Marvelous Mutations

Natasha massaged her temple. A headache was forming.

'Am I overthinking this?'

It felt absurd. All this suspicion, for just a few hundred dollars? Surely not worth this level of scrutiny.

Besides, if Tony Stark really had been kidnapped, the operation would've required enormous resources and planning. Not something you'd do just to turn a quick profit on the stock market.

But still... the timing.

Luke had dumped all his savings into Hammer Industries stock, and then, less than two hours later, Stark was attacked.

Coincidence?

It was just too neat.

Natasha picked up the phone again. "Hill, tell the director, I want either Coulson or Barton to join me."

Hill sounded surprised. "You want a partner?"

Natasha was famous for working solo. She hated team-ups and would always reject them if she could.

"Something about this feels off," Natasha said slowly. "I think our target might be connected to Stark's disappearance."

There was a long pause. Then: "Understood. I'll inform the director."

…

Meanwhile, in a small grocery store on 58th Avenue, Manhattan...

Luke was completely unaware that he'd just pinged on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar again.

He sat at his computer, furiously refreshing news feeds.

If his phone's stock purchase was any indicator, the timeline matched up, Tony Stark should be getting kidnapped right about now.

Which meant...

Iron Man is about to be born.

Luke's heart was racing with excitement.

According to his system, getting involved with major plot events and interacting with key characters would earn him plot points. And he was just one point away from leveling up the system!

He'd already seen how powerful it could be.

First-order mutations were strong.

But second-order?

His dog had turned into a terrifying three-headed hellbeast capable of swatting around the Abomination like a chew toy.

'If I level up... how many second-order mutations could I unlock?'

Just thinking about it made Luke practically vibrate with anticipation.

As he leaned into the screen, grinning with gleeful intensity, someone crept up behind him.

Wanda.

She had just come home and found her big brother locked onto his screen, eyes wide, hand on the mouse, an uncharacteristically goofy expression on his face.

To her, it looked... wrong.

He wasn't gaming, there was no furious keyboard smashing. No insults being muttered under his breath. Just a weird, dreamy grin.

'What is he even watching...?'

Wanda narrowed her eyes. Then she struck.

"Brother!" she shouted, slapping him on the shoulder.

Luke jumped so high he nearly fell out of his chair.

Clutching his chest to calm his wildly beating heart, he turned around slowly and stared at her in disbelief. "Wanda! Are you trying to kill me?"

But she wasn't listening.

She had already peeked at his screen, and froze.

Her face twisted with a mix of horror and betrayal.

On the monitor: a large image of Tony Stark, shirt unbuttoned, sunglasses on, posing like a tech mogul.

Her voice cracked. "B-Brother... don't tell me... you actually like this type?"

Luke blinked.

"What?"

Wanda pointed at the screen, nearly hyperventilating. "You were staring at this picture with that face!"

Luke followed her finger, then groaned.

'Oh, fuck no!'

"Are you crying?" he asked in disbelief.

Her eyes welled with tears. "I just... I never thought... No wonder you don't pay attention to me! I always thought you were just cold, but it's this?!"

Luke nearly choked on air. "What are you even saying?! I don't like men!"

"Then explain this photo!" she cried, gesturing accusingly.

"I'm checking the news! I just bought stock in Hammer Industries, and Stark is their biggest rival! This is research!"

Wanda froze.

"...Stock?" she asked slowly.

'Uh-oh…'

Luke realized he'd said too much. He had planned to keep this quiet. This little money grubbing goblin had a sixth sense for sniffing out spare cash, and once she found out, there'd be no such thing as private money ever again.

Sure enough, her tears dried instantly. Her whole demeanor changed like a switch had flipped.

Her eyes lit up, literally. Two faint golden sparks shimmered in her irises.

"You're trading stocks?" she repeated, suddenly very, very interested.

Luke sighed. That was fast, way too fast…

He refreshed the page, and finally, there it was.

BREAKING NEWS: TONY STARK MISSING AFTER TERRORIST ATTACK IN AFGHANISTAN!

The headline hit the wire, and within seconds, market algorithms kicked in, starting a chain reaction.

Luke grinned widely.

'Bingo!'

...

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