Solomon in Marvel

Leaving Lara Croft to process the whirlwind of supernatural revelations, Solomon politely escorted her back to her residence. Once he returned to the witches' apartment, he prepared to discuss relocating. However, Bayonetta wasted no time asserting control over the situation. With a graceful but forceful shove, she pushed Solomon onto the couch, swiftly straddling his waist before he could react.

She pressed her hand firmly against his chest, while her other hand traced the elegant curves of her body, slowly gliding upwards. When her fingers brushed her lips, she exhaled a soft, sensual sigh—her voice carrying an almost hypnotic allure. By now, Bayonetta had fully shed her battle attire, leaving Solomon defenseless in more ways than one. With Jeanne momentarily preoccupied changing clothes, Bayonetta seized the opportunity to interrogate her captive.

"You naughty boy," she murmured, swaying her hips teasingly. "What are you planning to do with poor Lara Croft? Are you hoping to charm her into becoming your gentle lover and then toss me aside like yesterday's jam?" She narrowed her eyes slyly. "She does have a rather nice figure. Don't tell me you've been tempted."

"It's not like that," Solomon stammered, his composure wavering under Bayonetta's gaze. He hesitated but eventually relented, offering the truth. "Lara Croft is tied to a god—Kukulkan!" he finally admitted, his breath catching as Bayonetta teased him further. "Her fate is connected to the Feathered Serpent. Before the Aztec pantheon's dragon can unleash a great flood, she has the power to expose its vulnerability."

"Oh? So you're preparing to slay a dragon?" Bayonetta arched a brow, her expression a mixture of intrigue and mischief. "Have you foreseen something again?" she asked, gently goading him to continue. Solomon flushed deeply, reluctant to share more.

Diana, passing through the room with her usual stoic demeanor, was unbothered by the scene. She had seen such interactions many times before. She knew her master was merely indulging in a moment of distraction and that once he was finished, his focus would inevitably return to more pressing matters. On her way out, she silently scooped up the Cheshire Cat, who had been lounging nearby, to prevent it from interfering.

Later, Bayonetta and Solomon sat together on the couch, wrapped in blankets and watching TV. Diana served them dinner, and Jeanne graciously gave the couple space. She would have stayed in her room longer if not for the fact that dinner time had arrived.

During their meal, Solomon finally broached the topic of moving house. He explained that their current living arrangements weren't sustainable. Between the Sisterhood's security measures and the witches' potent magical auras, the apartment was constantly attracting unwanted attention in a world largely devoid of ambient magic. Magical creatures, both benign and troublesome, were regularly drawn to the property.

The Scottish Aes Sidhe, for example, were relatively harmless but had a tendency to blind anyone they deemed unworthy of seeing them. A few of these mischievous faeries were currently helping clean the apartment in exchange for toxic mushroom juice, which Solomon provided as a form of payment. They, in turn, had filled his bookshelf with tiny gifts as tokens of gratitude.

However, not all magical beings were so cooperative. Kitchen fires caused by rogue fire elementals were a recurring nuisance, and Diana often had to drown one in the sink. Púca sprites occasionally invaded, prompting Diana to leave a small bucket of water by the door as a peace offering for them to bathe their young and hold celebrations.

(The Cheshire Cat, ever the socialite, was a frequent guest at these sprite gatherings.)

Despite these efforts, Solomon had to fortify the apartment with magical barriers to prevent further incidents. Yet even with these protections, New York itself posed its own dangers. The city seemed to attract a disproportionate number of villains, and Solomon saw no reason to continue living in such a chaotic environment.

His plan was to relocate somewhere more peaceful. He had a few options in mind. Lara's family owned several estates, two of which were managed by the National Trust. Solomon intended to discuss purchasing one of them with her.

Alternatively, he had heard about a stunning estate in Oxfordshire—Whitchurch-on-Thames—during a tea gathering with his classmates. The 125-acre property boasted breathtaking views of the Thames and even included a horse stable where Pegasus could roam freely. The asking price of £10 million was within Solomon's budget.

He also considered other options, such as Tillingham Manor in Buckinghamshire, priced at £18 million, and Danes Hall Estate with its beautiful gardens, available for £5 million.

Solomon had never been frugal when it came to quality of life. After all, beauty thrived in the presence of wealth. Now, it was time to tour these properties. Even Jeanne, who had initially been skeptical of the idea, was beginning to take an interest in the estates' scenery.

"I think we should get a place in Positano," Jeanne suggested, almost unconsciously including Solomon in her plans. "Staying in England all the time would be too depressing. I want to see the Sirens' Coast."

"That's fine with me," Solomon replied.

"Saint-Michel in France! And the Côte d'Azur in Monaco!" Bayonetta chimed in excitedly. The witches were now fully engrossed in planning a grand tour, leaving Solomon momentarily sidelined. They were already discussing extreme sports in Scandinavia and the northern lights, with plans to commandeer his Ducati for the journey.

"Let's settle the estate first, ladies," Solomon interjected. "We can travel while the renovations are underway."

Meanwhile, news of the attack on the U.S. Air Force base had begun circulating among certain circles. Located on the East Coast, the base's assault had rattled White House officials. It was classified as a terrorist act, distinct from previous alien invasions. What alarmed intelligence agencies most was that no one—neither the CIA, DIA, NSA, NRO, Air Force Intelligence, nor even the Counterterrorism and Financial Intelligence Office—had foreseen the attack.

The loss of the nuclear warhead was catastrophic. There was no telling whether the attackers intended to ransom it or detonate it in a major city. Paranoia ran high, with fears of espionage or even sabotage by hostile nations.

Though the White House sought S.H.I.E.L.D.'s help in the investigation, Nick Fury hesitated before ultimately declining. He typically defied government orders to pursue leads, but this incident was unrelated to his ongoing investigation into a mysterious organization. Yet, in doing so, Fury overlooked a critical piece of information.

That piece of intelligence had found its way to Gideon Malick, the former U.S. representative to the World Security Council.

Malick couldn't sleep. The missing nuke was the very one he had urged to be launched during the Battle of New York.

"The Avengers are coming for revenge… No, it's S.H.I.E.L.D.!" Malick panicked. "They've uncovered Alexander Pierce's HYDRA faction. They're going to take me down next!"

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