[06] Doom

"My name is John Smith and today, we managed to clinch a rather unexpected interview with the Monarch of Latveria himself, Dr. Doom!" A man with a dashing smile and slicked golden hair introduced himself. Beside him was a live feed video of a being clad in silver armor and a green cape. The monarch sat on a throne, unfettered and gallant. On his face was an iron mask that served to hide his ruined face and who he truly was on a more personal level. He was Victor Von Doom! 

"You shall address me as just Doom." The Monarch of Latveria responded with a light grumble. 

John Smith chuckled awkwardly while his fingers fiddled with the papers in his hand. 

"Okay, okay. Now Doom..." John Smith stressed on his name. "Are the rumors surrounding your legendary trip to hell and managing to return unscathed... true? 

"You know not of the peril that you are bringing yourself, John, by speaking matters that should not be spouted carelessly." With his elbow on the throne arm, Doom slightly leaned forward and warned in a slow but threatening voice. 

If they were not separated by distance and circumstances, according to Latverian law, the ignoramus known as John Smith would have been executed with immediate effect!

"Calm down, Mister Doom. I was just curious and rumors like that always need credence." John declared, putting on a brave front even though his lower torso was tweaking and shaking beneath the reporter's desk.

"But the fatal thing about curiosity is that the cat always dies." Dr. Von Doom spoke with a tone of finality, his cold inhuman eyes piercing through the screen. Then, without giving a shit ton about his indirect verbal threat, Doom tapped on a button with his iron finger. 

The remote live feed was discontinued! 

"Hahaha... hahaha..." Joe let out a humorless burst of dry laughter. 

"That's so Doom-like. The bastard newscaster is a goner." Joe could already predict John Smith's fate for going above his payroll and 'messing' with someone as edgy as Doctor Doom. 

"Now I wonder which iteration of Doom is this? Probably Comic Doom." Joe puckered his lips while nodding to himself. The existence of someone like Doom didn't bring him any peace or joy; instead, it only fueled his hunger for superhuman powers. Even though he didn't particularly like or hate the Latverian Overlord, Joe still admired the sheer will the character harbored inside him. Just from the reporter's inquiry about some rumors, Joe wondered if Doom had really visited Mephisto. In a certain comic run, Doom had the balls to face the King of Hell himself without an ounce of fear. Heck, even the Ancient One didn't want to teach him magic so Doom did what he did best... he taught himself. 

"John Smith, John Smith...where have I heard that name from?" Joe nibbled on the last piece of the carrot as he absent-mindedly stared at the ceiling. 

It was then a light bulb shone in his brain and realization hit him. Joe palmed his head in self-degradation for failing to quickly recall something as unforgettable as Lord Shadow. 

"Yeah, it's the name Cid Kagenou adopted when he was going undercover during the Credit Crisis arc. As John Smith, his 7 shadows thought that he had betrayed them." Joe grinned as the small details appeared in his mind. 

After that, Joe began to switch through channels but still failed to find anything interesting except for an advertisement from Oscorp Industries.

"Alright, I didn't search for Norman Osborn. It seems he might be alive or dead, which feels like Schrödinger's Cat. I have a lot to uncover, it seems."

Grrrr! 

His stomach demanded justice once again when a mouth-watering aromatic scent assaulted his olfactory senses. 

Both Mary Jane and Gwen began moving out of the kitchen while carrying dishes to the dining table. Joe turned the TV off and went to help them. 

"Beef Stir-fry, Roasted Potatoes, and Veggies... you two certainly deserve praise for being my chefs today," Joe charmingly smiled at them as he set up the table. 

In a few minutes, the three sat around the table and began to... 

"Joe..." Gwen narrowed an eye at the sneaky finger trying to scoop a piece of meat. 

"That's some bad manners you got there." 

"Jeez, cut me some slack." Joe retreated his hand obediently. 

It was then that Mary Jane picked a massive piece of beef and deliberately ate it slowly, just so she could spite both Gwen and Joe at that moment. 

Feeling the hostile gazes of the two, Mary Jane arched her brows and innocently stared back. 

"What?" 

Gwen rolled her eyes. "MJ, we haven't even prayed." 

"Pfft..." Mary Jane immediately clamped a hand around her mouth to stifle a peal of laughter from escaping. 

Joe smiled relaxedly at the theatrics as he placed huge servings on his plate. 

The food was tasty and fulfilling and Joe found himself going for another round like the glutton he was. 

As the three enjoyed dinner, they talked about random stories and laughed, creating a calm and mind-relaxing atmosphere. It had been a hectic day and now was the time, to at least, eat some of their sorrows away. Food was that therapeutic! 

"I will do the dishes," Joe offered when they finished dinner. It was the least he could do after the two ladies cooked him a good meal

"Phew..." Both Mary Jane and Gwen sighed in relief. Their synchronized sighs were comical as hell. 

"What? You two..." Joe slowly nodded in understanding, the words he wanted to say failing to leave his mouth. 

"You dread doing dishes, right?" Joe wiggled his index finger at them, wearing a knowing smirk.

Gwen and Mary Jane looked at each other. 

"He didn't know. How do we tell him?" Mary Jane opened her palms out in a fake surprise. 

"We don't tell him. From this day, he will always know." Gwen shrugged. 

"You heard that right, Joe. The dishes are yours. Wash them well, okay?" Gwen passed by him but couldn't resist poking him in the chest, for emphasis. 

"Do you have any spare clothes? It's now that I am realizing that I didn't carry anything." Mary Jane asked Joe as she walked over. 

"Oh. Mom had a lot of clothes. You have my permission to wear anything that may fit you well," Joe replied without hesitation. 

"Oh thank God." Mary Jane exclaimed with relief in her voice. 

"Why you thanking her though? Well, I am showering first." Gwen said with a smirk before quickly entering the hallway. 

"What a B." Mary Jane muttered under her breath as she followed after Gwen. 

"Women. Now it's me and the dishes." Joe looked at the recently used plates and utensils menacingly glaring at him from the kitchen sink. 

"I can do this all day." There was no way he would fear a challenge like washing the dishes. 

After dealing with the dishes, it was already 10 p.m. Joe thought it was time for him to take a good cold shower before dozing off.

As Joe passed by the ladies' room, Gwen opened the door just in time to see him. 

"You took too long." 

"I am a slow dishwasher." Joe shrugged his shoulders helplessly as he studied Gwen's appearance. She was clad in a pair of snug-fitting pink pajamas with a cute bunny design that accentuated her figure perfectly. 

'Mom's clothes for the win.' Joe gave an internal thumbs-up to his late mother. She was a woman of culture after all. 

'Her blonde hair is still slightly wet. Did she forget to dry her hair? Not like it matters. Under the dim light, it makes her dangerously sexy.'

'Ugh, my teenage hormones are raging. How can I remain calm while perfectly knowing that two distractingly beautiful women are staying with me under the same roof.' In that split second, Joe had already fought far too many mental demons to care. In the mind realm, he was the Doom Slayer. 

He would be lying to himself and his ancestors if he proclaimed he wasn't affected by the present Gwen. 

"Okay, mister tortoise." Gwen beautifully smiled as she demurely looked at her bare feet. 

"Hey, I am not that slow," Joe lazily protested. 

"Suit yourself." 

There was an awkward silence that lasted a few seconds. 

"Good night, Joe." Gwen stared into his eyes. How can his eyes be so blue that they even subtly glow in the dark? Gwen wondrously thought. 

"Good night, Gwen," Joe smiled as he turned the doorknob of his room. 

"Okay." 

"Okay." 

Feeling that it was time to return inside, Gwen started closing the door. But then Joe called out to her, causing her to pause.

"Gwen..." 

"Yeah." 

"Mwah." 

What better way to end the night than by humorously blowing a cringeworthy kiss that would make Frieren proud? 

Gwen showed a vomiting expression before closing the door with a slight bang. 

Joe laughed in satisfaction as he also retreated to his lair. 

***

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