23 This Chick is definitely blind

Meanwhile

Viktor was drinking at the bar, secretly watching Emma and Coulson. If not for bad timing, he would've walked up and ravaged her right there and then! Her cold Queenly aura was extremely attractive…

Tony stopped next to him and ordered two martinis before turning to the side and saying "What a coincidence. We're standing next to each other again." Viktor turned and smiled "It is a coincidence, isn't it?"

Tony was about to speak again, when a woman walked over and said "Wow. Tony Stark!" Tony turned and said "Oh, Hey." she slapped the bar lightly and smiled "Fancy seeing you here."

Tony looked at her and was silent for a few moments before saying "Carrie." the woman said at the same time "Christine."

Viktor choked on his drink and coughed, patting his chest, as Tony glanced at him. Viktor wiped his mouth with a napkin, waving "Sorry, wrong pipe…" he looked around and added "I'll go."

Tony said "Well, hold on a second, pal." before turning to Christine and saying "I'm a bit busy right now." she shook her head and said "You have a lot of nerve showing up here tonight. Can I at least get a reaction from you?"

Tony said honestly "Panic. I would say panic is my reaction…" Christine was fierce and said "Cause I was referring to your company's involvement in this latest atrocity." Tony replied sarcastically "Yeah they just put my name on the invitation, what can I tell you? Anyway, I'm a bit busy, could we schedule this maybe later?"

Christine ignored him, "I actually almost bought it. Hook, line, and sinker!" Tony said quickly "I was out of town for a couple months, I don't know if you heard… I'm also talking to someone right now, in case you're blind…"

Christine took out pictures and said sharply "Is this what you call accountability?!" as she handed them over, adding "It's a town called Gulmira. Heard of it?" Tony looked at her and sighed before turning to the pictures and frowning as he went through them.

Viktor was right there, standing awkwardly, so he decided to look at them too.

Dead people, Stark Industries crates, terrorists, and missiles.

A very nice photo album!

Viktor wanted to take them.

Hey! These are movie items, they have a lot of value in Viktor's eyes…

Tony glanced at Viktor, who was staring at the pictures, before looking at Christine and asking "When were these taken?" Christine replied "Yesterday." Tony shook his head and said seriously "I didn't approve any shipment." Christine retorted "Well, your company did."

Tony retorted immediately, "Well, I'm not my company." before walking off with a frown.

Viktor rubbed his hands and Christine looked at him, extending her hand, "Christine." Viktor smiled and shook it gently, replying "Viktor Gardens, nice to meet you." Christine's eyes lit up and she asked "The Angel in Hell? From The Eddie Brock Report?"

Viktor smiled calmly, "Unless there's another Angel in Hell's Kitchen, it should be me." Christine asked "Mind if I have an interview? Your views on vigilantes caused quite a stir."

Viktor looked troubled and said "Well, please. Make it fast, my wife is still waiting for me." Christine smiled charmingly, "Not a problem." as she took out a recorder and started asking questions about Tony Stark's weapons in Gulmira and the like.

Viktor replied simply, telling her that as far as he was aware, Tony Stark didn't approve of these shipments and that he didn't know where they came from. Though he was very negative about the terrorists in the middle east.

Christine smiled in satisfaction after the interview, thanking him before walking off.

Viktor wiped his forehead and sighed "These reporters are fierce people, every one of them is like a shark smelling blood, my little heart can't take much more…"

He looked at the Bar and saw Tony's Martinis sitting there quietly.

He looked around and whistled, taking them as he walked back to Emma with a smile.

Emma was just about to use her powers when Viktor laid down the Martinis, smiling "Here you are! I was looking everywhere for you." Emma smiled at him and he curled his lips, she said "You're back. Next time we'll drink less, right?"

Viktor nodded and sighed "Yes, yes." Emma smiled and stood up, taking the Martini and walking away to the balcony where Pepper was.

Viktor sat down at the table and smiled at Coulson, saying "Hello." Coulson stretched out his hand and smiled "Phil Coulson, Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."

Viktor said "Quite the mouthful." Coulson smiled, "We're working on it." Viktor asked, "What do you want?" Coulson said seriously "I wanted to ask about your disappearance around 3 years ago during the time of tension with the United States and Russia. We have reason to believe that you were involved with Mutants during this time."

Viktor smiled calmly, asking "Do you think I'm a Mutant?" Coulson disagreed, saying "No. We just want to hear the specifics as Agent Moira from the CIA seems to have lost her memories of the entire incident. Do you know Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr?"

Viktor shook his head and replied "I do not. Since this Agent Moira lost her memories, why would you come ask me? Even if I was there wouldn't I have lost my memories as well?" Coulson looked at him silently before saying "That's just it. We think you didn't. We also have news that 'Magneto' Erik Lensherr was seen at your clinic around a year ago."

Viktor frowned and his voice turned cold as he asked, "What are you trying to say?" Coulson smiled "If you could provide assistance in finding Magneto we would be appreciative." Viktor stayed silent and Coulson continued "This man is very dangerous, Mr. Gardens. If left unchecked, it could be a national crisis."

Viktor asked indifferently, "So that's to say you're hunting down Mutants." Coulson shook his head and said "No. We don't have such intentions. We just want to find out the goals and intentions of these Mutants for the safety of the World. People with powers such as Mutants are a hidden danger to society."

Viktor retorted "Have you thought that most Mutants don't want to be found? Doing this will make them angry." Coulson replied seriously "We have no intention of harming them. Just keeping tabs." Viktor drank from his Martini and suddenly asked, "Agent Coulson, what are your views on Mutants?"

Coulson replied "A very powerful group of people that need to be under surveillance." Viktor suddenly said "You see, the problem is others will not stop at surveillance." Coulson retorted "That's not-" Viktor cut him off and said "I know. That's not what you want or will do, but think about it like this."

He sipped his drink and explained "You're a mutant and you want to live a normal life with your family, hiding from your parents and friends because when they find out what you can do, they look at you with disgust and fear. Suddenly, a government agent approaches you and says that he's here to keep tabs on you like a criminal, will you be comfortable?"

Coulson replied "No." Viktor nodded and swirled his glass, adding "Now let's say you know that Mutants are being used as lab rats for scientists in various countries, silently supported by the government and now an agent comes to you, what would you do?"

Coulson stayed silent this time and Viktor smiled "You would kill them silently, right? Of course, not that you're a bloodthirsty person, but for your own safety and survival, you must! Agent Coulson, I think it's best if you leave the Mutants alone."

Coulson said "I have my orders, Mr. Gardens." Viktor shook his head and said plainly "You want a Mutant to contact, contact Charles Xavier. Please don't contact me again. I'm just a normal Doctor, the excitement of powered humans and heroic acts… Frankly, my little life isn't strong enough."

He stood up and smiled, stretching out his hand as he said "It was a pleasure, Agent Coulson." Coulson stood up and shook his head, saying "Likewise, Doctor. Hopefully we meet again."

Viktor smiled mirthlessly and replied "Hopefully not." Coulson just smiled, not offended. Viktor nodded and left the table, waving at a waiter and saying "That balding man at the table over there. Get him a Double shot Cognac." as he slipped a 50$ bill in the waiver's pocket before patting his shoulder and walking away.

Coulson made a phone call and said "Sorry, Boss. I didn't get anything." a voice came through "What happened?" Coulson sighed "Both husband and wife are like steel safes, I couldn't even get a single crack. Only things we know were confirmed. Viktor Gardens was indeed with the Mutants 3 years ago but refuses to speak as to why. He told me to contact Charles Xavier and not bother him."

There was silence for a few moments before the voice said "Diamond Clinic, Hell's Kitchen… Don't worry about it for now, Coulson. What about Stark?" Coulson replied "He seemed to have been in a hurry, but gave me a meeting date." The voice replied "Good. Keep me informed if there are any changes."

Coulson nodded "Will do." before hanging up.

A waiter came over and handed him a glass, but Coulson waved him off, saying "No thanks." The waiter smiled slightly, saying "Compliments of the man in black, sir." Coulson paused and took the glass silently, sighing, "Thank you then."

The waiter nodded and walked away as Coulson stared at the glass, muttering "I don't even drink…"