Purple

Nagato looked at Andrew from above, noting the irregularity of his constantly changing appearance. Each moment, his face would shift and become different, carrying delicate detail. This kind of power was indeed useful.

"Ahh...ahh..." Andrew's face regained its original traits, only that his complexion was considerably paler than before. Sweat beads formed on his forehead as he breathed with difficulty. "It's hard to change my appearance so many times in such a short period, but I can last for the whole day if it's only one appearance."

Andrew then glanced upwards in hope to have left some kind of impression on Nagato's emotionless cast. However, it did not even faze Nagato as he loomed over the youth with a rod in his hand.

Andrew felt like his life was now in Nagato's palms, and he was taking an extremely long time to decide what to do with it.

"Your powers are quite interesting, however, I still see no reason to release you." Nagato grasped his rod more tightly. "As soon as we reach the population, you will just change your appearance and run away. Right now, I only see you as a threat."

"Before I say anything, can I ask you one question?" Andrew cocked his head away from the rod near his neck, determination visible in his eyes. "You have rushed into this base in the middle of nowhere, spreading chaos and slaughtering soldiers. It's clear that you have some spites against Hydra. Do you seek to destroy it?"

Nagato regarded the youngster with an interest. He was confined in a cage, weakened by his current state, and his life basically depended on Nagato's decision, yet he still dared ask questions. Truly courageous... or perhaps desperate.

"I do not," Nagato replied in an emotionless tone as Andrew's spirits visibly worsened. "I actually seek something quite the opposite - I want to make it mine."

"Make it mine?" Andrew's eyes opened wide. He had seen many madmen throughout his stay in this place, but now Nagato seemed to be the biggest one of them all.

Initially, Andrew thought Nagato was seeking revenge against one of the Hydra higher-ups. Achieving such a goal would still be rather possible, but taking the whole Hydra over? How could someone even dream of doing such a thing?

Suddenly, the sound of steps echoed through the prison as Andrew escaped from his thoughts. A soldier barged through the door, carrying a heavy weapon in his hands.

"Someone stayed alive?" Nagato didn't even spare the glance at the enemy as he simply extended his hand towards him. The soldier was about to open fire when he felt a sharp pain intruding his stomach. Before long, he fell to the ground.

"How...?" Andrew didn't even muster a sentence before the soldier was already dead. They were all trained... yet they die so easily under the hand of this monster.

Silently, Andrew looked up at Nagato again. This was definitely not a joke - this person truly wanted to take over the entire Hydra. Yes, it seemed ridiculous, but Nagato's eyes were gleaming with resolution.

"Taking over the Hydra, huh?" Andrew smiled slightly, though hatred was still clearly visible in his azure eyes. "I don't care how are you going to do such a thing or what are you planning to do with such power later on... I only want one thing. If you promise to leave Daniel Whitehall, one of the leaders of Hydra, to me. I will join you and help you achieve the goals you seek. No matter how difficult or dangerous it is, I will still do it. Till the end of my days."

Nagato listened to the youth's request with no visible emotions. Revenge. Nagato also once sought such a thing, however, the pain didn't diminish even a bit afterward. It only became more real.

'I don't see the reason to decline such an offer.' Nagato thought, retracting his hand away from the youth. Daniel Whitehall was quite a public figure in-between the Hydra soldiers, known for his exceptional cruelty and brutality during his experiments. However, Nagato didn't have any use for him.

This whole proposal was notably advantageous to Nagato. To become the leader of Hydra, he would need to kill all the higher-ups first, and someone with such powers would be extremely beneficial to his plans.

'But can I believe in this youth?' Nagato thought, seeing sincerity, hope, and hatred mixing in one bud across his expression. No... Andrew wouldn't betray him. After all, he wouldn't gain anything from it. He had no friends, no clear memories, no path. Just contempt.

Nagato retracted his weapon away from the prisoner and nodded slightly, causing Andrew's expression to grow less tense. "You will control your enemies within your palm, like a true puppeteer," Nagato whispered loudly enough so that Andrew could understand what he was saying. "Thus, from now on your byname shall be Purple."

"Purple?" Andrew mumbled in confusion when suddenly he heard a loud bang. In an instant, the cell's poles were sliced open as Andrew stepped out. It was such a surreal feeling, for Andrew never thought he would regain his freedom.

"Hey! Wait for me." Andrew didn't even have enough time to enjoy this moment since Nagato walked away immediately. "By the way, how are we gonna get out of this place? As I remember, the only way the soldiers left was by asking the higher-ups to retrieve them."

"I have my ways." Nagato didn't stop moving even for a moment, walking towards the exit with prompt steps.

"And what about a plan?" Andrew asked, his head full of questions as he tried to keep up with the retreating figure. "The only thing you told me about Hydra is that you want to take it over. Do you have any idea on how to actually achieve such a thing? Or, at least, the location of their base?"

'I am already regretting my choice. Should have killed him.' Nagato thought for a moment before answering. "At first, we go to Washington."

"Tha-" Andrew's endless questions simply vanished when he looked at the hallway outside the prison. Endless bodies lay dispersed through the perimeter, painting the entire corridor in crimson.

At that moment, Andrew realized one thing.

Taking complete control over Hydra didn't seem so ridiculous anymore.

-

On the golden throne, which was shining with intense light through the darkness of the open space, sat a huge Titan. His eyes were focused on the eternal gloom surrounding him, yet his thoughts lingered away from the understanding of any mortal.

"Your highness," A servant knelt before the enormous Titan, feeling a sharp gaze on his back. "Our spies have just delivered the information. Ronan the Accuser died in the battle against an unusual mortal, who was also the one to steal the Power Stone."

"Ronan got defeated by a mortal?" Thanos asked with a visible frown.

The servant nodded. "The Xandar warriors tried to stop that mortal after the tough battle, but it turned out that he is also the possessor of the Space Stone."

The throne beneath Thanos suddenly cracked into multiple pieces as the servant fell on both of his knees. Thanos didn't revel in hearing bad news, and much less did the servants. The Titan's rage wasn't something anyone could deal with.

"Collect all the information about that mortal, try to find any traces of him, and put the highest bounty on his head. We have to find him, no matter what." Thanos settled on the crumbled throne, looking at the servant from above. "Do it now!"

"Yes!" The servant bowed slightly, however, didn't proceed with his orders immediately. "There was also some news from our soldiers, which I think would lighten your spirits, Your Highness."

"Your daughter, Gamora, has been captured."