Chapter 66: A Chat With Fury

(Victor: POV)

After finishing of Stane I followed Tony as he flew towards the Stark Industries central headquarters.

Though once we got close enough for it to be in actual visual range I stopped in the air.

When I did Tony turned to face me. "Why'd you stop?" He asked.

"Eh, I'm not really feeling up to joining the party down there." I spoke.

Since right now Stark Industries HQ is swarming with LAPD, FBI, and most importantly SHIELD.

The agents being led by on Phillip J. Coulson.

[Insert Image of Phillip J. Coulson Here]

Who I certainly want to meet. Since I liked Phil. Both in the films and in the television show Agents of SHIELD. Though not right now. Considering Coulson is one of Fury's most trusted agents, and one of the only people in the world the eye-patching wearing king of paranoia, that likely even puts Batmans' to shame, can call a friend.

So I know if I go down there right now Coulson will immediately call Fury and inform of my presence. Then I'm sure he'll drop whatever he is doing and arrive here faster than I can say "Motherfucker!". Considering the cat and mouse game I've been playing with SHIELD over the past few years ever since I became ruler of Latveria.

Which I certainly want to end.

But on my terms.

Tonight going a long way to making that a reality.

"Understood." Tony replied. "So I guess I'll be seeing you later."

"Yeah, you most definitely will Stark." I told him. "Afer you finish all your business here come to New York and we'll talk."

"Yeah, sure. Wait, what?" Tony spoke.

Then before he could say anything else I took off, smirking as I'm sure Tony is watching me fly at speeds he only thought his own armors, and those based off their designs, were currently capable of.

Well he's dead wrong.

Which is what I am showing him right now.

I just hope Tony gets the message.

Anyway.

After leaving him I made it back to the East Coast in just under two hours.

Of course I could've portaled back.

But I wanted to take the scenic route.

Which led to to learning that flying over North America at night is truly a beautiful sight for the eyes.

One which I happily soaked in.

Until I arrived back at the Latverian embassy.

Once I did I decided to watch some anime, Mobile Suit Gundam OO season one specifically, until the new day began.

After it did I went online and found exactly what I had suspected.

All the news and media websites, as well as the entire internet in general, talking about the events that took place in Los Angeles last night.

I even found some photos people took of Tony and I.

The internet having dubbed us Armor Bros.

Which I had no hand in, I swear.

But whoever did come up with that label I want to shake their hand.

Since thanks to the label the connection between Tony and I has strengthened even further.

Which is exactly one of many reasons I intervened in his battle against Obidiah last night.

Since now given my association with Iron Man and the Fantastic Four, as well as my known actions last night, it will bring the ordinary citizens to my side.

That being an integral part to completing Project: Sovereign.

For those who have the people on their side can accomplish many things, if they use their influence over said people correctly.

Which I absolutely intend to do.

As well as my friendships with the heroes of this world. Which I will continue to develop. Not only with the current ones, but those who will appear in the future.

Yes.

As Hannibal from the A-Team would say: I love it when a plan comes together.

Leaning back in my office chair I couldn't help but begin chuckling. I then decided to celebrate. So I conjured forth a bottle of scotch and a Cuban Cigar and partook in both like a James Bond villain would.

Which felt great.

Now I get why they do it all the time.

I continued reveling in my success until I got a notice of a special press conference that was going to be held by Tony.

The moment I saw this I tuned in, and because I did I saw one of the most iconic moments in the entire MCU. Where Tony revealed to the world he was Iron Man.

It was even better in real life than in the films.

After the revelations reporters began peppering him with questions. Some about Stane, some about himself, and even some referencing me.

Tony just took it all in stride.

That is until he decided to pass the baton to me.

"Listen, if you have questions about the guy in the other suit, then just ask him yourself. I mean he's not hard to find, considering he's the king of Latveria after all." Tony spoke. He then winked directly at the screen.

Me knowing that was meant for me.

Probably him getting me back for flying off on him last night.

Well jokes on him, since I've already prepared to deal with this shit.

Turning off the screen in my office I called Jessica into it.

"Yes, sir." She said. The moment she stepped inside.

"Yeah, looks like Stark just outed me to the entire world, even though I totally saved his ass last night." I spoke.

"I see." Jessica mused. "So that means we must enact the plans in regards to your identity going public."

"Correct as always Jessica." I replied to her. "I honestly don't know what I'd do without you."

"Sir, we both know you'd manage perfectly fine." Jessica retorted. A smile on her face.

"Sure, but then who would I have these witty banter sessions with?" I asked her. "Brainiac."

"Up yours Victor!" Brainiac spoke.

"Yes, yes." I spoke. Chuckling.

Jessica and Brainiac soon joining me.

Ah, it's always good to share a few good laughs with friends.

--------------------------------------------

[May 27th, 2008]

(3rd Person: POV)

Moving through the halls of the Latverian embassy Nick Fury kept on his toes.

Three days has passed since the incident in Los Angeles involving Tony Stark.

Where he threw the cover story Coulson gave him out of the window and announced to the world he was Iron Man.

That gave Fury one of his biggest headaches in recent years.

Which is why that very night he decided to have a chat with Stark.

Though Fury has no doubt Stark wouldn't listen to a single word he had said.

But that was an issue for another day.

Right now Fury was focusing on likely the biggest issue that had been causing him headaches in the past few years.

Victor Von Doom.

Who Stark had outed on live television as the man in the other suit of armor that had aided him in defeating Stane.

Which did not make Fury's bosses happy.

Especially since SHIELD had been failing to get any solid intelligence on Latveria ever since Victor Von Doom became its leaders.

At to that the fact the opening of Doom's school, his hiring of notable American scientist like Otto Octavius and Toni Ho, the fact soldiers from his military managed to rescue Stark from captivity when SHIELD and no one else could, and his actions the other night in Los Angeles, and Fury was sure the World Security Council was close to initiating a bit more drastic actions against Doom.

Which Fury told them point blank was a horrible idea.

Considering the man's financial and political status. Not to mention his close personal friendship with the now world-known and beloved Fantastic Four.

So say nothing of his new burgeoning relationship with Tony Stark.

Then again, there was the armor Doom wore during his intervention into the battle against Stane and Stark.

Which Stark even admitted his own suits sensors couldn't analyze.

And Fury knew that even Stark couldn't get any sort of data off Doom's armor then he was a bear that was better left un-poked.

Which thankfully Fury's bosses agreed to do for the time being.

Though they still wanted something on Latveria.

Hence the reason he is currently in the Latverian embassy right now.

After Stark revealed Doom was the man in the third armor that night in Los Angeles his embassy had been swarmed by not only reporters and every media outlet you could name, but also US government agents from every acronym agency you could name. All demanding some of the good kind and rulers time.

But Doom promptly ignored them all.

Instead he simply released a prepared press release statement to the media, and let his lawyers and other people deal with the government.

Which led to the king of Latveria agreeing to be interviewed in regards to his actions in Los Angeles by a pair of agents from Homeland Security. But only them.

A deal the US government agreed to, given Victor's status in many circles.

So when Fury got wind of this deal he decided to go in undercover, as one of the Homeland Security agents Victor Von Doom had agreed to have an interview with.

Fury bringing along one of his most trusted agents as backup, posing as the other Homeland Security agent.

Barbra "Bobbi" Morse.

Codename: Mockingbird.

[Insert Image of Barbara Morse/Mockingbird Here]

Now here they are.

Soon Fury and Bobbi arrived at the door to Victor's office, having been led there by his assistant Jessica.

Who both Fury and Bobbi could tell was not simply a normal assistant the moment they had met her.

They both knew the woman was highly trained. From the way she moved, to her other mannerisms.

But they said nothing about it.

Especially given she was the assistant to the monarch of a foreign nation.

Though they both made a note of it for the file on Latveria SHIELD had.

Even though it now contained hardly anything useful.

"Just through here. King Victor is waiting." Jessica said.

"Yes, thank you." Bobbi replied.

"What my partner said." Fury added.

He then opened the door and entered the office, Bobbi following right behind him.

When both of them were inside Fury closed the door.

As he did he then focused, along with Bobbi, on the king of Latveria who was leisurely sitting behind his desk.

Victor Von Doom.

Taking Victor in both Fury and Bobbi immediately felt tingling sensations on the back of their necks.

They instantly could tell Victor was more dangerous than he appeared. Thanks to their years of training and experience as members of SHIELD.

"Well, to think I would get the big boss of SHIELD himself. This is a nice suprise. And a welcome one. Since I've been meaning for us to have a chat for a while." Victor spoke.

Though neither Bobbi nor Fury reacted.

"Sorry sir, I don't know what you mean." Fury said. "My name is-"

"-Colonel Nick Fury. Director of SHIELD." Victor interrupted and finished for Fury. "And I can only assume that woman standing next to you is one of your agents." He said.

Even though Victor knew exactly who he was looking act.

Bobbi Morse aka Mockingbird.

Upon seeing her he used his technopathy to instruct the nanites in the room to obtain a blood sample from her, like they were doing with Nick Fury.

Since Victor wanted to see if this realities version of Mockingbird had a mix of the Infinity Formula and a Super Soldier Serum flowing in her veins.

That's also the reason he had his nanites collect blood from Nick Fury.

To see if he had either the Infinity Formula, or a Super Soldier Serum, in his veins like his many incarnations did in the comics.

Though it's not like Victor needed either serums, given the many he has created.

He simply wishes to sate his curiosity in regards to them.

Hearing Victor so blatantly call him out Fury decided to drop any and all pretenses. "Yes, you're right. I'm Nick Fury, director of SHIELD. And this woman standing next to me is one of my agents. You can call her Mockingbird." He said.

"Oh Mockingbird, does that mean you mimic voices or something?" Victor asked.

"Haha." Bobbi responded with a dry laugh. "Very funny." She deadpanned. 

"It was just a question." Victor mused.

"Yeah. So how about we cut the bullshit and you tell us what you actually want." Bobbi spoke.

"What my agent said." Fury added.

"Alright then." Victor replied to them. "Let's cut to the chase. I know SHIELD has been trying to gather intelligence on both me and my country ever since I liberated from the rule of its previous governments and the idiotic ruling family, the Fortunov's. Put simply I want you to stop doing that. Since no matter how hard you try, or what method you use you'll never be able to get the results you desire."

"You sound so confident, but you never know." Bobbi spoke.

"No agent Mockingbird, I do know." Victor replied. "For you are talking about my country, my homeland, the place that I rule. Latveria. So when I say you will get nothing on it, unless I allow it, then take those words to be the truth." He spoke in a tone of finality.

Both Bobbi and Fury realizing Victor was dead serious.

The look in his eyes told them he wasn't lying.

"We hear you. But unfortunately we can't just stop doing what we are doing." Fury said.

"Ah, no I know. Your bosses on the World Security Council, not to mention the pressure you're getting from elsewhere. Most likely from the United Nations." Victor casually spoke.

Revealing exactly what Fury had been dealing with over the past couple of years.

'Just how far does his reach go?' Fury thought.

"I do not envy your job director Fury." Victor said. "All those people giving you orders, expecting you to carry out imposible tasks at time. I guess that's why all the hair atop your head as fallen out." He spoke. Wiping a fake tear away from his eye.

Fury's one good eye twitched at that comment.

While Bobbi stifled her laughter.

Since she had to admit that was funny.

"But have no fear since I'll help you keep from losing any more hair and get all your bosses off your back." Victor spoke.

"How? What could you possibly do?" Fury asked.

When he did Victor put a devil's grin on his face. "Why I'm glad you asked. Simply put I'll give you access to resources that will make your overall job easier. Technology, intelligence, even actual assets that will help your agency in completing some of its most difficult missions."

"And what do you want in return?" Fury asked.

Since he had been around long enough to know a deal like this didn't come without some sort of catch.

"We can work that out later." Victor easily replied. "After all, I don't want to overwhelm the both of you too much in one day. Instead let's table that discussion for now and let me tell you why I assisted Tony Stark against Obidiah Stane in Los Angeles three nights ago."

"Now that I would like to hear." Bobbi spoke. "Why did you do it?"

"Because I didn't want Stark, nor any innocent people to get hurt." Victor spoke.

"You're joking?" Bobbi asked.

"Oh no, I assure you. I am quite serious." Victor replied. "As a friend of the people I couldn't simply sit by and watch as they got caught in the crossfire of that battle. So I stepped in and ended it before any real casualties could occur. Including Starks. Given that is was members of my military that rescued him."

"And how exactly did they accomplish that when on one else, even SHIELD could?" Fury asked.

"All in due time Nick. Once you accept my deal of course." Victor replied. "Though I don't need an answer today. Take some time, think about it. Then get back to me." He spoke.

Victor then threw a card at Fury, who caught it.

Once he did Fury looked down at the card and saw a phone number on it.

"A number you can reach me at when you decide about my offer." Victor said. "Well then, good day to you both." He spoke.

After he did Fury and Bobbi took their leave of his office, and then were escorted out of the Latverian Embassy entirely.

Both of them still thinking about that meeting they just had with Victor.

Bobbi wondering how much of it she should tell her husband, Clint about.

While Fury was busy mulling over Victor's offer.

As well as elevating the man as the most dangerous threat in the entire world at the moment.

The meeting they just had having sealed the deal in his mind.