Chp. 88 A man's romance...

[A Certain Cat's' POV]

'Hmm, when will this retched human provide me my sustenance? If she did not smell like that of my kin then I would have laid waste to her miserable life!' I thought as I sat on the counter at the kitchen while looking intensely at the servant of the man that had captured me and rendered my body to this feeble form.

'Must I wait and suffer more of this indignity?! Oh dinner is served.' I'll forgive her for now as I feast at this delectable food that comes from metal chest, that indicates that they must be precious treasures that needed storing within metal.

'Though I am enfeebled, the human still treats me kindly by giving me such kingly feasts.' I thought as I enjoy this savory meal that trumps all the beings I've eaten so far.

"Meow!"

'I gave finished my meal mortal, now clean my bowl then provide me comfort by stroking your hands on my lustrous pelt!' I ordered her as soon as my feast ended.

"Aw, you're quite adorable aren't you Smaug? Though I am not sure why Sir Paul named you as such but for a cat you are a delight." Said the woman but I only scoff at the notion that she dares compare me to feeble felines.

I may be one right now but deep inside I am a dragon of mighty strength and great wisdom.

"Oh, you seem shy. Here's a belly rub for the good kitty." Finally mortal, you are now doing your proper duty of caring for my needs!.

[Ying Li's POV]

I don't know why but this cat has quite a familiar feeling of majesty about it, it reminded her of her past somewhat and of home.

But seeing this was a pet brought in by the landlord then I'll make sure it stays fed and taken care of.

"Sigh…" I felt a bit overwhelmed.

I know there exist places in different dimensions but I never thought that there will be this many.

Three realities different from ours and they too didn't know, there is much to know about this savior of mine that I want to observe.

Even when I much prefer being at the side of my children but seems to me destiny wants me to be away. My treasures, be strong and wait for me.

[Yinsen's POV]

"Hmm… I see." I said as I read all the findings and research Sir Paul has recorded which fascinates me even when the subject is not even close to my field of studies.

I have learned a lot to be honest but being here makes me feel a bit out of place, it seems learning that there is more to the world I know of than I thought still does not change I am still alone.

But I feel kind of gratified knowing that my selfless acts has borne the world a hero, though still a long way to go there, Stark is showing the makings of one.

I chuckle in wonder as I myself seen how much of a stubborn man he is, but he has a good heart in him. And I feel that if I am to live this chance I was given then let it be as a witness to the growth of Tony Stark.

I just hope that my benefactor would give me the chance to help him once again if needs be.

"Tony, I really want to see the surprise in your face once we meet again." I smile in excitement as I looked at the ten meter tall mechanical beauty that is being constructed by robots by following the blueprints that I have made.

"A robot is truly a man's romance." I smiled again as I feel that maybe this life I can do proud of my family as they watch over me.

I remember explicitly when I had asked the benefactor as to why I was saved.

[The day after Yinsen woke up]

(3rd Person POV)

"Why am I still alive Sir Paul?" Yinsen asked as he looked at Paul who was drawing something in a holographic display.

"What do you mean?" Paul looked confused as he turned and raised his brow in question to the middle aged man.

"I know I have been instrumental to the birth of Tony Stark but I see no profit in it for you to save a broken man like me. I chose to die in that cave as I have nothing to live for anymore." Yinsen said sadly thinking about his deceased family.

"You really think that? What made you come to this conclusion?" Paul took a pause at the work he was doing as he looked seriously at Yinsen.

"I mean, I am a renowned scientist and I am a surgeon at that but I have seen everything that I can provide is not needed here. I have seen the hundreds of robots working nonstop, the Ai that is handling this large facility, medical equipment very much ahead of the time. So it still confuses me as to why must I still live and as to what is my purpose within this place that you have brought me?" Yinsen pointed this out making Paul become thoughtful.

"Hmm, there are two… no three reasons actually." Paul mused as he looked at Yinsen.

"First, is nothing more than a selfish desire of mine. I can see that you would mean a lot to Stark and I wanted to give him surprise once I open this place publicly…" Paul waved his hand and a hologram showed a image of the underground city which has many rendered details like people wandering about.

"But that is the least important as I want more of someone to be one of the caretakers of this place since I am quite lazy but still wanted to make this place a possibility. So two selfish reasons…" Paul looked at Yinsen that seemed downcast for a bit hearing his words.

"Lastly, it is because you have a good nature about you Yinsen. You have lost hope knowing you are alone and your family gone but you still helped an arrogant prodigal billionaire in his tight spot even when he had ignored you before last time you met…" Paul stood up and patted Yinsen in the back as he looked the man straight in the eye.

"You have patience, courage and wisdom rarely seen in men nowadays and I need someone with those qualities to help in my endeavor. I may have this godly amount of power that can humble many beings in this universe but I want a voice that could tell me wrongs I have done like you did to Tony in that cave. Besides, your family might be angry at you for throwing your life away like that." Paul smiled as he returned to his work table and continued his project.

"It seems surreal…" Yinsen whispered as he looked deeply at Paul who looked back again.

"For a man of knowledge such as you, it seems ironic that you believe in religion. Most scientist even myself used to deny such things unless we are in need or things do not go our way."Yinsen chuckled as he remembered the times he felt that religion might be a bunch of nonsense.

"Now don't be like that, Heaven is real though. So is Hell, there is literally a place in this universe where these Gods gather. Religion is not that bad, only those that spread the words of their gods are misguided as they try to change many things in the teaching to better fit their agendas." Paul shrugged his shoulders as he knew many details in mythology were false.

'But for the Olympians though, they were mostly accurate. Though I still want to know of Loki did get boned by a horse or not.' Paul thought.

"You jest…wait really? What else is real?" Yinsen asked as he felt that maybe some mumbles he did before he was a angsty teenager might have been heard by his God.

"Um… Santa is real. I visited him last week but he won't let me in his house." Paul pouted as he remembered his attempts to placate the still depressed Big Man in red.

"Ummm…." Yinsen was speechless but he did feel better that he was said to have importance being here and knowing that heaven is real means his family is there watching over him.

'Maybe they were the ones that guided my benefactor to help me.' Yinsen smiled at this thought as he felt lifted as he walked out the work room of Paul.

Other than him many of the people Paul brought were still unsure of what they were needed for within his vast home but they were given answers that made them realized that maybe Paul did things and brought them here for a reason.

For the dwarves Paul said that even with all this technology, it still cannot replicate the senses of the dwarves in forging artifacts as they got better in time from the art of Rune Forging Paul created for them to master.

Tauriel and the Elves were also essential as Paul said even if he simulates a environment, they were much better judges if the various animals and beast inside the biomes were comfortable in their habitat as they were much more sensitive to the emotional responses of various animals.

Rita and the others were also similar since they were much more knowledgeable in taking care of biomes where it compromises of aquatic animals, it was mostly Rita while the rest were her body guards.

The Assassins on the other hand did not ask much since they quite liked their newfound freedom, Paul did not restrict then much at all and even let them use some shuttles to travel around the world.

Davis as well as Russell did not mind much as well since they did not have much to miss in their past world while Doctor Caldwell was immersed in her research in finding a cure for cancer.

Davis also spent time visiting George who is now the herd leader of the Kongs while also becoming the guardian beasts of the Ape Village within the Orb World.

Paul made a gateway there as he rooted the artifact within the Man-cave. The scroll world and the Ring world were still with him but they were mostly now repurposed for personal reasons as well as becoming a large garden of various precious herbs and resources.

Soon his place will be ready to receive the world once his plans are put in place. HYDRA is slowly being eaten from the inside while also carve out from the outside by SHIELD.

The attempts of the Externals were thwarted left and right as they try to find clues on how to go near Paul and kill him. But since they were put to light in the eyes of the X-men, they have been having a hard time.

Since they were described by Paul as the masterminds in the dark in many turns in History making Erik feel that they have a lot of involvement in the Nazis, which many evidences Paul gave them pointed out to be true.

So the angry metal bender along with some angry mutants were also headhunting these Externals. Since some of their involvement also includes the experimentation of various metahumans.

Though Logan was on another kind of headhunt as he learned of the fact his son was raised by another Semi External Mutant that trained him to kill his father.

Sabertooth being a danger seeker followed while Deadpool tagged along for fun as well since he said he did not want his 'Hughie' to keep on frowning much to the dismay of the brothers.

Daken was dragged along since he learned that his so called 'father' might not have meant to leave him be if he really knew he had existed.

Strained their relations maybe but they went on to hunt the man responsible for the misery of their family. Along with a little two foot tall murder ball and four sisters they also found recently.

Though there were many more of his 'Sisters' they were too young to follow them and were left to be taken care of in the professor's hands.

Though it did feel weird for Daken or Akihiro that his sister has a biological mother which technically means she could be also considered family at this point.

"My my, you really need to handle your family affairs James or else I might have to grow a few pairs of hands just to baby sit my little nieces." Deadpool said as he tried waving a barbie doll in front of X-23 or Laura as she was named by her mother only for the doll to be shredded in a few seconds later.

"Good job kiddo, that's what you should do to hoes going for you papa cause it seems he can't keep his on his own pants seeing the family tree is growing ever larger!" Wade clapped and patted Laura's head only to be stabbed in his arm with a pair of adamantium claws.

"How come you became an uncle all of a sudden? Last I checked I was the uncle of these little cubs." Victor looked back at the people in the van as he raised his brow as to what random things Wade was teaching the young ones.

"Excuse me, as I remembered Papa bear here has been inside me for a long time. My face is the result of him being inside me so technically we are related." Deadpool's words made Daken double take while Logan just sighed real hard as he felt a headache with this guy around.

"Why is he even here?" Daken asked grumpily.

"Why I am the glue of the group! But besides that, I heard a rumor you like being stabbed too. Wanna stab each other later? Wink wink!" Deadpool's eyebrows waved as he looked at Daken suggestively.

"Grr!!" Laura growled as she felt ignored so she popped out her claws and looked at the older men in the Van.

"She reminds me of you James, quite a fighter she is." Victor chuckled as he looked at Logan who was driving.

"Where are we going again? The Pink left hand? Sounds like someone who self-pleases alone in his mid-thirties." Deadpool said as he made some obscene gestures.

"Wade if you keep doing that in front of the child I swear I am going to chop you up and feed you to some stray dogs!" Logan frowned as he can see the confused face of Laura.

"Oh crap, my bad." Deadpool stopped his gestures while Daken opened his mouth talking.

"The Red Right Hand, it was founded by some old guy who has bad blood out for you. Though there is only about three members for now as they are still searching for more people with a vendetta upon you." Daken's words made Logan raise his brows but he did not talk as he listened while thinking of the people he might have wronged over the years.

Paul had made it possible for Logan to remember as he took out the adamantium bullet lodged in the skull of Logan. Which Hank was not able to take out due to the skull being virtually indestructible but Paul just teleported the bullet out enabling Logan to regenerate the parts of his brain and remember more of his past.

"Seems to me that this might be a trap Jimmy, You and I know that they might just be pawns for that man. Just like little junior here, I know those moves very well that I can still remember that annoying face that taught them." Viktor frowned since it has been a long time that person contacted him so he found time for join the brotherhood.

"Silas Burr, though I cannot understand how that man could have survived I sliced off his head." Logan growled as he felt some PTSD when he saw the fighting style of Daken when he attacked them.

"Oh Jimmy, how can you forget that there are people who can alter memories like our dear professor? Remulus has those as well, honestly I had thought he had gotten bored of you that he did not make a move for decades. Not even contacting me but as we can see, he has gotten a new hunting hound raised." Viktor said as he looked at Daken.

"Really comes full circle doesn't it? It seems this guy also was responsible for the Weapon-X program which was also what dragged in in turning me into a hairless ballsack!" Deadpool ranted as he remembered his disfigured face.

"What's a ballsack?" asked Laura.

"Romulus said you killed my mother to prevent me from being born, but you said otherwise. You said it was the Winter Soldier who had killed my mother." Daken asked as he still felt a bit betrayed.

With Logan's memories back he was able to explain what happened back then at Japan.

"HYDRA, the Winter Soldiers are but pawns in their game. Like Charles said, it was HYDRA that mainly funded Weapon-X and since then they wanted me to be the source of their experiments so I hid but it seems I did not hide enough." Logan growled as he drove while almost popping out his claws.

"Yeah, Francis was HYDRA too so they really got a lot of your DNA to be able to experiment on me and many others." Wade said as he rummaged on his backpack.

"Hey Kiddo lookie here, wanna play pokemon?" Wade said as he showed his Gameboy to Laura who became genuinely curious.

So the two children played while the rest of the journey the others were brooding.

In other parts of the World the Serpent Squad of Ophelia were having a standoff with the enhanced group HYDRA hurriedly made to face them. They were made of a few people with a group named the grapplers, an all-female group which were given powers by some subsidiary groups of HYDRA.

Then there were other enhanced, a half-man half-armadillo guy, a guy who can turn his skin into metal and other materials and four Winter Soldiers.

But Ophelia was not deterred as she knew these people would be brought out to fight them.

So she let them delay their group as Paul had pointed out in the plans he gave her that it will not affect the overall outcome.

In the files he even left a note saying 'Let this be a chance for the Serpent Squad to learn teamwork and gain experience.'

So far none of the plans ever failed making Ophelia marvel at the thorough details placed on them by her benefactor.

She longed to meet this person that freed her from her chains and wanted to thank him in person.

But there was also another reason Paul had them fight is that to capture these people and have them sent to Fury who will then take them to where her benefactor is.

Which is also a chance for her to meet Paul, so she was focused and fought with finesse and led the Serpent Squad to slowly wear out the other group, key to this was Black Racer who supported the others when they are in a pinch.

Having a speedster really eases things a bit for the group.

All over the world various plans and assistance of Paul made it possible for many to wear HYDRA out that some other groups also started to take notice of the weakening of the old terrorist organization.

[China]

"Jiaying! Jiaying! My beloved, have you heard? HYDRA is being put in a corner and it is giving us an opening! I found him Jiaying, I found Whitehall and we will finally have revenge!" a middle aged man ran excitedly as he looked at the woman who walked out of the shadows, they were in an abandoned warehouse in Hunan.

He can see the surprise within her eyes as well as the Fury within them, behind her was another person but this man has no eyes at all but it seemed he can see just fine as his head was looking directly at the excited middle aged man.

"So it is true, I have heard rumors recently around the world and it seems many hidden bases of HYDRA have been uprooted. Could this be a sign? Maybe we should help in bringing down this nightmare once and for all?" the blind man looked at the woman in front.

But before they could continue there was another person who made himself known from the shadows.

"We would really like that as well, hi there. Agent Coulson of SHIELD." Coulson smiled as he saw the sudden alertness of the people in the warehouse.

"Before any of you leave I would like to give you this." Coulson was calm as he walked forward and gave a file to the middle aged man.

"Who are you and how did you know of this place?!" Calvin Zabo, the middle aged man asked as he looked angry and ready to pounce if Coulson did anything else but while he was asking this the blind man zapped away and came back a few moments later.

"There is no one around us." The man said making the woman waise her brows as she stared at Coulson.

"What is this? This is just a picture of a girl." Calvin said as he frown as he opened the file in his hands.

"Her name is Skye, she is an intern in my group and quite a very good hacker at that. She was a child rescued by an operative of SHIELD from the hands of HYDRA, who were massacred by someone here in Hunnan Province. You may also know her as Daisy Johnson, your daughter." Coulson smiled as he saw the shocked faces of Calvin and Jiaying widen as they heard his words.

"SHIELD took out daughter from us! You did not rescue her!" Calvin burst in anger as he looked at Coulson but Jiaying raised her hand to stop him as there was something more important to ask of Coulson who was not fazed at the outburst of the man.

"Also she's been looking for you both you know, but before you do someone instructed me to tell you both to get your 'shit together' because she really hoped you have a pretty good reason for abandoning her. But don't worry she is a wonderful child and she is quite a handful." Coulson stood there with his signature smile looking at the confused trio.

"What do you want and how did you find us?" Jiaying looked serious at the moment as she looked at Coulson.

"How we found you is because of him, but we've been hiding your presence from HYDRA for quite a while since they have been looking for you." Coulson pointed out to the blind man making Jiaying and Calvin look at Gordon.

"You did not answer the other question." Jaiying said as she looked at Coulson straight in the eye.

"What SHIELD wants is cooperation in taking down HYDRA that Whitehall is in allegiance with and also to provide protection." Coulson said making Jiaying raise her brows.

"Protection? What do we need protection from?" Jiaying smirked as she looked at Coulson.

"There are a lot of things in the universe that are much more than the inhumans…" Coulson's words made the trio flinch since they never thought he would know about how they were called. "…such as the Kree, who were able to make you and your kind as well as many other things."

The other part made Jiaying frown as she never thought this SHIELD would already know of the Kree.

"And who would protect us? SHIELD, you are here asking for help so how can we ensure you are able to 'protect' us from the leering eyes? I am pretty sure you all just want us to be lab rats for your experiments!" Jiaying glared at Coulson who did not even react at her words.

"No, it SHIELD will not be the one giving protection. Someone with a bigger fist and stronger power will, if you accept his conditions and I am pretty sure experimentation is not one of them." Coulson said as he pulled out a phone from his pocket and gave it to Gordon who was still alert around Coulson.

"Someone?" Calvin picked up on this as he looked at Coulson.

"Yes, but for now we will not let you close Daisy Johnson for the moment since like he said you both and I quote 'need to get your shit together, especially you who has too much hate for humans.', use the phone to contact me if you would like to get your pound of flesh from Whitehall." Coulson turned around and waved his hand saying "Let's go."

This made the three confused for a bit until two women in dark combat gear walked out from the shadows near them making them realized Coulson was not alone at all in this place.

Then they can hear cars and various vehicles leaving making the other two look at Gordon who seemed confused.

"They said they knew it was you moving around, so maybe they already know how to evade your senses." Calvin said making the other two realize this while also giving the file to Jiaying making her look at the picture of the young Daisy Johnson.

"Daisy…" Jiaying muttered as her eyes seemed conflicted while also looking at the phone within Gordon's hand. She looked up and saw the hopeful eyes of Calvin as they both now had confirmation for their daughter, she almost has lost hope of finding her of all the years they were apart.

Her cold heart gaining a sliver of warmth once more as she thought again of her plans, since hearing from Coulson she could deduce there was someone out there that could even make SHIELD act like messengers and wanted to provide them with protection.

[Japan]

"Those snakes are getting their heads cut off much faster than they can grow them." In a room filled with an eerie atmosphere a few individuals were discussing the recent event around the world only privy to organizations like them.

"Should we pull in some resources to help them out? Our Interest are closely tied with HYDRA and eventually those mutants will find out about our ties with them. Besides our enemy the Wolverine is with these mutants who seemed to be tracking down a trail to an old friend of ours." A man's voice was heard as they discussed.

"This matter is for you all to solve, right now I am busy in trying to find some ways to ensure the Kingpin is not too emotionally attached to his new lover. For now New York cannot help as both the Kingpin and Rand enterprise is of importance for our group to continue." An old elderly voice sounded making the others nod in understanding.

"Well, it seems we can only send few help but the shinobis will be enough to ensure HYDRA stays afloat." A woman's voice sounded out in the room where the group continued on their discussion.

(A/N: I'm a mess, seems like I need to find a real job at this moment. Stress really does wonders on a human's psyche that even now I look at myself as a stranger and found the person I am now is vastly different on who I used to be.

I quit school, not because I was not smart or anything. It's just I am inherently lazy and first form of defense on myself is to lie. I lie compulsively that even now I lie to myself that I am okay, but I know I need help and lots of it because I am so lost right now.

Sad thing is I quit school for over a year and my mother didn't know, of all the unfilial things I did it was this. I lied, not trying to justify it but I know I am lazy, I know my mother would support me if I tried but that is just making me want to be coddled more.

I rarely open up even to my siblings and the only thing I can think of to prevent myself from being over self reliant was to lie and lie and lie for months. Now that the truth came out I do not know if I should be sad that my mother would not support me anymore because I am untrustworthy in her eyes...

...or that I should be relieved I am no longer a burden, but I am not sure. I'm going to be alone now and I am going to face reality harshly soon, I just hope my decision to force my mother to cut myself away was a choice I can stand by but that is to be seen later.

I could be considered as one of the incels, I am poor, has no achievements, likes to run away to fantasy worlds written to entertain me and a bad influence to my family. I am not smart to think of any other ways to try to find independence and stubborn to call for help even to my closest friends.

I'll be facing life alone and will take the burnt of the hardships that will come, I just hope I can still stay sane even after all the bad decisions I have made in this life. I'll write from time to time, I still run back to imagine things that I wanted in life but hopefully I am much sober then and not when I first wrote this fanfic of mine.

Now I am just using this place to rant, on and on about things I have done wrong. My previous rants were real but they happened much before my life, seems like only my past has some times worth remembering. My present not so much and my future quite bleak, I need help and I need it now.

It's just there are no more hands to reach out to grab in this dark room I built myself in, so here I am going to ship it away slowly until I see some semblance of the world I have left behind...)