CH: 002 - Quake The Side Entrance

{Chapter: 002 - Quake The Side Entrance}

Pepper hesitated for a moment, glancing at Tony with uncertainty in her eyes. She trusted him, but the man before them was an enigma, someone who had appeared out of nowhere and claimed he could rid her of Extremis. Still, desperation pushed her forward. She could feel the unnatural heat coursing through her veins, the unstable energy simmering just beneath her skin, threatening to consume her if left unchecked.

"Tony… let's give him a chance," she whispered.

Tony clenched his jaw, clearly unwilling to place his faith in a total stranger. His instincts screamed at him to be cautious, but the reality of their situation left him little choice. He turned his gaze to the sky. The remnants of the Iron Legion flickered with dying embers in the distance. The battle was over, but the war never truly ended. They needed to act fast.

With a deep breath, Tony finally muttered, "JARVIS, I want to know everything about this person."

Aiden chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Aiden Graves, and you won't find anything about me, no matter how hard you try. JARVIS won't be able to pull up a single record."

As if on cue, JARVIS responded, "Sir, there are no records of an individual matching this identity in any known databases."

Tony narrowed his eyes, his paranoia kicking into overdrive. "That's not possible. No one is off the grid, not even ghosts."

Aiden merely smiled. "And yet, here I am. But don't worry, I have no ill intentions." He then glanced at Pepper, her skin still radiating an ominous red glow. "Right now, your priority should be helping her, not interrogating me."

Tony ran a frustrated hand through his disheveled hair before exhaling sharply. "I don't trust you, but I'm out of options. If you try anything—"

"Yeah, yeah, you'll make my life a living hell," Aiden interrupted with a smile. "Noted. Now, let's get this over with."

Taking a step forward, Aiden extended his hand toward Pepper. "Just relax and don't fight it. The process might be painful, but I promise it won't do anything. I have no desire to become an enemy of Iron Man and the Avengers..."

"Hey, what are you doing?" Looking at Aiden's hand on Pepper, Tony asked.

Aiden smiled and faintly said, "Don't misunderstand, I am not taking advantage of her. Just helping her."

Pepper hesitated, her fingers twitching at her sides. Tony's gaze flickered between them, then he finally gave a curt nod. Taking a steadying breath, Pepper placed her trembling hand in Aiden's grasp.

The moment their skin made contact, a surge of energy erupted between them. Pepper let out a strangled gasp as a burning sensation wracked her entire body. Her veins lit up like molten lava, the Extremis fighting against Aiden's interference.

Tony took a half-step forward, fists clenched. "Hey! What the hell are you doing?!"

Aiden's jaw tightened, sweat forming at his temples. "Don't interrupt. If I stop now, she might explode."

Tony's breath hitched. He had seen what happened to the Extremis soldiers when they lost control. He had witnessed the destruction firsthand. With visible reluctance, he forced himself to remain still.

Aiden felt an intoxicating rush of power coursing into his body, searing through his veins like liquid fire. It was as if he were absorbing the very essence of the Extremis virus, his cells drinking in the volatile energy and stabilizing it. Every nerve in his body screamed in protest, but he welcomed the pain.

Pepper groaned, her knees nearly buckling beneath her. Aiden held firm, refusing to let go until the process was complete. The battle of dominance between his unique ability and the Extremis virus felt like an eternity, though in reality, only a few minutes had passed.

Then, suddenly, it was over.

Pepper collapsed onto the ground, her chest rising and falling in rapid succession. Tony was by her side in an instant, gripping her shoulders. "Pepper! Are you okay?! Talk to me!"

She blinked a few times, her breathing ragged. Slowly, she raised a hand, studying her skin. The unnatural glow had faded. The heat had subsided. She no longer felt like a ticking time bomb.

"I… I think it's gone," she murmured in disbelief.

Tony's relief was palpable, but his sharp gaze immediately returned to Aiden. "What the hell did you just do?"

Aiden exhaled slowly, his legs feeling like jelly. He plopped onto the ground, exhaustion washing over him. "I took the burden off her shoulders. Simple as that."

Tony narrowed his eyes. "And you're still standing?"

Aiden smirked. "Barely. But I'll live."

Pepper touched her chest, marveling at the absence of the volatile energy that had plagued her for so long. "Tony… he actually did it."

Tony gritted his teeth, unwilling to accept that this complete stranger had just performed a miracle. But arguing was pointless. The proof was right in front of him.

"Let's go back and run a full check-up," Tony finally said, helping Pepper to her feet. "I need to make sure there are no side effects."

Pepper hesitated. "What about him?"

Aiden waved her off. "I just need a moment to rest. Don't worry about me."

Tony still didn't trust him, but he had bigger concerns right now. With one last wary glance, he wrapped an arm around Pepper's waist and led her toward the nearest extraction point.

As their figures disappeared into the distance, Aiden finally let his expression shift. He clenched his fists, marveling at the raw power coursing through his body. He could feel it—the incredible regeneration, the superhuman durability, the internal heat surging within him. The Extremis was no longer a virus. It was a part of him.

Successful! Really successful.

Grinning, he extended a hand toward the ground. A moment later, the surface began to warp and erode, the extreme temperature distorting the air around it.

His heart pounded with exhilaration. He had just taken his first real step toward power in this universe. And this was only the beginning.

After he turned his arm back to normal, Aiden picked up a jagged piece of metal from Iron Man's suit, its edges glinting under the dim streetlights. Without hesitation, he pressed it against his forearm and dragged it across his skin. A sharp sting lanced through him, followed by a warm sensation that spread outward from the wound. He watched intently as the gash sealed itself within seconds, leaving nothing but a faint line that soon faded completely.

A slow grin spread across his face. This was real. This was power. Although his regenerative ability wasn't on par with the likes of Wolverine, the Hulk, or Deadpool, their almost immortal healing factor, it was still leagues beyond anything an ordinary human could dream of. Broken bones, shredded muscles, even lost limbs—his body could recover from them all. He was no longer fragile. No longer as weak. This was only the first step, the foundation of something greater.

Suppressing his growing excitement, Aiden took a deep breath, then turned and walked away, leaving the battlefield behind. He made his way to the edge of the water, his movements smooth and confident. Without a second thought, he dove into the ocean and began swimming toward the mainland.

---

Three Days Later

A sleek, black Hummer rumbled down a dimly lit street, its headlights casting long shadows against the nearby buildings. Behind the wheel, Aiden sat with an air of relaxed confidence, one hand resting on the steering wheel, the other casually adjusting the collar of his leather jacket. He looked every bit the picture of a wealthy young man—handsome, well-dressed, and exuding an aura of silent authority.

As for the Hummer itself? Well, let's just say its previous owner—a particularly unpleasant drug lord—had been more than happy to make a "donation." Their brief conversation had been enlightening, and Aiden had walked away not only with a new ride but also with a substantial amount of cash. It had been a productive meeting, though he doubted the crime boss would be in any condition to remember it.

Not that it mattered.

Aiden had bigger plans now.

For the past three days, he had been carefully considering his next move. He had power, yes, but in a world filled with gods, monsters, and entities that are a billion years old, he was still far from untouchable. If he wanted to survive—no, if he wanted to thrive—he needed more than just Extremis. He needed resources, knowledge, connections.

And there was one place that could give him all of that: SHIELD.

To the average person, joining SHIELD might seem like a risky, even foolish decision. After all, the organization was on the verge of collapse, riddled with Hydra operatives waiting for the right moment to strike. But for Aiden, that chaos was an opportunity. SHIELD's imminent downfall meant fewer restrictions, less oversight. It was the perfect place to grow stronger while keeping an eye on the larger picture.

Trouble? He welcomed it. In fact, he wanted attention. Over the past three days, Aiden had meticulously crafted his next move—joining SHIELD.

At first glance, it might seem like an uninspired choice, but in reality, it was a strategic masterstroke. SHIELD was already on the verge of collapse, Hydra was lurking beneath the surface, and most importantly, SHIELD's leash was loose. It provided resources, access, and opportunities for power—all without suffocating restrictions.

But his true target? Phil Coulson. The man who should have died at Loki's hands, yet somehow returned to form an elite team. According to the timeline, the events of Agents of SHIELD were about to unfold, and Aiden saw his golden ticket.

Joining Coulson's team was the quickest way to immerse himself in controlled chaos—dangerous enough to be thrilling, but not beyond his ability to dominate.

Even with Extremis coursing through his veins, Aiden knew he was still a small player in the vast Marvel Universe—Multiverse. To become king, he needed more. More power, more connections, more trouble. And SHIELD? It would hand-deliver him both enemies and allies on a silver platter. Instead of wandering aimlessly, hunting down abilities like a desperate scavenger, he could let power come to him. Moreover, the identity of the SHIELD Agent will also give him good access to other troubled Superheroes.

But getting into SHIELD wouldn't be simple.

Tony Stark had undoubtedly reported him, detailing how he extracted Extremis from Pepper. Yet, for now, SHIELD's attention was elsewhere—the aftermath of the Battle of New York had their hands full. No eyes were on him yet.

Aiden wasn't sure if protagonist plot armor was on his side, but fate had handed him a lead—a future SHIELD powerhouse.

His secret entrance? Daisy Johnson.

Quake. Possibly the strongest SHIELD agent in the making.

Right now, she was still a hacker, tangled up with the 'Rising Tide' organization, unaware of the seismic power sleeping within her. Soon, she would join Coulson's team, uncovering her origins and becoming a force to be reckoned with.

An Inhuman with vibration manipulation—a power capable of shattering mountains and tearing through enemies. More importantly, she was the only SHIELD agent to ever hold Level 10 access besides that one-eyed Motherfucker, Nick Fury.

But at this moment? She was still just Skye, a brilliant hacker with no allegiance.

And Aiden had a plan.

If the front door was locked, he'd find a side entrance.

Daisy Louise Johnson was that entrance.

He would reach her first, make his move before SHIELD did, and when the time came, he wouldn't just join SHIELD—he would own it.

And she was the key to Aiden's next move.

His sharp gaze flicked to the sidewalk as he spotted her stepping out of a small coffee shop. She looked exactly as he had expected—long brown hair cascading down her shoulders, a worn leather jacket hugging her slim figure. Her mixed-heritage features gave her a unique beauty, one that was striking even in the dim glow of the streetlights.

Aiden didn't hesitate. He started the Hummer's engine, its low growl echoing through the quiet street, and slowly pulled out of his parking spot. Keeping a safe distance, he began to follow the beauty, his mind already working through his approach.

The game had begun.

And Aiden intended to win.