Planning Stage

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Aiden glanced around at the gathered fighters. "So… who else here can actually fight?" He gestured lazily toward Carl, who was already a few drinks in. "I mean really fight—like drunk man over there."

Carl scoffed but didn't argue.

Elsa grinned wide, stretching her arms like she was already warming up. "Well, me, of course! I wouldn't miss the chance to rip Brunhilde's wings off again." She laughed, cracking her knuckles. "I think I can actually do it this time."

Aiden raised an eyebrow at her enthusiasm but turned his attention to Valeria, who was watching the exchange with a more serious expression.

"I can hold my own," she admitted. "But the Four Generals... they're different. They're insanely powerful."

"As strong as Brunhilde?" Aiden asked.

Carl let out a dry laugh. "Brunhilde? She's just the leader of the Dark Valkyries. The Four Generals are Thor's little monsters. They never leave his side, and every time we come close to pulling something off, they show up and ruin everything."

Aiden's eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh? So who are they?"

Valeria activated a holographic display, and the image of a woman with long golden hair appeared. "Well, you already know about Amora," she said. With a flick, the hologram shifted to a massive, gray-skinned monster, his shoulders covered in jagged rock-like structures.

"This is Abomination," she explained. "He used to go toe-to-toe with the Hulk. Now? He serves Thor."

Aiden studied the image with mild curiosity, then watched as the hologram changed again—this time to a bald, wild-looking man with sharp eyes.

"This is Daken," Valeria continued. "A mutant, and just as dangerous as Wolverine. Same healing factor, same claws, same ruthless attitude."

Before she could continue, the next hologram appeared—a blonde man in a tight red and gold suit. The resemblance was obvious.

Carl's expression darkened instantly. "This," he sneered, "is Karl. With a K. Not Carl—Karl. And he's a pathetic bitch that I swear I'll kill if it weren't for that damn protection Thor gives him."

Aiden raised an eyebrow at the sudden venom in Carl's voice, turning back to Valeria for confirmation.

She sighed. "He and Carl share the same powers. Same source. He's Called Moonstone"

Aiden smirked slightly. "I see." He crossed his arms. "Then honestly? I don't see why we can't win. Other than Thor himself, all of these guys seem like easy targets. Well… for me, at least. What about the rest of you?"

Carl cracked his knuckles. "Karl's mine."

"Well, that's that, then." Aiden shrugged.

"Elsa and I can deal with Daken" Valeria said.

Aiden gave her a skeptical look. "Elsa and you? You don't have any powers, remember?"

Valeria smirked. "I wasn't born strong, but I've got weapons, suits, and a lot of other tricks up my sleeve. I make myself strong."

Aiden sighed. "Just don't get yourself killed."

He turned his gaze toward the hologram of Abomination. "I'll handle him… and the witch." His voice sharpened. "If her powers are just magic, then I can easily kill her."

The group fell silent for a moment, tension thick in the air.

Then Aiden's tone shifted. "Now… when Thor shows up? That's when the plan changes." His eyes burned with determination as he looked at them all.

"I want you all to—"

....

Aiden's muscles tensed as he exhaled, his body moving in precise, controlled motions. Each strike he threw cracked through the air, his fists slamming against the reinforced training dummy with enough force to dent metal. Sweat dripped from his bare chest, his breathing steady despite the intense workout. He had to be ready. The upcoming battle wasn't just another fight—it was a war against beings that were far beyond human.

The sound of the door creaking open caught his attention, but he didn't stop. His sharp senses had already told him who it was before she spoke.

"Still at it?" Elsa's voice was casual, but there was an underlying amusement to it. "I swear, you don't even need training. It's almost unfair."

Aiden didn't respond immediately, delivering one final, devastating punch before stepping back. His body glistened with sweat, every defined muscle moving under the dim light of the training room. He turned to face Elsa, who stood with her arms crossed, eyes lingering on him with more interest than she probably intended to show.

She took a slow step forward. "You know… I don't think I've ever felt like we really had a chance before." Her voice was softer now, her gaze locked onto him. "But you? You make me think we might actually win."

Aiden smirked slightly, reaching for a towel. "Glad I could inspire some confidence."

Elsa, however, didn't seem interested in talking anymore. She stepped even closer, close enough that Aiden could feel her warmth. Without hesitation, she reached out, pressing her palm flat against his chest, feeling the heat of his body.

"Damn," she murmured, dragging her fingers over the hard ridges of his muscles, tracing along his collarbone before moving down, slowly, deliberately. "I knew you were strong, but this?" Her fingertips brushed along his bicep as she squeezed lightly, her bare hand sliding across the sheen of sweat on his skin.

Aiden raised a brow. "Enjoying yourself?"

She smirked but didn't pull away. "Maybe a little." Her touch lingered before she finally stepped back. "I really hope you don't fail me, Aiden."

He met her gaze, unwavering. "I won't." His voice carried absolute certainty.

Elsa nodded, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her face before she quickly masked it. "Good. Then how about a spar?"

Aiden chuckled. "You know you don't stand a chance."

"Maybe not," she admitted, stretching her arms. "But maybe you'll teach me something useful."

Aiden sighed but moved to the center of the training floor. "Alright. Try to land a hit."

Elsa grinned, darting toward him without hesitation. She was fast—faster than most—but Aiden was beyond her. He sidestepped effortlessly, watching as her punch missed its mark. She pivoted, attempting a quick roundhouse kick, but Aiden caught her leg with ease and tossed her back.

She rolled, quickly regaining her footing. "Alright, not bad," she muttered before launching forward again.

The spar continued, but the result was inevitable. Aiden barely exerted himself, dodging and countering every strike she threw. Within minutes, he closed the distance, sweeping her legs out from under her and pinning her to the ground in one fluid motion.

Elsa gasped, finding herself beneath him, her wrists trapped in his firm grip. His eyes bore into hers, intense and unreadable.

Then, without warning—she kissed him.

Aiden's eyes widened as her lips pressed against his, her body arching slightly beneath him. The sensation caught him off guard—not just because it was unexpected, but because he felt it. The warmth, the softness, the sheer boldness of it.

For a second, he hesitated.

And that was all she needed.

With a sly grin, Elsa slipped from his grasp, twisting out of his hold and leaping back. Aiden barely had time to register what had happened before she lunged, trying to catch him off guard.

But she never stood a chance.

Before she could land a hit, Aiden moved—too fast for her to react—twisting behind her and sweeping her legs again. This time, she hit the ground harder, groaning as she looked up at him.

He smirked. "Nice try."

Elsa burst into laughter, shaking her head. "Damn. Thought I might at least surprise you." She propped herself up on her elbows, her smirk returning. "What's wrong, Aiden? You looked a little excited there."

His smirk didn't falter. "Focused.... Not excited."

She let out a breathy chuckle. "Sure. Keep telling yourself that."

Aiden shook his head, stepping back and offering her a hand. She took it, letting him pull her to her feet.

As she dusted herself off, she gave him one last look—one that held something more than just playful teasing.

"I meant what I said earlier," she murmured. "I really do believe in you."

....

The hum of machinery filled the laboratory, a rhythmic symphony of whirring servos, sparking wires, and the steady hum of an arc reactor. The room was dimly lit by holographic displays and the faint glow of welding sparks as Valeria worked, surrounded by an array of weapons, drones, and battle-enhancing gear—all of it designed with one goal in mind: survival.

Aiden stepped inside, eyes scanning the organized chaos before landing on her. She was focused, her slender fingers dancing over a control panel as blueprints shifted on a transparent screen before her. Despite her robotic precision, there was an unmistakable fire in her gaze—a relentless determination that made him pause for a moment.

"You never fail to impress," Aiden finally said, his voice breaking the silence. "Seriously… this is beyond anything I expected."

Valeria didn't look up immediately, instead finishing the sequence she was working on before turning toward him. "Efficiency is a necessity," she stated. "Victory is unlikely if we are unprepared."

Aiden stepped closer, folding his arms. "Are you really planning to fight?" His voice lowered slightly, concern threading through it. "You know you could die out there, right?"

The question made her pause. Valeria's fingers stilled on the console before she slowly turned to face him, stepping away from her work. In a few measured strides, she was standing directly in front of him, so close that Aiden could feel the faintest warmth radiating from her.

She tilted her head slightly, her striking blue eyes meeting his as she studied him with quiet intensity. "This is an exceptional case," she finally said, her tone devoid of hesitation. "For someone of my intellect to take part in battle directly is an inefficient use of resources." Her gaze held his, unwavering. "And yet, I am doing so. Do you understand why?"

Aiden swallowed, suddenly aware of how close she was.

Valeria's voice remained calm, her expression neutral, but there was something almost hypnotic about the way she was looking at him. "Because I trust that you will win."

Aiden felt his face heat up, a light blush creeping up his neck. It wasn't just her words, but the way she had said them—her robotic precision laced with something else, something that stirred something deep inside him. Did she even realize how close she was?

"I....I won't Disappoint you, Valeria" Aiden said, his voice slightly uneven.

Valeria studied him for a second longer before stepping back, returning to her usual composed posture. "I will never be disappointed in you," she stated. "Even the fact that you are here, choosing to fight for us instead of escaping with your father… it is beyond what should have been asked of you."

Aiden opened his mouth to argue, but she continued before he could.

"You should have left, Aiden," she said. "The logical course of action would have been to take your family somewhere safe. And yet, you are still here, fighting for people who have given you no reason to risk your life for them." She hesitated, then quietly admitted, "I do not know how to repay you."

Aiden watched her for a moment before his lips curled into a small smirk. He stepped forward, confidence returning as he lowered his voice.

"A kiss would do."

Valeria blinked, and Aiden swore he saw the gears in her mind turning as she analyzed his request. Her eyes scanned his face, noting the faint blush on his cheeks, the way his heart rate had subtly increased. She was calculating his emotions, trying to categorize them, understand them—but unlike a machine, she wasn't unaffected. She was feeling something too.

Her gaze flickered to herself for a moment, as if reevaluating her own presence, before she spoke in that same even tone.

"Your teenage body is undergoing hormonal fluctuations," she observed.

"Oh Please...You're a teenager too!"

She nodded and added "It is understandable However..... I am what one might consider… a beautiful woman?"

Aiden's breath hitched, but he didn't waver. He stepped even closer, leaning in just enough that his lips brushed the shell of her ear as he whispered,

"The most beautiful I have ever seen."

Valeria blinked again, the slightest shift in her expression betraying that his words had affected her. She stared at him for a moment longer before tilting her head. Then, without hesitation, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

Aiden barely had time to process the sensation before she pulled back, her usual neutral expression returning. "Is that enough?" she asked.

Aiden let out a breath, a slow smile creeping onto his lips.

"Yeah… for now."

Valeria nodded, as if accepting the answer as a satisfactory conclusion to the interaction. But as Aiden turned slightly, he noticed something—she was still looking at him. Not with cold calculation, not with pure logic, but with something else. Something neither of them fully understood yet.

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If you Like this story! Check out my other story ! Lord of Chaos In Dc!

AND

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You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want !