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Home of the Devil Fruits
"By the way, Manager," Trish suddenly said, eyes sparkling as another thought hit her. "Didn't you mention a group chat for Devil Fruit users? I want in! Add me!"
For someone who'd dreamed her whole life of standing among heroes, the idea of joining a chat filled with real ones was like being handed a golden ticket to the Hall of Fame.
"Of course," Rosh replied with an easy smile. He reached for his tablet, fingers moving swiftly across the screen. "Give me a second."
A few taps later, he dropped a message into the group.
Shopkeeper: "@everyone, please welcome Trish to the family! She's officially joined the ranks of the Devil Fruit Family. Make her feel at home."
Trish Walker: "Hi, everyone! I'm Trish, user of the Cat–Cat Fruit, Model: Jungle Cat. I'm really happy to be here and can't wait to work with you all!"
Predictably, the first reply came from the loudest voice in the room, virtually speaking.
Wade Wilson: "Cat fruit? Oh, a Zoan user! Finally! I've been dying to see one in action!"
Wade Wilson: "But wait, serious question, why isn't it the catgirl form? Huge missed opportunity, if you ask me."
Vanessa: "Don't mind Wade. He's allergic to common sense. I'm Vanessa, a user of the Suit–Suit Fruit. Welcome to the chaos!"
Hope van Dyne: "Hold on. Trish? That name sounds familiar… wait, isn't Trish Talk your show?"
Pepper Potts: "Miss Walker, you're the Trish from Trish Talk, aren't you?"
Trish Walker: "Unless there's another Trish out there with a show by the same name, yes, that would be me."
Morbius: "Well, well, a celebrity joins our little circle. Things are getting interesting. I can already tell people I've got a star in my contacts."
The chat quickly exploded with warm greetings and playful banter, messages scrolling faster than Trish could read them. Every name she saw represented someone extraordinary, heroes, inventors, even people she'd only ever read about.
Trish's hands trembled slightly as she typed her replies. She was no stranger to fan attention; being famous came with its own crowd, but this was something else entirely.
These weren't ordinary fans or talk show guests. These were people with powers, legends in the making. And for the first time, she wasn't just interviewing them… she was one of them.
Her heart thudded with excitement.
She'd dreamed of this for years, of belonging, of mattering. And now, standing in that softly lit shop with her best friend beside her, Trish Walker could finally say it aloud and mean it: She was a hero.
Still, Trish kept her message short and sweet since she was in the shop and not lounging at home. After typing out a polite goodbye, she exited the group chat with a satisfied grin.
"Shopkeeper, I won't take up any more of your time. I'll drop by again soon!" she said warmly. With a few more pleasantries exchanged, Trish waved and headed for the door, Jessica following right behind.
"Jess, now that I'm officially a superhero, don't you think I need a flashy alias?" Trish asked, her voice practically sparkling with excitement. "Come on, you've gotta have some ideas!"
Jessica raised an eyebrow, half amused. "You're asking me?"
Trish thought for a moment, tapping her chin dramatically. "I've always liked the name Cheetah, but that one's taken, and worse, she's a villain. I can't be seen recycling a bad guy's name. I'm a hero, after all." Her eyes lit up suddenly. "What about… Hellcat? Sounds fierce, right? I could give criminals a taste of hell itself!"
Jessica gave her a look that was somewhere between disbelief and reluctant amusement. "Sure, Trish. 'Hellcat.' Sounds terrifying."
Their laughter echoed down the street as they walked away, voices fading into the afternoon bustle, half-joking, half-serious, but full of that hopeful spark that came with newfound purpose.
Once their figures finally disappeared around the corner, Rosh couldn't help but smile faintly. Another sale complete.
Trish had put down her deposit weeks ago, so the deal was practically a done thing from the start. But in his line of work, nothing was real until the gold hit the counter; now, it was official.
He leaned back, glancing toward the counter with quiet satisfaction. Another step forward.
Just yesterday, Frank Castle came by to seal his purchase with a heavy gold delivery that was punctual and straightforward, as always. Then there were Happy and Tony Stark, both pending their turn. Though with Stark, Rosh didn't even have to wonder.
After all, in the Marvel universe, who else but Tony Stark sat at the very peak of the financial pyramid? Gold to him was pocket change. Those deals were as good as done.
With that thought, Rosh's grin widened. His business was booming, and his satisfied "customers" collection was growing by the day.
Rosh was in unusually high spirits, his good mood even bleeding into his gaming session. Every move clicked, every play landed perfectly. Five ranked matches later, he was sitting pretty at Diamond I, a rare high point in his otherwise "strictly casual" gaming career.
He leaned back with a satisfied grin, ready to ride that momentum straight into the next tier when...
*Ding-a-ling!*
The familiar chime of the shop's bell cut through the room.
Rosh froze mid-motion, thumb hovering over the screen. The eternal struggle of every gamer-owner: glory or duty. With a reluctant sigh, he set his phone aside and looked up.
The door creaked open, letting in a young woman with sharp Asian features and a quiet confidence that filled the room before she even spoke. Her movements were precise and controlled, not just graceful, but disciplined. Every step she took had a fighter's rhythm.
Rosh's brows lifted in recognition. He knew that face.
Not one of the headliners of the Marvel Universe, perhaps, but certainly not an obscure one either. Unlike many of Marvel's underdeveloped female characters, this one had substance, strength, and complexity, the kind that made her stand out.
Colleen Wing.
At this point in the timeline, Rosh couldn't quite tell whether she'd already broken ties with the Hand or if she was still entangled in their shadowy schemes. Either way, she was here now, and that alone said plenty.
"Hello, Shopkeeper," she greeted, her tone calm but edged with curiosity. "So… what exactly are these 'Devil Fruits' you're selling?"
Rosh barely had time to answer before her attention was drawn to the glass display nearby. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of rows of bizarre, vividly patterned fruits, each exuding an otherworldly charm.
"These… these are them?" she murmured, stepping closer. "They look so strange."
"Welcome," Rosh replied with an easy smile. "As strange as they seem, you're looking at the legendary Devil Fruits themselves. They're unlike anything else in this world."
Colleen tore her gaze away from the display and met his eyes again. Her expression was calm, but there was a spark behind it, a curiosity tempered by determination.
"And what do they cost?" she asked evenly.
The tone said it all. Colleen wasn't just here to browse. She was here to buy.
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Next Chapter: Did I Just Meet Superman?
Next Next Chapter: The Day Colleen Wing Went Warp
Next Next Next Chapter: Forged from Genius, Fueled by Fantasy
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