Lying on the bed, Nolan dialed Tony Stark's number.
Tony's reaction upon hearing about the attack was pure disbelief. After all, Nolan hadn't told anyone about it, and his trip had been entirely spontaneous. How could anyone have known his whereabouts? Still, no matter how impossible it sounded, the attack had been real.
When Tony confirmed that Nolan wasn't injured, he finally let out a sigh of relief. They agreed to reschedule their meeting, though Tony couldn't hide his disappointment.
"What a shame," Tony said, half-jokingly. "Guess I'll have to wait a few more days to see that shocked look on your face."
Nolan chuckled and hung up before the billionaire could start bragging again.
Before he knew it, night had already fallen.
Dr. Green brought him dinner, which he ate quietly before leaning back on the bed again. The lingering effects of his poisoning still clouded his head a little, leaving him slightly dizzy, though not enough to be concerning.
After resting for a while, he stood up and said, "Dr. Green, thank you for your hospitality, but I should get going."
The woman smiled politely. "Are you sure, Mr. Lock? Have you fully recovered?"
Nolan nodded. "I'm fine. But after what happened today, I can't just pretend nothing happened. I need to find out who's behind it."
There was a flicker of disappointment in her eyes, though she quickly hid it behind a gentle smile. "I understand. Would you like me to drive you back?"
"That won't be necessary." Nolan smiled faintly.
Outside, his people from Lock Technologies had already secured the area, setting up vehicles and protective measures. Dr. Green didn't need to know that. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable or cause his subordinates to think he didn't trust her.
She fetched his coat and helped him put it on.
Just as he was about to leave, a breaking news alert came from the television.
"Breaking news! A major bank robbery has occurred on 17th Avenue. Police are on the scene, currently engaged in a standoff with the suspects."
Nolan frowned. Seventeenth Avenue was the only route back to his company. Normally, he could have taken 44th Avenue, but that road had been under construction for over a week.
In other words he was stuck.
Seeing his hesitation, Dr. Green's eyes lit up. "It seems you won't be able to leave tonight, Mr. Lock. Why don't you stay here for the evening?"
Nolan glanced at her. The disappointment in her gaze had vanished, replaced by something much warmer and unmistakably expectant.
He could easily guess what she was thinking.
"Well then," Nolan said with a grin, "I suppose I'll have to trouble you for one more night."
As she turned to fetch some blankets, Nolan discreetly activated Red Queen, his AI assistant. "Run a scan," he ordered silently. "Check the house for outgoing signals and monitor the bank robbery."
Even while unconscious earlier, Red Queen had remained active. Though the wristwatch she operated from was limited in power, it was more than capable of handling such basic surveillance.
Within seconds, Nolan confirmed there had been no external communications no messages sent, no visitors received.
He relaxed. Maybe this was just one of those strange coincidences life liked to throw at him.
And honestly, being "trapped" in the home of an attractive, elegant woman wasn't exactly the worst outcome.
Everyone knew Tony Stark was an expert in such situations; perhaps Nolan could pick up a few tricks from that playboy one day.
When Dr. Green returned carrying a tray of fruit, she sat beside him on the couch. The air between them grew warmer, charged.
Without thinking, Nolan's hand rested on her thigh.
He remembered once mocking Tony for being surrounded by "older women," claiming they lacked the youthful charm of someone like Sharon Carter. But now, staring at the graceful curves before him, Nolan realized just how wrong he'd been.
Youth has its fire, he mused, but maturity has its allure.
A soft red glow from the lamp filled the room, and everything that followed seemed natural, inevitable.
By the time Nolan collapsed back onto the bed, even his enhanced stamina felt spent.
Tomorrow's problems could wait until morning.
As he drifted off, one last thought crossed his mind between a lady and a girl, which is better?
A good question indeed.
It was a long, intoxicating night and one Nolan thoroughly enjoyed.
By the next day, when Nolan finally returned to his company, it was already lunchtime.
Frank had been waiting, having received reports about the attack on the Brooklyn Bridge. He and his team had scoured the area but found nothing.
Whoever orchestrated the ambush knew what they were doing. The river beneath the bridge had washed away all trace evidence.
Nolan wasn't surprised. He had never relied solely on Frank's team.
During the battle, he'd managed to tag the Winter Soldier with a micro-tracker. The device was disguised as a speck of dust undetectable by any standard scan unless activated remotely.
After resting briefly, Nolan decided it was time to visit Captain America Steve Rogers.
Rogers was currently staying at the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters in Washington, in the Tri-Wing Building. The journey wasn't short, but for someone of Nolan's resources, distance was hardly an obstacle.
He arrived that afternoon and chose a quiet café nearby to wait.
Not long after, Steve entered.
"Dr. Lock," he greeted cautiously. "You wanted to see me?"
They had only met once before; calling them acquaintances was generous.
Nolan smiled faintly and slid a photo across the table. "Take a look."
Steve picked it up, his expression calm at first then turning grim.
Even from behind, he recognized the man instantly.
It was Bucky Barnes.
"Where did you get this?" Steve demanded, standing up so fast his chair scraped the floor.
"Calm down, Captain," Nolan said smoothly. "Judging by your reaction, you do know him."
Steve's jaw tightened. "He… looks like an old friend. But that's impossible. Bucky died years ago."
"Apparently not." Nolan's voice was cool and measured. "He's very much alive. And yesterday, he tried to kill me."
"What?"
"He's strong enhanced, just like you. Cybernetic arm, advanced combat training… and something else. He fights like a machine, devoid of hesitation or emotion. A perfect weapon."
"That's not possible!" Steve slammed a fist onto the table.
"It's the truth," Nolan said calmly. "I've been targeted before by people who call themselves Hydra. They wanted my technology. I turned them down. I suspect your friend may have fallen under their control."
Steve slowly sat down again, face tight with conflict.
"If you want to investigate," Nolan continued, "do it quietly. Hydra's been around a long time. Their influence runs deep perhaps even inside S.H.I.E.L.D. itself."
He didn't elaborate further. The less said, the better. Steve was smart enough to read between the lines.
The Captain nodded grimly. Then, after a pause, he asked, "Dr. Lock, how's my armor coming along?"
Nolan chuckled. "Almost done. You'll have it within a week, I promise."
With that, their meeting ended. Nolan left the café with a satisfied smile.
Steve Rogers's righteous anger might not shake the world but it would shake Hydra.
Sometimes, you didn't need to fight your enemies directly. You just needed to aim the right person at them.
Back in his jet, Nolan pulled out a small vial. Inside was a single drop of crimson blood.
He studied it under the light, his expression unreadable.
This meeting hadn't just been about warning Captain America. He'd come for something far more valuable.
Later that night, he arrived in New York once again though instead of returning to his company, he headed straight for Stark Industries.
He wasn't sure what Tony was doing, but he was certain of one thing he was about to ruin it.
The doorbell rang.
Inside the mansion, Tony Stark was in the middle of some very… physical exercise with a companion.
"JARVIS," Tony grumbled, "tell whoever's outside that this is not visiting hours!"
Outside, Nolan's grin widened. "Perfect. Not visiting hours are my favorite hours."
He pressed the doorbell again. And again.
"JARVIS!" Tony snapped. "Disable the doorbell system! I don't want to hear another sound!"
As the system shut down, Nolan chuckled softly.
"Alright, Red Queen," he whispered. "Time to show me what you can do. Hack the door system."
And just like that, the midnight raid on Stark's villa began.
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