Secrets

Northern holding cells... Vibranium-augmented machines patrolled every corner of that place, making escape seem impossible for those trapped within. Deep beneath the surface, in a cell reinforced with the strongest Wakandan technology, sat Pepper Potts.

Her wrists were bound by magnetic restraints, glowing faintly with a red pulse. She had been trapped here for days now, her mind racing to find a way out, but Magneto was no fool. He had done his homework.

Outside the cell, the air shimmered with electromagnetic energy as the metal door slid open silently. Enter Magneto. His presence was imposing, his signature helmet gleaming under the cold fluorescent lights. He stepped in, his boots barely making a sound against the metallic floor. Behind him, two of his enhanced sentinels stood guard.

Pepper looked up, her eyes narrowed. She didn't flinch; years of standing by Tony Stark's side had taught her that fear only gave people like Magneto power. She straightened, though her body ached from the days of confinement.

Magneto regarded her with calm, calculating eyes, his voice low but rich with authority. "Mrs. Potts," he began, his tone almost polite, "I must commend you. I didn't expect you to put up such resistance when my men found you."

Pepper's jaw tightened, but she said nothing, her gaze never wavering from his.

Magneto smiled faintly, stepping closer until he stood just a few feet from her. "You've been through a lot, haven't you? The Thanos war, the fall of your husband, raising your daughter in secret… And yet, here you are. Still standing." His eyes gleamed with dark amusement. "But I'm afraid, Mrs. Potts, we are not here to reminisce."

Pepper exhaled sharply. "If you're going to kill me, Magneto, just do it. I'm tired of the theatrics."

Magneto chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Oh, I don't intend to kill you. Not unless you leave me no choice. You see, there are still secrets you hold, secrets that I find quite valuable."

Her heart skipped a beat. Pepper's expression remained impassive, but inside, her thoughts were racing. 'What does he know?'

Magneto circled her slowly, like a predator stalking prey. "You've been hiding something... Something about Stark. After all these years, you still guard his body, don't you?" He stopped in front of her, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "But the body we found in the grave wasn't Stark's, was it? It was a fake."

Pepper's eyes flickered, but she caught herself quickly. 'Damn it. How much does he know?' She couldn't afford to let him see her fear.

Magneto's smile widened. "You're good, I'll give you that. But I have my ways of finding out the truth. I know you replaced Stark's body after his death. Why? What are you hiding?"

Pepper's voice was cold. "Even if I did, why would I tell you? What do you want with him?"

Magneto raised a brow. "Oh, it's not what I want from him, Mrs. Potts. It's what I want from you."

Her stomach tightened. "You've already taken everything from me. What could you possibly want from me now?"

Magneto's face darkened slightly, the magnetic restraints around Pepper's wrists tightening subtly as he moved closer. "I want Tony Stark's real body," he said quietly. "And in exchange, I will ensure your freedom. More than that, I'll keep your secret... The secret of what you did during the Thanos war."

Pepper's breath caught in her throat, her composure finally cracking. "What… what are you talking about?"

Magneto's smile returned, cruel and knowing. "Don't play dumb with me, Pepper. I know everything. Your involvement with that final battle, the decisions you made while the world was distracted by Thanos. Decisions that you thought no one noticed. Perhaps even things your dear Tony didn't know. And I'm sure you wouldn't want anyone to know about it either."

Pepper's pulse quickened, and she forced herself to remain calm. 'Stay in control, Pepper. He's bluffing. He has to be.' She straightened, her voice sharp. "You're wasting your time. Even if I knew where Tony's body was, I wouldn't tell you."

Magneto sighed, as if disappointed. "That's unfortunate." He raised a hand, and suddenly the restraints around Pepper's wrists lifted her up violently, slamming her against the wall with a force that knocked the air from her lungs. Her vision blurred for a moment, but she gritted her teeth, fighting against the pain. When her eyes focused again, Magneto was right in front of her, his face inches from hers.

"I don't want to hurt you, Mrs. Potts," he said softly, his voice almost gentle. "But I will if you force my hand. You're a smart woman. You know I'm capable of far worse."

Pepper's breathing was ragged, her heart hammering in her chest. But even as the pain coursed through her body, she met his gaze defiantly. "You think I'm scared of you? I've faced worse than you. You want to threaten me? Go ahead. But I won't give you what you want."

For a moment, Magneto said nothing, his eyes studying her with an intensity that made her skin crawl. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he released her, and she crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath.

Magneto knelt beside her, his voice low. "It doesn't have to be this way. I would have used a telepath, but sadly, I don't have one in my team at the moment and truth serum also doesn't work on your Extremis evolved body. But I am sure you'll talk soon enough when I capture the remaining resistance and kill them painfully one by one in front of your eyes and trust me, they will scream and beg. Then I will ask that same question again and you will tell me the truth. The secret behind Tony Stark's body because you won't be able to see their sufferings..."

Pepper gritted her teeth. "They'll resist to the very last."

Magneto leaned in close. "We'll see." And with another flick of his hand, a sharp tendril of pain shot through her body.

To prevent her from using her Extremis power, Magneto used Wakandan technology to create a special batch of nanites that he injected into her veins which suppressed her ability.

Pepper whimpered as she felt the nanites burrowing deeper into her flesh. Tears stung her eyes, and her resolve began to falter.

'This can't be happening,' she thought. 'Not now.' But the truth was, the nightmare was only beginning.

Magneto released his hold, letting her take a breather. He slowly stood up and began to walk toward the door. He stopped in his tracks and turned back with a smile, "Is it because of the power of the Infinity Stones? That snap. He did something, didn't he? Or, perhaps, the vast power changed something in his body. Now, this makes me wonder, is Tony Stark really dead?"

Pepper maintained her cold expression but Magneto saw a flinch, which confirmed his hypothesis.

He let out a soft laugh.

"We shall talk more soon, Mrs Potts. For now, think. Not many get choices that I gave you."

Then, with one last glance at her, Magneto walked out of the room, closing the door with an echoing thud.

.

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[New York]

The streets of New York were no longer what they used to be. With Magneto's forces patrolling every corner, the city had become a shadow of its former self. Mutants controlled the skies and the ground, their eyes always searching for any sign of resistance, or rebellion. And for humans like Nick Fury, who remained on Magneto's most-wanted list, stepping outside without the right precautions was akin to a death wish.

But Fury wasn't one to shy away from danger. Wearing a face-changing mask—an ingenious piece of tech developed by Susan Storm—he walked down a dark alley, blending in with the other downtrodden citizens. Nightcrawler teleported him here. His new face belonged to a middle-aged man with graying hair and a tired expression, perfect for keeping him hidden among the masses.

Fury's destination: an old, rundown motel on the edge of the city, hidden from plain sight.

The neon sign flickered in and out, barely illuminating the entrance. Inside, the air was heavy with the smell of cheap cigarettes and alcohol. He pushed open the door, greeted by the dull hum of a vending machine in the corner.

Room 7. That was where she was hiding.

He approached the door cautiously, his senses sharp.

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