Marvel: Playing Iron Man, Falling In and Out of Love with Jinx

"Nope, it's a girl. a hot-tempered one," Duke said, the image of a pink-haired delinquent flashing through his mind. Bandages wrapped tightly around her arms, often stained with someone's blood, her fists hardened by countless street fights.

"Hot-tempered?" Caitlyn raised an eyebrow, suddenly intrigued. "How bad are we talking? Worse than my mother?"

"Hmm…" Duke scratched his chin awkwardly. "Hard to say."

"If your friend really is how you describe her, then I'd actually like to meet her," Caitlyn said, turning around to lean on the balcony railing. Duke rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Slipping out for a while during a party shouldn't be a big deal, right?"

"This banquet's going until midnight, and it's only just past eight. We've got time."

"In that case… care for a late-night cruise, beautiful?"

Duke offered his hand with a sly grin. Caitlyn hesitated. but her curiosity won. If she met this girl tonight… would they clash? Or clash? Or definitely clash?

Duke's eyes lit up with anticipation. Not out of mischief, he told himself, but in the name of pure scientific curiosity.

"Alright, as long as we're back before the party ends, my mother shouldn't say anything."

Caitlyn's expression glowed with intrigue. Could someone with such a fiery personality really be a good match for her?

Zaun – The Black Lanes

In a shadowy dead-end alley.

BANG!

A fist wrapped in rough bandages smashed into the face of a mohawked thug. The blow twisted his features grotesquely, teeth flying out and spinning through the air, his nose crushed with a sickening crunch.

Thud!

Vi shook off the blood clinging to her wrappings, grabbed the dazed thug by his collar, and growled through gritted teeth, "If I ever catch you dealing with that knife in these alleys again, I'll rearrange your face permanently."

With that, she hurled him to the ground, spat out blood-tinged phlegm, and strode out without another glance. Behind her, seven or eight groaning lowlifes lay sprawled in agony.

Navigating the labyrinthine alleys like a local, Vi made her way back to the Frogen Tavern. At the entrance, she spotted a familiar beastly motorcycle and raised an eyebrow before pushing open the door.

Just as expected, she found Duke sitting at the bar in his gray trench coat.

Vi cut through the crowd. As she passed a table, she tossed a purse onto it.

"Huck! That's the wallet you got stolen."

Huck grabbed it, frowned, and shouted, "It's short!"

Vi shrugged. "Hey, I don't work for free. Had to charge a little 'finder's fee.'"

"You took way too much!"

"Quit whining. I've got a kid sister in school. I'll buy you a beer later."

She flashed her fists threateningly and plopped down at the bar beside Duke, pulling back her hood.

"Well, well. If it isn't our genius inventor. What brings you to this dump?"

"Whoa, easy there. I'm here on peace terms. Actually brought someone for you to meet."

Duke stepped aside to reveal Caitlyn, still in her elegant evening gown, sipping fruit wine through a straw. Her sharp eyes scanned the chaos of the tavern. filthy, rowdy, and yet somehow organized.

Her outfit made her look completely out of place.

"Hah! An uptown princess? What's someone like her doing down here?" Vi snorted dismissively.

"You're certainly more ill-mannered than most," Caitlyn replied coolly, giving Vi a once-over. "And lacking in both brains and basic feminine decency."

"You little. !" Vi slammed a fist onto the counter.

Duke leaned back, calmly enjoying the show. The contrast between Vi and Caitlyn was just too entertaining.

"Vi," Vander called out sternly, "go get Clagg and Mylo."

"Ugh, fine."

Vi grumbled, while Caitlyn turned her head away, refusing to give her another glance.

Vander looked at Duke, who was clearly enjoying the drama. "What were you thinking?"

"I thought they'd get along. So I brought Caitlyn over."

Vander gave Caitlyn a soft look. "These two are complete opposites... but that might be why they'll become good friends."

"See? Told you."

"Friends? With that?" Vi huffed, plopping down at the table. "She's like a frosted cake. way too delicate."

Caitlyn frowned, regretting her curiosity. Her first visit to Zaun had been fascinating. but Vi's hostility was making her want to leave immediately.

"Oh, right. Duke!"

Vander remembered something from Duke's last visit.

"Didn't you mention a rat problem over at the oil tank factory?"

"What about it?"

"You were right. It's gotten worse. I think there's a rat king. smart and strong. leading them."

"You want my help?" Duke folded his arms. "I charge a high price."

"I gave you a daughter already. What more do you want?"

"Don't mention Jinx. Just thinking about her gives me a headache. She blew up her school's lab last week. She's basically a walking disaster."

"Full of energy though, isn't she?"

Vander chuckled, but it quickly turned into a violent coughing fit. Blood appeared between his fingers as he tried to hide it.

"You're sick?"

Duke's eyes narrowed. Vander waved it off.

"Just lingering issues from that old factory job. I can't fight anymore, that's all."

"That's not nothing. I still need you to hold down the Black Lanes."

"I'll be fine. Just deal with the rats. A few kids got dragged into the sewers and never came back."

Vander wiped away the blood and waved off Vi, who looked like she wanted to speak.

"Why not notify the enforcers?" Caitlyn asked before she could stop herself.

Vi laughed coldly. "Those rich brats only care about the Gold Sea. They wouldn't come down here to deal with our problems."

"Oh, right. Little miss uptown wouldn't know anything about real darkness."

Vi gave her a smug look. Caitlyn slammed the table and stood up.

"Duke, I'm leaving."

"Alright. I'll walk you back, then deal with the rats."

"What's wrong? Running away already?"

Vi leaned against the bar, smirking.

"Figures. You've lived your whole life in a sugar jar. Go home, princess."

Caitlyn froze mid-step. Her eyes narrowed.

"Say that again."

"I said you're a spoiled little cupcake. Got a problem?"

Vi stepped up close, whispering with a grin, "Cupcake."

"Duke," Caitlyn growled, "you got a rifle or a shotgun I can borrow? Count me in on this rat hunt."

Duke sighed, rolling his eyes. "Give me ten minutes. I'll make one for you."

"Hmph." Vi snorted and turned to Mylo. "Get things ready. Let's see if Cupcake here doesn't cry when she sees a real rat."

Duke smacked her lightly on the head. "Don't take your grudge against the uptown folks out on someone innocent."

"Tch."

Vi crossed her arms and sat down, while Duke headed for the basement. There, he dug out his old Death Knell sidearm, and a busted rifle someone had thrown away.

"Barrel's still intact. I can work with this."

"Duke!" Clagg appeared behind him, nervous. "Can you help Vander? He's been coughing blood… I'm really worried."

"Don't worry. I'll call a doctor."

Duke pulled out his tools. "Also, turn up the lights. I need to take this thing apart."

"Got it!"

Ten minutes later, Duke returned with a custom rifle, heavily modified from the Death Knell pistol.

He placed the rifle and ammo down in front of Caitlyn.

"Rebuilt this from my old sidearm. It's rough, but it'll do. I tuned the sights, added a scope, and installed a recoil dampener. Even carved in a little engraving for flair."

Caitlyn's eyes widened as she examined it. The craftsmanship was precise. Stock reinforced. Barrel extended. Scope clear and bright. And that recoil system. it was elegant engineering.

"This is… even better than the one my father gave me for my birthday!"

"You really made this in ten minutes?"

"Ten minutes gives you this. Give me five more, and I'll throw in a grenade launcher."

Duke popped a malt candy into his mouth and turned to Vi. "Oh right. yours."

"My what?"

He handed her an early prototype of her gauntlets. Though rougher than the final version, they still packed a punch strong enough to break walls, and even included shock absorbers to protect her hands.

"I whipped these up as a prototype. Yours to keep. Once you find your calling, I'll build you a better pair."

Vi slipped them on immediately. The gears inside whirred to life, and her grin stretched wide.

"These are awesome! Like, insanely awesome!"

"Well then," Duke said, clapping his hands. "Ladies…"

"Let's go hunting."

End of chapter...

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