"Skye?"
Hearing the little girl's name, Kurogai was slightly stunned. That name was all too familiar. If she'd been called something else, maybe it wouldn't have clicked—but Skye was none other than the future Quake, Daisy Johnson.
Of course, she wasn't known as Quake yet. Right now, she was still just Skye, the name she was given at the orphanage as a child. Could it be… was this the same orphanage she grew up in?
But something didn't add up.
Kurogai frowned, trying to piece the timeline together. He remembered that Skye had been placed into an orphanage shortly after birth—not when she was already two or three.
"Little Skye, can you tell me where you lived before?" he asked gently, hoping to confirm a few details.
"I was at Mary Joia Orphanage," she said timidly, avoiding his gaze. "But two days ago, Director Mom said it went bankrupt and couldn't keep going. So she sent me and the other kids to different orphanages."
Understanding dawned in Kurogai's mind. The original orphanage had shut down, and the children were relocated. That explained why Skye had ended up here.
"Are you going to send me away?" she asked nervously, tears welling up in her big eyes. She was young, but kids from orphanages matured faster. She probably thought he didn't want her around.
"Oh no, I'm not sending you away. You can stay," Kurogai reassured her softly. "But it's not very safe here, so try not to wander outside, okay?"
He wasn't bothered by Skye's presence. In fact, he liked Quake in the movies and shows. Still, her being here complicated things.
Kurogai knew the earlier robbery wouldn't just fade away. Garrett's arrival was already a sign that things were getting dangerous. If Garrett could trace him, others might too. If someone dug deep enough, trouble would follow.
But looking at little Skye's pitiful expression, something in him softened. He remembered how her life had been torn apart by Whitehall. She'd grown up alone in an orphanage, waiting for a family that never came. The memory stirred something within him.
"Really? That's great! Thank you, big brother!" she beamed, the tears gone in an instant, replaced by a radiant smile. Kurogai chuckled quietly. Still, this meant he had to be more careful with his ability research.
Over the next few hours, he showed her around the orphanage. It was something Director Mary had asked him to do. Though Kurogai looked like a five- or six-year-old on the outside, his mind was already that of an adult. Sometimes, he acted too mature for his age—that's why the Director had entrusted Skye to him in the first place.
Later that night, Skye had already drifted off to sleep in the small bed beside his. She was clearly exhausted, both mentally and physically, from everything that had happened. Kurogai, however, sat quietly by the window, deep in thought.
How can I grow stronger and survive through this vulnerable stage of my life? And what path should I take for the future?
Staring at the moonlight outside, Kurogai weighed his options. Ever since he realized he was in the Marvel universe, he knew the danger he was in. Childhood was his weakest phase, and he had to plan wisely.
"There are three possible paths," he murmured.
"First—S.H.I.E.L.D. They have expert-level agent training. If I could get in, I'd have access to physical, tactical, and possibly even superhuman development."
On the surface, it sounded ideal. As an orphan, he technically qualified. But Kurogai quickly shook his head. Hydra. There were too many infiltrators inside S.H.I.E.L.D. One wrong move and he could be found, manipulated, or worse—brainwashed.
"Second, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters," he muttered. "With Professor X and other mutants, I'd be surrounded by powerful allies."
It was a tempting idea. The school wasn't facing too much danger yet, and being there could fast-track his growth. But there were concerns. Kurogai's powers came from the Ultimate Eye, not from any X-gene. There was no guarantee he'd even be accepted. Plus, Professor X had telepathic abilities—his memories and secrets could be exposed.
"Third... Kamar-Taj. Learning magic from the Ancient One."
That was the one he found most appealing. Sorcery was powerful, and teleportation alone made it worth pursuing. But there was a catch—he didn't even know if he had the aptitude for magic.
He rubbed his temples, deep in thought. All three paths had advantages and risks. It wasn't an easy choice.
"Forget it. No need to rush. I'll take some time to observe the situation first," he whispered.
For now, his priority was to study his own powers and keep a low profile. The fallout from the robbery hadn't fully settled, and S.H.I.E.L.D. was still watching this area. The best move was to lay low until the heat died down.
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