaps I can offer you a different kind of service,'' Black Cat purred, trying to see what he was spying on.
''What, you suddenly a hero?,'' Nexus joked. Black Cat hummed and then put her head next to Nexus.
''Well, you do bring out the best in me, sweet heart,'' She huskily whispered in his ear as she rubbed his shoulder.
Nexus rolled his eyes behind his helmet. He knew she was using that as a tactic to get what she want. Information. Either by keeping him talking or making him think they are friends. He doubted she was actually meant any of these things.
Hmm. Decisions. Decisions.
''That theater over there is a human trafficking font of the mafia. They bring in people and offer rich people services,'' Nexus revealed curious to see how she would react.
Black Cat was momentarily silent.
''Sweet heart, the mafia is no joking matter. You should leave this to other people,'' Black Cat cautioned.
Oh?
The mafia has her scared. Reasonably so, considering she has no other powers, except the one she trained herself in. Then again depending on the version of her, she either had a small amount of super soldier serum in her veins or could inflict bad luck. Just like a black cat is supposed to.
But he was not feeling anything special from her.
Perhaps she even made the mafia this larger then life entity in her head, since she didn't know what happened to her father. Girls do look up to their father as heroes, the same way boys look at up to their mother. Or so the superstition goes.
It would make sense for her to fear them.
It also said a lot about her character that she would caution him against going in. Definitely not the hero type, that goes out of her way to save people, but somewhat like him. Trying to save someone when she was already in the situation. Though he doubted she would try and do more then warn him.
''How kind of you to warn me. Warning received, now be on your way, kitten,'' Nexus told her dismissively.
''But sweet heart, I do owe you a debt for giving me the USB and ever heard of honor among thieves?,'' Black Cat asked him playfully.
''Uhuh. And the real reason?,'' Nexus inquired.
''No one likes human traffickers,'' Black Cat said after a while trailing an index across his neck sensually. Nexus did not react.
Oh? So she would go out of her way to save someone. He doubted it, she probably had her own reason. After a few milliseconds he reasoned that she was still trying to get a read on him. It wasn't like there was any genuine danger to her with him here. And she probably knew he didn't really need her help.
''Have you considered a career change?,'' Nexus joked.
''Don't get the false impression of me here, sweet heart,'' Black Cat purred as she let go of him and moved to lay on the edge of the rooftop propping her head up with her arms and kicking her legs in the air, giving him a sight of her firm butt.
''Ah silly me. I forgot. Cats do their own thing. Fine then. Do try to keep up with me, kitten,'' Nexus said before unceremoniously swinging away. Black Cat starred at him a little surprised at being so quickly abandoned.
She noted that it was hard for her to get him flustered or manipulate him as he did not react to her feminine charm at all. not even to push her away, suggesting him being flustered like his friend. She jumped after him to follow him.
...
She crawled after him on the support beam on the ceiling. The were over the stage, a little below them the machinery to raise down different stage equipment. She spied the human watching Romeo and Juliet down there. Nexus suddenly stopped, his black figure being hard to discern in the darkness.
With the way theaters were built and the fact that most people were silent one could hear them should they talk. And Nexus knew she did not possess super senses, so he couldn't talk ultra low.
Well, she better keep up with him. Time to go down and pay the basement a visit. Knowing the mafias usual MO, they probably have a secret door again somewhere.
...
They were crawling through the hallway. Black Cat clinging to his back as he stuck to the ceiling. There wasn't really anything for her to grab on and while there were no cameras here, there were people.
Nexus stopped as they saw a very richly dressed man come down the hallway, in front of him a guide. The people around them treating him respectfully and with deference. Nexus wanted to gag, he understood that they were running services here, but have some damn self respect not to even pretend with this crap. He picked up the pace to keep up with the two.
Eventually they reached the storage room for props. It was clean and huge and the guide clicked a button to open up an elevator after a secret door opened.
Nexus and Black Cat waited until the elevator closed and went down. It was a serious security breach not to have that secret door close immediately, even if the people in the hallway were most likely mafiosos and would stop anyone unauthorized form entering and going further.
Nexus dropped down and opened the elevator doors and revealed the elevator shaft. It went only down. Black Cat climbed on his back again as he jumped in and lowered them with his webs down until they landed softly on the elevator. Instead of opening the door, Nexus opened the vent and began climbing on the pipes. Wherever they were, there were lots of pipes here. Black Cats agility allowed her to easily follow him on the pipes. The crawled over another hallway until the stumbled on the dead end of the hallway with three doors.
Well, eventually they had to drop down. There were no vents or anything else that would permit them to stick to the ceiling. Nexus opened the first door and peeked in.
It was a room with expensive furniture, satin for fabric, with a bathroom and a camera tucked in the corner, should one wish to record the session.
The second one was a room between BDSM equipment or torture equipment. Another camera in the corner to record their session. The rich man was inside, but did not notice them.
The third room revealed a long corridor. Nexus immediately understood. It was one thing to take in the guests through the front door, but bringing in the 'merchandise' through the front was foolish. This was most likely the way to the back door. Black Cat climbed on his back and he began crawling on ceiling again.
Eventually they stumbled on another room. The room was big. It contained multiple cages but only three of them were filled.. Going by their expression, they were here for a while as they seemed to suffer from shell shock. The place was filled with mafiosos. They spied the guide talking with someone. The person nodded and then made his way over to a cage bringing out a young looking woman. Black Cat applied some pressure on his shoulder.
Clearly she wanted to know when they would attack.
He was never one that wasted time when it no one was around for him to give a performance to. Well, most of the time.
And no, he was not interested in giving Black Cat a performance. At least not this time.
He pulled his string and the neon orange cables appeared on his back going through Black Cat as he activated his brain drive. She was a little surprised as she only felt some small warmth, but otherwise was fine.
''I'm afraid this operation is now busted. If the gentlemen would please all form a line,'' Nexus requested as he dropped down. Black Cat letting go of his back and standing beside him.
The mafiosos pulled out their gun and pointed it at them. Strangely enough they did not shoot immediately. As for the back up call they made? It never went through thanks to his technomancy, with them being none the wiser.
The ring leader put a gun to the womans head. Ah, a hostage situation.
''Listen here pal, I don't know who you think you are, but you will follow our instructions or this woman will leak her brains though a hole,'' the man told him.
''What hostage?,'' Nexus asked as the leader let go of the woman and began robotically walking to the wall, the others and the guide followed him.
''Well? What are you waiting for? Go and find something to shackle them, I can't keep this up forever,'' Nexus told her. This way Black Cat would do at least something.
''Why not put them all in a cage?,'' Black Cat suggested vindictively.
''You know, I like the way you operate. Go on and let the other two out,'' Nexus said as he walked to the terminal. The mafiosos walked all into the same cage and Black Cat closed it behind them before going to open up the other cages. Seeing as she had no keys she instead decided to lockpick it. The three victims thanked them profusely, immediately when they realized that they were finally saved.
Nexus waved them off and slumped a little on the terminal after deactivating his brain drive, still keeping up the narrative that his telekinesis took a lot out of him and caused headaches.
''Boy, you have no idea who you are messing with. I will promise you, you will deeply regret interfering with our operations,'' the leader immediately threatened after regaining control of his body.
Ah, a bright one. A true intellectual, to talk like this after the sheer defeat he received.
Nexus ignored him, but thanked the woman that asked him if he was alright, assuring her that he would get her out after taking everything from the terminal. Black Cat came over and gave them some clothes as they wore only underwear. Nexus typed away at the terminal after inserting a USB to download everything.
''Are you talking about the Kingpin? Yes, yes, scary man, big man. I'm shaking in my boots,'' Nexus decided to make some conversation as he was staring to get bored. Black Cat immediately turned her head almost suffering whiplash. Come again?
''So you know, whose operation this belongs too and you still decided to bust it. Boy, he will rip you apart,'' the leader laughed, the others laughing as well. The spider people don't kill people and at best Nexus beats up someone very hard every now and then. They land in prison, they will get out shortly and then resume their operation. No biggie. Though the boss might be displeased at the time loss.
''I'm more terrified of the leader of Genosha then I am of some man with an overinflated ego. Kingpin. King,'' Nexus scoffed typing away. That was a lie off course. Magneto was powerful, but not beyond Omega, like Jean or Wanda.
Black Cat wanted to scratch his eyeballs out. Stop antagonizing them! She made herself small and tried to fade to the back, so when the henchmen reported to Fisk, they would hopefully forget her. She doubted he knew about her, but no reason to draw attention and risk it.
''Hahahaha, sure. You will learn to fear him. There is a reason he controls almost all the criminal underworld. Maybe he will make you watch as we have our turns with that girlfriend of yours and that will just the tip of the iceberg, when we begin torturing you,'' the leader vindictively taunted.
Nexus stopped typing.
''Oh? What is the matter? Did I touch a soft nerve, boy? Will you beat me up now,'' the leader chuckled. He went to prison a few times. And he saw some of the beating Nexus gave to certain types of people. It did not impress him, whatever he will dish out he will simply recover and move past.
The boy lacked conviction.
''I lack conviction?,'' Nexus calmly asked.
Huh?
''Huh?,'' Nexus repeated again.
The leaders smile dropped slowly of his face, the rest of the gang mirroring him. Did he have telepathy?
''It is interesting how you argued yourself into that position. Oh wow, you are the big bad murderer. Capable of doing anything and the hero does not kill, lacking conviction, thus you must be the superior one. At what point did I ever call myself hero? It is a title people bestowed it on me, due to my actions. The truth is, I am a man under that mask, capable of 'evil' just as any other,'' Nexus told him. The leader fell to his knees again, his henchmen stepping away from him with uncertainty.
How? He did not have his cables out, the leader thought to himself.
Nexus chuckled darkly.
''I love misleading the public. It is always good, to mislead people with information that plan on killing you. The truth is, I never had any restrictions on me,'' Nexus taunted him as the leaders back began bending backwards.
''This place will be your tomb,'' Nexus cast down his judgement.
The leaders back gave in and one could hear bones cracking. but he wasn't dead yet. Though his back was bent heavily, it was not broken yet and thus could feel everything below neck. His henchmen pressed themselves against the walls of the cage, as he gave a rasping whine, clearly having the air pushed out of his lungs as his ribs began breaking and poking out from his skin, but not piercing it. The leader whined pathetically as his legs and arms began twisting clockwise until they stopped else the would be ripped off.
For the next minute they all watched as the life from the leader left him. Wretching and twitching, spasming and jerking until finally stopping.
''As for the rest of you? You are just back ground characters,'' Nexus insulted them as they all turned into a ball of flesh, not a drop spilling out, their precious leader joined them, his blood too. For the next few seconds the sound of bones cracking could be heard as Nexus compressed them into a smaller ball, but not too small else a black hole would form. There was no evidence on the ground of any death.
''How fortuitous that we found you all alone, with no guard in sight,'' Nexus casually asked as he began typing again. He stopped and turned his head to the three victims.
''Right?,'' Nexus asked them, making them quickly nod their heads.
He began typing again.
He just saved them, if he wanted this kept a secret they would take it to their graves as thanks for saving them. Nexus knew that, after reading their minds on this topic, so he would let them go without messing their mind. But he still put a small spell on them. If they attempt to share this information in ANY way with the public they would suffer from a sudden memory loss about this night. He would let them go, no reason to punish them for him losing his cool like that.
As for the Black Cat suddenly looking horrified at him, she was a criminal and would not report anything to the police. And no one would believe her in the underworld, especially since that would reveal she turned against them. She would turn herself into a black sheep and pariah. He still cast a small spell on her.
Finally he took out the USB and found the back entrance. He called the police and watched as Black Cat run away not wanting to encounter them after saying a quick goodbye and thank you for giving her the USB.
Once the police came he explained the situation and gave over the victims to them. Then he departed. As for the ball of flesh that he flew up after he opened the back entrance into an underground tunnel? He teleported it into the sun, thus there was not a single evidence of what happened to the people.
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''What did you say?,'' Kingpin asked the person in front of him.
''I said that a part of the human trafficking font was busted. The one in the theater near Times Square. Nexus called the police on them,'' the henchman explained.
''And what of the workers there?,'' Kingpin calmly asked.
''There were none sir. The merchandise swore that they all left long before they came to rescue them,'' his underling reported.
''They?,'' inquired Kingpin calmly.
''Well, one was Nexus and the other one, the merchandise reported to be, was a woman with white hair and a cat like costume. Sir, should we recover the merchandise?,'' the background character asked.
''No. What of the client?,'' Kingpin asked. He had no need to explain himself to this person in any way. There would be too much media attention on them, to do anything to them for quiet a while.
''Arrested,'' he answered.
''Dismissed,'' Kingpin sent him off and after a quick bow of his head his henchman left quickly.
Kingpin turned around in his chair and observed the city skyline.
He did not care about the inbred client, but he could not risk even a dent in his empire. The sharks would smell blood.
Still, a woman with white hair and a cat like costume. And an entire operation font suddenly missing, with all the victims swearing they left and knew no more then that. His people did not just abandon their post. They knew the consequences of that.
There was a new Black Cat in town and either she killed them all. Or Nexus did.
His money was on the latter. It seems something tipped him finally over the edge and he did not stop after a mere beating.
He turned around and called his 'secretary' via phone.
''Sir?,'' The womans voice came through.
''Call every mercenary and establish contact between us. I wish to offer them a lucrative deal. The best ones as well,'' Kingpin added at the end.
''Of course sir,'' the phone affirmed and then Kingpin terminated the line.
He turned around overseeing the city sky line again.
Unlike that lawyer and Daredevil guy, Nexus was a FAR more powerful threat, in his opinion. He wondered if Nexus simply killed them all or if his henchmen provoked him. If they did, it was better that they were dead as he would have killed them himself for pushing Nexus over the edge.
He was a nuisance, but one he could have dealt with by redirecting somewhere else. Now they had a hero with conviction going around. He had to play this smart and carefully. One mistake and they were dead.
And if his friend followed in his footsteps...?
That is why he disliked masked vigilantes. Unlike the Avengers or the other vigilantes like that Scarlet Witch or that flaming bird girl that appeared during the modern revelation, they were beyond the jurisdiction of the law.
He could not use that avenue to make them into public enemies. And if he tried, the Satanaelists would probably pose a problem.
...
Nexus kicked his leg over the ledge of the Fisk Industries building as he laid down and starred at the night sky. The fact that all the emissions made the stars hard to see, pissed him off.
Still, he had what he wanted from Fisk. Then again he could have just spied on him from afar, but this way it was a little more dramatic. Fisk was nothing that he feared in any capacity. He would keep an eye on him, just in case.
But otherwise?
He will exploit the shit out of him.
Hmm...
After some contemplation he decided to send out some magic to Black Cat. He had no problem messing with her, but he he had no interest on having her life on his consciousness.
Technically speaking his actions were responsible for drawing attention to her. Granted, she also insisted on coming with him, even if she didn't do all that much, but still. He was also curious to see if she would find out what happened to her father and how she would react to that.
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''Oh, my. Please don't tell me Bell has done something bad,'' Melina asked after opening the door and seeing his entire harem in front of her home. Not that she knew they were his harem.
''No, like, no such thing happened. We wanted to hang out with him. Get together and engage in some activity,'' Kitty quickly tried calming her down. Laura nodded.
''And spend my hard earned money on stuff. Then again you are my girls and it is my duty to spoil you,'' Bell declared dramatically as he approached Melina from behind.
Not that he minded. Again, money was completely useless to him.
Melina gave him a quick soft back hand on his waist as he was still making these types of jokes. She feared the girls would seriously lose their patience with him. Or that he would drive Gwen away, if he kept up these jokes. Casting a quick glance at her, she appeared calm, but Melina feared she was just putting on a mask.
''Anyway, I shall be gone, mother. Rest assured I will treat all your future in daughters in law as a proper gentleman,'' Bell assured her before walking off. He did that so quickly she could not make any retort. The girls followed after him.
...
''How? How? I just don't get it. How is she still not aware of the fact you have a harem,'' Rogue puffed with frustration as they walked down the street.
''I distinctly remember once telling you that people only see what they want to see. You can't bring a person back from a position they argued themselves in,'' Bell shrugged.
''It is mean of you to lie to you mother like that,'' Jean admonished him gently.
''I have a sudden case of deja vu,'' Bell retorted, making Gwen give him a small slap on his biceps.
''So, what do you all want to do? Just go shopping or maybe something else as well?,'' Bell asked the girls.
''There is a massive festival in Berlin in Germany in a few days,'' Laura said suddenly.
'What is the occasion?,'' Wanda asked. Laura gave a shrug.
''No idea. I just remember hearing some of the students talk about it, lamenting that his cousin would get to enjoy it, since he lives in Germany,'' Laura explained.
''Well, I'm not opposed to that. But first definitely shopping,'' Rogue said after taking out her phone and looking up that festival. Alas, with the time difference, it made sense to go shopping first anyway.
''I would like that. Besides I would like to also buy a dress, since my graduation ball is in a few weeks,'' Jean hinted.
''Oh, yes. I forgot almost. Didn't you turn down a lot of guys, if I remember?,'' Gwen asked. She was one grade higher then them after all.
Some of the girls gasped as well.
''I completely forgot. I need a dress as well!,'' Rogue pointed out. Out of all the girls, that still went to school, only Gwen would remain one more year in school. The rest would graduate soon. Minus Wanda.
Most of the girls starred at Bell.
''Yes, yes, I will buy you a dress obviously,'' Bell acquiesced.
The girls further starred at him.
Bell sighed. Gwen may be the first in his harem, but he generally went out of his way to treat them all the same. Mostly. He would definitely go with Gwen to their graduation ceremony, thus nothing else was accepted when it came to going with all the others to their graduation ceremony.
''I will also find a way to dance with all of you during the ball and be there most of the time,'' Bell further acquiesced, making them all smile. Minus Gwen and Wanda.
It was fine he had puppet clones and could use glamours and stuff. Bell lamented the fact that he made the choice to split his mind and be at multiple places at once. It gave him his loves, but at the same time it was moments like these that it came to bite him in the ass. Not that he was gonna verbalize that complaint.
Jean smiled and hugged one of his arms, Kitty quickly grabbed the other. They gave the others a small tongue in retort.
''As romantic as this may seem, you are interfering with my walking too much,'' Bell deadpanned, being pulled a little back and forth.
''Shut up and weep then. We are not letting go,'' Jean told him teasingly. Bell sighed. He was doing that a lot today.
---
''So? What do you think?,'' asked Wanda as she came out of the changing room and presented herself to Bell.
''I see you are going with red even for your lingerie,'' Bell remarked, taking in the sight.
''Yes, yes. You are complaining about my love for red. Do admit that it looks good on me,'' Wanda teased.
It was fine for her to step out of the changing room. Not only were they using Bell as a notice me not charm, so that people just wouldn't pay attention to them, but the changing rooms were also a little far removed from the sight of most people. There was also the fact that not that many people were in the store.
''Well... you should wear some stockings with that,'' Bell told her.
Rogue peeked her head out of her changing room.
''You like stockings, Sugar?,'' Rogue asked.
Bell hummed affirmatively. The rustling of clothes stopped, before it picked up with some increased frequency. Wanda also stepped back into her changing room. Then they all opened their changing rooms and stepped out.
Bell drew in a deep breath to calm himself down.
''You all look good,'' Bell calmly said.
''Really? That is a bit of a lackluster response. How do you think we look from the back?,'' Gwen asked as they all turned around.
Bell blinked.
''Again, you look good,'' Bell repeated.
''...''
''Maybe he needs a closer look?,'' Laura suggested. She read the hentais, she knew that Bell was trying to play it cool, but his defenses would give, like with any harem protagonist.
The girls circled closer around Bell.
Kitty and Gwen gasped as Bell ever so slightly blushed at the sight. They grasped his face to look closer at him for a bit before letting go.
''What is the event that has you two so shaken?,'' Wanda asked.
''Bell, like, never blushes,'' Kitty explained. Gwen nodded. Jean flew her phone in from the changing room and took a photo promising to share it with the others.
''I see you are getting quiet comfortable around each other,'' Bell tried to change the subject. His body may not be reacting, but again there was more to eroticism then hormones. A state of mind was important as well.
''We knew what we signed up for when we agreed to be in a harem. Don't change the subject. We want a genuine assessment from you,'' Jean demanded, putting her green themed feet between his legs and starring him down.
''I want to let loose and ravish you all right here and right now,'' Bell suddenly said. The girls faces provided him with a blush.
''Alas, I stand by what I said. Only once we are all adults. Now, go back and change into your dress. You all still have some clothes to go through,'' Bell told them firmly. If nothing else the boredom of waiting for them would calm him down again.
...
Never mind. He was fucking drowning.
How where they even more hot now that they were wearing their dresses?
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Ororo put down a document in front of Xavier on his desk. He picked it up and read through it. He raised an eyebrow.
''You are resigning?,'' Xavier asked with surprise.
''At least for the next year. Though it may also be the next year as well,'' Ororo explained.
''While it saddens me to lose you as a colleague I will grant you, your request. Though as your friend I hope you realize that this is still your home and you are always welcome here. Though, if I may inquire, why are you resigning. Are you dissatisfied with anything? Maybe, we can resolve it,'' Xavier suggested.
Ororo shook her head.
''No! No. It has nothing to do with any of you and of course I still consider this my home, but I just want to follow up on something that has the people of my former home spooked,'' Ororo explained.
''Oh my, is it serious? Ororo, you know we are always ready to help, should yo want too. You need but just ask,'' Xavier quickly assured her.
''No. It is not a threat, if anything the person going around Kenya has been helping out the locals every now and then. But still, I want to be sure and besides, they reported him looking for something and searching everywhere. I'm not completely ready to dismiss the possibility that he wants to do evil once he has the object he covets. I will finish my year here, but once summer break starts I will seek him out,'' Ororo explained. The people of Kenya did worship her as a goddess after all and it was her home for most of her life. So she felt responsible to come to their rescue.
''Ororo, be careful, when interacting with that person. Call us at any time should you be in danger. With your permission I would also request to use Cerebro to check in on you once a week,'' Xavier politely asked. By now he understood what was accepted and what was not, by his friends.
Ororo hummed.
''Very well, try to only do it on the weekends however. And only after I don't respond to a short phone call. Fair?,'' Ororo offered a compromise.
Xavier nodded and signed the papers.