Marvel: Dodging Bullets & Stealing Hearts

Here's the refined version of Chapter 3 with Max's personality, humor, and cunning approach shining through.

Chapter 3: Knock, Knock—Who's There?

The forest was eerily quiet as two figures moved through the undergrowth.

One was a tall, burly man with a soldier's posture—his steps were measured, precise, and controlled. The other was a striking woman with long black hair, wearing a tight T-shirt, jeans, and a pair of sturdy leather boots. She carried herself with a cool confidence, radiating an air of untouchable swagger.

"Are you sure this is the place?" the woman, Lorna, asked with mild skepticism.

John, the man beside her, gave her a firm nod. "Yeah, this is it. You should trust my ability more."

Lorna rolled her eyes. "Uh-huh, because you've never been wrong before?"

John sighed but didn't argue. His enhanced perception had never failed him before—sharp eyesight, acute hearing, and an uncanny ability to track targets. He was sure they were close.

But just as he was about to say something, a strange sensation crawled up his spine.

He tensed.

"Shhh." John raised a hand, signaling Lorna to stop. His eyes scanned their surroundings.

Lorna frowned. "What's wrong?" she whispered.

John shook his head slowly. "Not sure. I just—"

And then it hit him.

Danger.

A small, square door suddenly materialized in the air right in front of him.

Before he could react—

BAM!

A fist shot out of the door, connecting squarely with his jaw.

John's head snapped back as he staggered, his body reeling from the force of the punch. His vision blurred, and for a moment, his balance faltered—then he hit the ground.

Hard.

Lorna's eyes widened. "John?!"

Coins suddenly rose into the air around her, swirling with green energy, ready to strike.

But there was no one there.

She had seen the punch—just a floating fist appearing out of nowhere—then it was gone.

"What the hell…?"

Then—

"Hi!"

A voice came from directly behind her.

Lorna spun around instinctively, her hands glowing green. With a flick of her wrist, the coins around her shot toward the sound.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

The coins buried themselves deep into a tree trunk. But the target? Gone.

"Who's there?! Come out!" she snapped, summoning the coins back into the air.

John groaned as he pushed himself up from the ground, rubbing his jaw. He moved to stand back-to-back with Lorna, scanning the area.

"My name's John, but you can call me Thunderbird," he said quickly, keeping his eyes peeled. "She's Lorna—Polaris. We're not your enemies. We're here to help you!"

Lorna muttered under her breath, "Yeah, tell that to my bruised ego."

Just then, something shifted in their peripheral vision.

They both turned, their bodies tensing.

A door appeared in the middle of the clearing.

It stood there unnaturally, as if reality had casually decided, Yeah, this belongs here now.

Slowly, the door creaked open.

And from within, a man stepped out.

Tall, lean, and dangerous. His sharp eyes scanned them like a predator sizing up its prey.

Lorna narrowed her eyes. "Who the hell are you?"

John, meanwhile, was having a different reaction. His instincts were screaming at him.

This guy has killed before.

John had spent years around soldiers, mercenaries, and fighters. He knew what a killer looked like. The way this man moved—the casual confidence, the complete lack of tension—was something only a very experienced fighter had.

This is the guy I sensed earlier…

But something was off.

They were here for a red-haired Mutant.

Not this guy.

John and Lorna exchanged a brief glance.

Meanwhile, Max—completely unfazed—looked them both over.

"Thunderbird and Polaris, huh?" he muttered. "Didn't expect to meet you two so soon."

Then, without another word, he turned and started walking back toward the wooden cabin.

John and Lorna blinked.

"What the—?"

"He just sucker-punched you and left?" Lorna said incredulously.

"Not sure if I should be pissed or impressed…" John muttered, rubbing his jaw.

Lorna smirked. "Well, at least I didn't get punched."

John shot her a glare but ultimately ignored her teasing.

They didn't have time for this.

Whoever this guy was, he was powerful.

And if he was a Mutant, that meant he could be an ally.

Lorna flicked her hand, making her coins hover around her fingers. "Come on. Let's see what this guy's deal is."

John agreed, and the two of them followed Max toward the cabin.

As they approached, the wooden door suddenly swung open.

Sonia ran out, her face filled with panic—until she spotted Max standing there.

Relief washed over her. "I woke up and you weren't here! I thought—"

"You thought I ditched you?" Max smirked. "C'mon, give me some credit. I don't bail on my drinking buddies that easily."

Sonia let out a small laugh, shaking her head.

Then she spotted John and Lorna.

"Who are they?"

Max leaned against the doorframe lazily. "Thunderbird and Polaris. Mutant Underground types. They help folks like you."

John and Lorna stiffened slightly.

They hadn't said anything about the Mutant Underground yet.

"Wait, how do you—?" John started, but Max cut him off with a grin.

"Magic," he said simply.

Lorna folded her arms, unimpressed. "Right. Magic."

Sonia, meanwhile, lit up. "So… they're here to help me?"

Max nodded. "That's the idea."

"That's great! Max, should we go with them?"

John and Lorna both perked up at that.

Having Max on their side? That would be huge.

But Lorna still felt uneasy. Sonia seemed to trust Max completely. Way too much for someone she had only just met.

There was something off about him.

John, on the other hand, was still processing how easily Max had knocked him flat.

If this guy really joined them…

Things were about to get very, very interesting.