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Felicia tugged at Dante's jacket with just enough pressure to draw his attention without seeming desperate. "Is she also Death's?"
The question carried layers. Curiosity, yes, but also a worry that Death had find herself a new companion because of his relationship with Silvija.
"Nope," he murmured back. "Can't you see our flames are different?"
The distinction wasn't merely aesthetic.
To most observers, Natasha's burning skull would inspire terror as they would see her as a malevolent entity. But Dante knew better. The red-orange represented purification through suffering, divine punishment, and the burning away of sins through cleansing fire.
His own blue flames, by contrast, represented the very reason for his survival—Death. The flames showed the absence of life itself, the void waiting beyond everyone's final breath, and the coldness coming from Death's embrace.
One was the final destination; the other was the violent road leading there.
Felicia's grip on his sleeve loosened slightly, though she didn't let go entirely. "I guess you're the 'cooler' skull."
He ignored the most mistimed pun, which nearly made him laugh.
He dismissed the force field with a thought. The invisible barrier that had concealed them rippled once, then vanished entirely, rendering them visible to everyone present.
"Speak of the devil, and he shows up."
Emma's lips curved up. "You finally returned."
Natasha's attention immediately shifted to Dante. The flames around her skull intensified briefly, burning brighter as the Spirit of Vengeance within her responded to his "guilty" and "sinner" presence.
"Agent Phil said you'll show up," her voice was still feminine but deep. "I didn't expect it to be before I arrested these law-breaking mutants."
The statement carried no particular emotion at all, only Natasha's flat assessment. Natasha was here to do a job. Nothing more, nothing less.
Unlike other Ghost Riders throughout history who had simply become vessels for their Spirit's rage, Natasha seemed to maintain full autonomy. She used the Spirit as a weapon rather than letting it consume her completely. Either her particular Spirit of Vengeance was uncommonly lenient with its host, or Natasha Romanoff possessed an iron self-discipline and willpower.
Given her dark history in the Red Room, Dante suspected the latter.
He caught Piotr's eye and made a subtle gesture to stay quiet about his identity. The message was clear enough through Piotr's expression. The towering hunk of steel he dipped his chin in the tiniest nod of acknowledgment.
Stepping past Piotr and Psylocke, Dante positioned himself directly in front of Natasha. Six feet apart was the optimal distance for conversation and to react fast enough to any sudden attack.
"You probably know who I am."
Natasha nodded her skull head. "Your identity doesn't change anything. Any mutants, who chose to use their powers, must be arrested. We're only following the protocol."
Dante let loose a wry smile behind his own skull face, even though nobody except Silvija and Felicia could see it. Maybe Ava, too, but she wasn't here.
"The steel man acted in self-defense." He gestured toward Logan's unconscious form. "That idiot broke the law. Take him."
Right now, antagonizing SHIELD wasn't on his agenda, especially when they had a Ghost Rider on their side. They might have even more trump cards. He would be able to defend himself, but he had others to worry about.
Both Natasha and X-23 glanced toward Logan's prone body.
"No!" Piotr's denial came after a moment of contemplation. "His mind was reprogrammed to follow the Hand's orders. That woman, Tessa, did it. He is innocent."
Dante's eyebrow arched. Lady Tessa—technically Sage—was supposed to be Xavier's spy within the Hellfire Club. The organization followed its own creed of "The world is a chessboard, and the Club are the players." If Tessa had facilitated the Hand's acquisition of Wolverine, either she had gone rogue, or the political landscape was far more complicated than it appeared on the surface.
'The Hand must have paid the Club, or someone within it.'
Later, he would need a very thorough conversation with Emma about the Hellfire Club's internal power dynamics. The last thing he needed was to accidentally piss off one of Emma's allied—or enemy—factions.
"He is my prisoner," Silvija declared, moving to stand beside Piotr. The mercenary queen was defending her territory and her people. "This mutant is my employee. How do you want to resolve this?"
The formality in her tone was non-existent. She wasn't pleading or negotiating as a subordinate; she was establishing equal standing.
X-23—Laura Kinney—pointed her right hand's claws at him. "You want to help a mutant?"
Silvija's question seemed to have somehow offended Laura's understanding of how the world worked. To Laura, who had been conditioned from birth to view mutants as either weapons to be deployed or threats to be eliminated, the concept of a non-mutant defending a mutant was incomprehensible.
Silvija swiftly drew both Glocks and aimed them directly at Laura's head. "Was I not clear the first time?"
Laura narrowed her eyes, her body language suggesting she would pounce on Silvija any second. The feral mutant's daughter, or some might call her Wolverine's female clone, wasn't any less feral than him. Violence was her first language and her default solution to every problem.
Natasha clamped down on Laura's wrist and forced the claws down. "Follow my orders."
Laura glared at Natasha with pure resentment burning in her green eyes. The exchange proved Natasha as the immediate superior. Laura might resent her handler, but she had been programmed too thoroughly to openly rebel.
Both father and daughter were used as weapons, one was mind-controlled and the other brainwashed from the very birth.
"I'll help my employee," Silvija said in a fierce tone before Natasha could even speak. "Doesn't matter if he's a mutant or a human."
She wasn't backing down. Even before meeting Dante, she would've taken the same approach. Wild Pack was everything for her and her country, and she would go to war with governments and corporations if necessary to protect it.
This unwavering loyalty was one of the things Dante loved most about her.
X-23 turned to Natasha. "Orders."
Natasha's gaze moved between Dante, Piotr, and Psylocke, lingering on each in turn as if calculating her odds or perhaps hesitating in making a clear decision.
A deep hum came from deep inside her. The air around her suddenly shifted as the temperature spiked.
"All of you are drenched in the blood of your enemies, engulfed in sins." Her voice emerged as if multiple tones were speaking in synchronization. It was the Spirit of Vengeance speaking through its vessel. "Penance Stare will ruin each one—GET OUT OF MY HEAD. I told you to stop interfering with my business!"
Natasha clutched her skull with both hands as her flames flared erratically. She roared and hit the side of her head with her palm as if trying to physically dislodge the Spirit from her mind.
The internal struggle lasted perhaps five seconds. When Natasha's gaze finally settled on Silvija again, she looked calm.
"Sorry for losing control there, Miss Sable."
"It's… fine." Silvija waved off, looking a bit puzzled. "What's your decision as her superior?"
"Give me one second." Natasha took out her phone, walking to the side for a private conversation.
Laura crossed her arms and glared at every mutant, especially Piotr, as if she utterly despised outlaw mutants.
Silvija couldn't help but glance toward Dante, and her lips loosened in a smile. "Um… thanks for sticking with us."
The words came out awkward, stiff. Two people who had shared the most intimate moments of their lives suddenly were forced to interact like distant acquaintances.
He waved his hand, equally uncomfortable. "It's nothing."
Piotr and Emma both gave him identical weird looks, though for different reasons. Piotr was just confused why they were bothering with the act when everyone here already knew about their relationship. Emma was just being her mean self.
Psylocke, mercifully, paid them no attention. Her focus remained locked on Natasha's distant figure, more than likely working on a method to slay the YOUKAI.
Natasha's body language during the call told Dante everything he needed to know.
This wasn't going to end peacefully.
Dante turned to Felicia and spoke in a firm, non-negotiable voice, "Drive Ghost Spider and Amy somewhere safe."
The battle between them would put the currently conscious at a risk. Not Wolverine, though. He still had some use for Logan.
"What?" Felicia's hands clenched into fists. There was clear frustration on her face. "I can't fight?"
She had been enhanced to superhuman levels, faster and stronger than she'd ever been in her life. She even had a symbiote as well to make her even stronger, a possible threat to Laura. She just couldn't understand his decision to bench her, that too after everything she had abandoned her father in that vault.
His decision came off as being told she still wasn't good enough.
Dante took her hands and shook his head slowly. "Please, Felicia. We need someone to keep them two safe. Ghost Spider's identity is very sensitive."
The explanation was logical and rational. But her face said she hated it anyway. Felicia had wanted to test herself, hoping her own symbiote would also bond with her like Venom did with him.
More importantly, she wanted to prove she could stand beside Dante and Silvija as an equal, not just as the girlfriend who got protected when things got serious.
Silvija aimed a Glock at Felicia's face. "Listen to orders."
With a tone carrying the absolute authority of someone who had people all her life. This wasn't Silvija. This was Commander Sablinova, and Commander expected obedience.
Felicia's eyes narrowed dangerously as she stared down that barrel without flinching. "Oh, is the main wife exerting her authority?"
She took Silvija's order as a power play for marking her territory and enforcing hierarchy.
Silvija's lips curled into a grin. "Know your place, second choice."
The insult should have stung, especially after the jealousy Felicia had felt earlier. But the way Silvija said 'second choice' wasn't dissing or mocking. It was affectionate, full of warmth.
An acknowledgment and weird, twisted sort of welcome to her life.
Dante didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the absurdity of all. He was stressing over a fight with these two absolute units, and here, these two were having their own contest. Though, he knew exactly why they were doing it. Both women were tense and used some banter to ease their nerves. Perhaps their way of reassuring each other like "I'm not afraid. Are you afraid? Neither of us is afraid. We've got this."
Psylocke silently tossed a set of car keys to Felicia, which she easily caught.
"Fine," Felicia muttered. "It's not like I have a choice when Her Majesty herself doesn't want me here."
Silvija tossed one of her Glocks at Felicia. "Take care of them. Ghost Spider really helped a lot today."
"Yes, my queen."
Felicia got into the sedan and drove away with both Gwen and Amy sleeping in the backseats.
Dante signaled to Piotr to stay on guard and be ready for anything. Emma, however, required more complex instructions. He moved to the White Queen's side.
She tilted her head slightly, curiosity flickering across her elegant features. "Yes, Dear?"
"Tell Psylocke Telepathy won't work on Natasha," he whispered. "She should focus on wasting Natasha's time until I'm done with Laura."
Psylocke's katana and blades were trained to inflict maximum psychic damage. Ghost Rider wasn't a great matchup for her.
Emma grinned confidently. "You underestimate my Psy. She is an absolute monster in physical strength."
"Natasha can one-shot any sinner with her Penance Stare. Warn her not to look into Ghost Rider's eyes, okay?"
Emma's expression became serious as she acknowledged his caution. She glanced at Psylocke, conveying the message through Telepathy.
Psylocke suddenly flinched, her shoulders jerking as if someone had startled her. She looked over her shoulder directly at Dante, and her eyes softened with gratitude, acknowledging he cared enough to warn her.
Dante found himself caught by those violet eyes for a beat longer than strictly necessary. There was just something fascinating about emotionless women showing a soft side. This was the whole reason he had fallen for Silvija so deeply.
The Ninja Lady turned back, going back to stalking her favorite YOUKAI. Her backside was even more distracting for two big reasons.
Emma yanked his hand to drag his attention away from Psylocke. "Don't fall for her, Dear. She's my employee."
Dante felt a grin tug at his mouth despite the circumstances. "What if I want you both?"
Emma laughed delightfully, looking radiant. "In your dreams, Dear. In your dreams."
He clicked his tongue in disappointment, playing up the rejected suitor role. "Watch me accomplish the impossible."
"A greedy heart is never full." Emma pointed out, still smiling. "Have a good life with these three, or you'll ruin everything."
"Greed is my favorite sin."
"It's my middle name, which is why I can't stop wanting more." Emma crossed her arms. "Emma Greedy Frost."
"I thought it was 'Emma Loser Frost'."
She glared at him but said nothing. He knew she would have her payback when everything was over.
"Why do I feel like you're keeping tabs on me?"
"Indeed, I am. I'll have suitable compensation for every single mistake of yours."
He ignored her, looking at Laura. She seemed to have sensed the shift in atmosphere through Natasha. Her muscles coiled tighter. She looked ready to pounce at a moment's notice.
'She'll be a tough opponent.'
He walked to Silvija's side. She had left during his conversation with Emma and now returned with a tactical rifle on her back and a twelve-gauge shotgun in her hands. He agreed with her decision to bring heavier firepower since Glock just wouldn't cut it against Ghost Rider and Laura.
"Make distance if a fight starts. Cover me when I engage the mutant."
Silvija nodded grimly. "Don't overdo it."
Stuffed in three words was a message for him to not be reckless and get himself killed.
Dante felt warmth bloom in his chest despite the circumstances. "Just reward me plenty later."
Silvija's stern expression cracked. A snort of surprised laughter escaped her before she could stop it. "You'll never change, Idiot."
The word was said with such obvious affection that it transformed from insult to endearment.
Natasha finally ended the call and walked back toward them with slow steps. "Miss Sable, please let us escort your employee and your prisoner. I'll guarantee their safety in my name."
The words were careful, diplomatic even. But beneath them lay the truth—this was the best compromise she could offer. The higher-ups from SHIELD had issued orders. She was trying to minimize the damage, protect everyone involved from outcomes worse than arrest.
Dante knew that SHIELD wasn't just doing this for breaking laws. They wanted to watch and take notes, gathering data on capabilities, weaknesses, how to better control or eliminate them when necessary.
Everyone here was all just pieces on Nick Fury's board.
'So fucking annoying.'
Silvija smiled sharply. "Looks like we have no other choice."
Natasha tilted her head back, looking toward the night sky as the flames burned around her skull. She stood motionless for a long moment, perhaps arguing with her Spirit of Vengeance.
After a moment, she gripped her fiery chain and slammed it down.
"Laura," she said in a serious voice. "Don't kill anyone."
Then she turned that flaming gaze back to everyone.
"Agent Phil and I will never forgive you if a single life is lost here."
Invoking Phil Coulson by first name suggested how seriously Natasha was taking this. She was asking, pleading even, for Laura to exercise restraint.
"I won't," Laura growled, though the promise sounded grudging at best.
Then she charged.
Her target wasn't Dante, Silvija, Psylocke, or Emma in the very back. She lunged directly at Piotr. Like her biological father, she apparently had the same compulsive urge to sharpen her claws on Colossus's organic steel body.
Piotr slammed his massive knuckles together with a resounding CLANG. His steel face showed no fear, only grim determination.
"Come."
"Wait a second, Laura."
Dante stepped in front of Piotr, positioning himself right in front of Laura's charge. Two claws on her right hand stopped as their razor-sharp tips penetrated the fabric of his jacket, trembling there, showing the efforts Laura exerted to hold back her instincts. One instant of lost control, and those claws would punch through his sternum and shred his heart before he could react.
Adrenaline spiked through his system, flooding his mind with clarity. Every survival instinct he possessed screamed at him to get away from this murderous woman.
But he didn't step back or even showed a flicker of terror. Because the moment he retreated or showed fear, he would lose the initiative. For someone like Laura, he couldn't convince her from a position of weakness, because weak were her prey.
Only the strong mattered in her eyes.
A smile appeared on his face. Fury thought he was orchestrating this entire encounter, controlling every single detail by shoving X-23 and Natasha into Wild Pack's way.
'I'm going to fuck up everything.'
Starting with reuniting this feral father and daughter—taking away one of SHIELD's most effective weapons by giving Laura something Fury had denied her: family, love, and a choice to be something more than a killer. Fury would only be able to watch as X-23 was tamed, transformed from a brain-washed and conditioned killing machine into a daughter and a mercenary.
Because she would be joining Wild Pack alongside Wolverine.
...
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