"In the aftermath of last week's shocking attack on the downtown Marriott research facility, officials have confirmed that the explosion was the result of a coordinated strike by a rogue mutant faction, believed to be protesting the center's ongoing work in reversing genetic deformities through synthetic gene therapy."
"Initial estimates suggested dozens, possibly hundreds, would be killed in the resulting plasma detonation," she continued, her voice swelling with emotion, "but what happened next... changed everything."
She paused, leaning forward slightly as the screen shifted to blurry cellphone footage of a blue and white blur streaking through the collapsing structure, caught in split-second frames of light and impact.
"A hero appeared. We don't know his name. We don't know where he came from. But sources from inside the investigation now confirm that this individual not only saved nearly every person inside that building, including staff, security, and even several of the attackers—but he also stopped the expanding energy wave before it could consume half the block. According to experts, the containment sequence he triggered rerouted the energy inward and collapsed the anomaly before it could destabilize further."
"We may never know who you are," she said, "but from the bottom of our hearts, thank you."
The screen faded to a still image of the Baxter Foundation's logo. Magneto reached forward and turned the volume down with a thought, the dial sliding silently beneath his power.
"Find out who he is," he said without turning.
Mystique stepped forward. "If he's one of us?"
Magneto's eyes didn't leave the screen.
"Bring him to me."
"And if he isn't?"
He didn't blink.
"Kill him."
_____________________________________
"In the aftermath of last week's shocking attack on the downtown Marriott research facility, officials have confirmed that the explosion was the result of a coordinated strike by a rogue mutant faction, believed to be protesting the center's ongoing work in reversing genetic deformities through synthetic gene therapy."
"Initial estimates suggested dozens, possibly hundreds, would be killed in the resulting plasma detonation," she continued, her voice swelling with emotion, "but what happened next... changed everything."
She paused, leaning forward slightly as the screen shifted to blurry cellphone footage of a blue and white blur streaking through the collapsing structure, caught in split-second frames of light and impact.
"A hero appeared. We don't know his name. We don't know where he came from. But sources from inside the investigation now confirm that this individual not only saved nearly every person inside that building, including staff, security, and even several of the attackers—but he also stopped the expanding energy wave before it could consume half the block. According to experts, the containment sequence he triggered rerouted the energy inward and collapsed the anomaly before it could destabilize further."
"We may never know who you are," she said, "but from the bottom of our hearts, thank you."
The screen cut to another headline.
"In other news, five individuals caught in the same cosmic radiation event that nearly destroyed the building have now been transferred into the care of the Baxter Foundation. Franklin Storm, along with his children Susan and Johnny Storm, and researchers Reed Richards and Ben Grimm, were all exposed to a high concentration of experimental energy during the implosion. While their conditions remain classified, all five have undergone what officials describe as 'extraordinary physiological changes' and will now work under strict supervision to assist with both recovery efforts and further containment research."
Mark exhaled slowly and reached for the remote, his thumb pressing the power button without hesitation. The screen went black.
From where she sat curled up on his lap, Natalie glanced up at him, her cheek resting against his chest. "Is something wrong?" she asked.
Mark shook his head, the motion gentle. "It's just tiring to watch. They've been playing it over and over."
She smirked and poked at his ribs lightly. "It was a big deal."
"Yeah yeah," Mark said, smiling now as he wrapped both arms around her and shifted, pulling her closer with a grin. "But there's something else I'd rather do instead."
Natalie giggled, her voice soft and warm against his neck as she laughed and let him draw her in. Mark leaned down and captured Natalie's lips in a deep kiss, his hands sliding up her back to pull her flush against him as their mouths moved together with building heat that made her heart race. She responded eagerly, parting her lips to let his tongue slip in and explore, tasting her sweetness while he nipped at her bottom lip just hard enough to draw a soft gasp from her. "Mmm," she moaned, shifting on his lap to straddle him fully, her thighs pressing against his hips as she ground down slowly, feeling his growing hardness through his pants and rubbing against it in circles that teased them both.
The kiss intensified as he nipped harder, making her arch into him, her fingers tangling in his hair to tug gently and draw a low groan from his throat that vibrated against her mouth. "You drive me crazy," he murmured against her lips, as one hand slipped under her shirt, fingers tracing her bare skin up to her bra before unhooking it with a quick flick that let her breasts spill free. Natalie arched further, "Ahh," moaning when his thumb brushed her nipple, circling it slowly until it hardened under his touch, sending sparks of pleasure straight to her core.
She yanked at his shirt impatiently, pulling it off to expose his toned chest, her nails raking lightly down his abs as she leaned in to kiss him again, hungrier now, her body rocking against his erection with more urgency. "I love how hard you get for me," she whispered, her breath hot against his ear as she reached down to palm him through his pants, feeling him twitch under her hand.
Mark groaned, his hips bucking up instinctively, before flipping them so she was beneath him on the couch, his weight pinning her in place as he peeled off her shirt and bra completely, his mouth latching onto one breast to suck firmly while his hand kneaded the other.
"You taste so good," he said, as he swirled his tongue around her nipple, "I want to feel you come for me." Natalie whimpered, "Mmm, yes," as his free hand dipped into her pants, fingers sliding over her panties to rub her clit through the damp fabric, feeling her wetness soak through and coat his fingertips. She bucked against his hand, grinding for more friction, "Ahh, Mark," moaning louder when he pushed the panties aside and slipped two fingers inside her, curling them to hit that perfect spot deep within while his thumb circled her clit.
He pumped slowly at first, building the pressure as she clenched around him, then faster, his fingers thrusting in and out with slick sounds that filled the room. "You're so wet for me already," he growled, kissing down her stomach while hooking his fingers deeper, making her hips lift off the couch. Natalie gripped his hair, pulling him lower, "Mmm, don't stop," moaning as he pulled off her pants and underwear in one smooth motion, spreading her legs wide to expose her completely.
Mark lowered his mouth to her pussy, tongue licking her folds in long, flat strokes before sucking on her clit. "Ahh, yes!" she moaned, her thighs trembling as he ate her out relentlessly, his fingers still thrusting deep to stretch her while his tongue flicked faster. She came hard after a few more strokes, clenching around his fingers with a cry of "Ahh!" her body shaking as waves of pleasure rolled through her, leaving her breathless and slick.
Mark pulled back, licking his lips with a satisfied grin as he shed his pants and boxers, freeing his thick cock that stood hard and wss leaking pre-cum. He positioned himself between her legs, rubbing the tip against her slick entrance to tease her, coating himself in her wetness. "You ready for me?" he asked.
"Yes, fuck me!" she begged, pulling him down for a messy kiss as he thrust inside her in one smooth motion, filling her completely and stretching her walls around his length. He groaned at the tight heat enveloping him, holding still for a moment to let her adjust before starting with deep strokes that built to a faster rhythm, his hips snapping against hers with each push. Natalie wrapped her legs around him, nails digging into his back, "Mmm, harder," moaning as he pounded into her, their bodies slapping together.
"You're so tight... fuck, you feel amazing," he said, slamming deeper as she met his thrusts, her pussy clenching around him with every slide. He flipped her over onto her hands and knees without pulling out, gripping her hips to thrust even harder from behind, one hand reaching around to rub her clit in quick circles. "Come for me again, I want to feel you squeeze my cock," he growled, angling his hips to hit her g-spot repeatedly.
"Ahh, yes! right there!" she moaned, pushing back to take him deeper as the pressure built, her second orgasm crashing over her and making her walls flutter around him. Mark followed soon after, thrusting a few more times before he thrust as deep as he could letting his cum erupt inside her, filling her completely and triggering another mini orgasm for her. They collapsed together on the couch, breathing heavy and tangled in each other, her head on his chest as he held her close, tracing lazy patterns on her back while they caught their breath.
...
Mark's breathing was quiet now, his arm draped loosely around Natalie's waist, his chest rising and falling slowly indictating he was in a deep sleep, something that he'd been doing a lot since the Marriott explosion. For a while, Natalie let herself stay there, curled against him, listening to the silence of the apartment and the beating of his heart. But after a few more minutes, she carefully untangled herself, moving carefully to keep from waking him.
She slid off the couch, her bare feet quiet on the floor, and crossed the room to the bathroom. Natalie stood in front of the mirror, her eyes scanning her own reflection, her hair was tousled, her make up was smeared, but she liked it... she liked the reason behind it. She turned away but paused as she looked at her phone. She picked it up. She had tried to ignore it, but she couldn't, her cover was in danger of being blown.
UNKNOWN:
"Meet me. Address attached."
Below the text was a pinpoint location in Hell's Kitchen.
A second message was below it, this time a video.
She tapped it, and the screen lit up with shaky footage from the Marriott explosion. Smoke filled the frame, debris raining down, people screaming. Then, from the corner, she saw herself flipping over a flipped SUV , rushing forward and scooping a crying child out from under falling rubble before vanishing into the smoke again.
Natalie stared at it in silence, her jaw tightening. Her hand twitched at her side, curling into a fist, and for a split second she drew it back, ready to drive it into the mirror. But she stopped herself just in time, breathing hard through her nose. While it wasn't damning evidence it would cast her in a suspicious light, and it would only take one crack before more started to appear.
She turned back to the phone and typed.
NATALIE:
"When."
The reply came instantly.
UNKNOWN:
"Now."
Her grip tightened around the phone. Whoever this was, they didn't just have footage, they had her name, her number, and knew enough to reach out.
Shit.
She couldn't go to Shield yet, if she told them then they would just er on the safe side and pull her out... but she didn't want to be pulled out. She didn't want to go. Not yet at least. She turned off the bathroom light and moved fast, quietly pulling open the drawer beneath the sink, reaching to the back and grabbing her emergency gear. Tight black jacket. Dark jeans. Boots that didn't make a sound. She clipped the sidearm to her belt, just in case, and covered it with her coat. She moved back into the living room and looked at Mark still sleeping peacefully on the couch.
She slipped out the door and into the night.
'Shit,' she thought again as she turned the corner onto the street. She'd seen the address before. Been there once or twice when Mark brought her around early on. She knew the owner quite well.
Luke's Bar.
Inside, the bar was mostly empty. The lights were dim. No music played. Just the clink of a glass being set down behind the counter. Luke stood alone at the bar, polishing a glass. He looked up, his eyes meeting hers with no surprise at all.
Natalie's stomach turned.
Luke leaned against the bar, his arms crossed over his broad chest as he fixed Natalie with an angry gaze. "Who are you really, and what do you want with Mark?" He finally spoke.
(AN: Awww shit Luke coming in to bat for his best friend. You know if I was a worse person or a doujin artist this would be the part where Luke blackmails her and has sex with her. Luckily for you guys the only sex scenes I'll ever write are ones involving the main character. Isn't it great I am such a nice person. Anyway hope you enjoyed it.)
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