"So, you leaked some info to Maria Hill?"
Rumlow leaned back in his chair, balancing on its rear legs.
Dugan's eyes flickered as he studied Rumlow, his thoughts unreadable.
"The World Security Council's bound to have Hydra agents. This'll force them to slip up and reveal more."
"But it also means you've tipped Hydra off that someone's onto them."
Rumlow snapped upright, planting his hands on the table, locking eyes with Dugan.
"Most of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s key operatives are already Hydra. You think looking for outside help is a smart move?"
Dugan lit his cigar, smoke billowing from his nostrils, wafting into Rumlow's face.
"What else can we do? You think our dozen or so guys can take on Hydra and S.H.I.E.L.D.? I'm not that arrogant."
Dugan exhaled, his expression cool as he added, "Nick Fury's one of Hydra's biggest shields. We can't fight all of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Rumlow nodded, grudgingly agreeing with the latter point. Even Fury probably didn't know the full extent of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s shady tech.
But the idea of Fury being branded Hydra made him want to laugh.
"What about Howard's kid? You're not gonna reach out to him? That playboy's not someone you can just brush off."
"Who among us could even get to him? Send Peggy from her hospital bed? Besides, the kid's just got money and brains. You expect him to grab a gun and storm the front lines?"
Dugan didn't care for Anthony Edward Stark. Calling him "Tony" wouldn't even get a response.
The kid had cut ties with their old crew long ago, and whatever bond remained had faded.
Only those Stark acknowledged—whose names he bothered to remember—could call him Tony. Anyone else shouting "Mr. Stark" might as well be invisible.
"At least he's got money."
Rumlow drawled the words slowly, giving them a weighty air.
"Yeah, in this country, money solves everything. If it doesn't, you just don't have enough."
Dugan pinched his overly dry cigar.
If he had Stark's wealth, he wouldn't be rationing cigars.
"But why would he give you money? He doesn't care about this."
No matter who ruled the world, guys like Tony Stark would never lose their wealth.
Even Hydra wouldn't brainwash a scientist of his caliber. A botched brainwashing would be whose fault?
The Stark family's genius was their greatest asset—untouchable.
"Mr. Bul-Kathos, your driver's license."
A black-suited agent handed the license to Bul-Kathos with deference, casting an envious glance at the rugged, windowless pickup nearby.
"Alright, thank Coulson for me. Tell him to swing by when he's free—I've got a gift for him."
Bul-Kathos pocketed the license without a second glance.
The details on it didn't interest him.
"Damn punk, one more step and I'll shove your head in a toilet and flush!"
Jessica Jones' voice rang out, fierce but tinged with fear.
She faced a man who radiated trouble, locked in a tense standoff.
Bul-Kathos noticed the puncture wounds riddling Jessica's body. They hadn't slowed her down yet.
"It's Bullseye!"
The agent whispered, identifying the man for Bul-Kathos alone, avoiding Bullseye's attention.
A villain who branded his forehead wasn't exactly common.
"You know what's in that camera, don't you? Impressive you dodged me all night and still talk tough."
Bullseye's tone was casual, a throwing knife spinning at his fingertips.
As a private investigator, Jessica had taken a shady job to photograph a factory's interior.
The payout was hefty if she delivered the photos.
After seeing what the factory produced, she'd considered calling the cops, but the client's offer was too good.
She planned to expose the criminal operation after completing the job.
Unfortunately, despite her flight, Bullseye—lurking nearby—had caught her trail.
Jessica's will to fight had been broken long ago under the Purple Man's torment.
Even with Purple Man's head crushed by Bul-Kathos, she'd only just begun to reclaim a normal life, barely free of his shadow.
Without her flight, those wounds would've been far worse.
Jessica didn't want others dragged into her mess, but in a crowd, she couldn't just fly off. Escaping the city had taken effort, and habit led her to Bul-Kathos' blacksmith shop.
Here, she could take flight without causing a scene.
Bul-Kathos sensed the vile sin radiating from Bullseye. With a wave, he pushed the agent aside and strode toward the villain.
"Kid, you'd better know what you've done."
His voice rumbled like thunder, drawing Bullseye's attention. He spoke only to ensure this sinful punk wouldn't die clueless.
Bullseye's knife vanished from his hands, streaking toward Bul-Kathos' throat.
A true villain, Bullseye held no reverence for life. If not for curiosity about Jessica's powers, she wouldn't have escaped him all night.
Swift and precise, his throw rivaled a barbarian recruit fresh off learning Weapon Toss—just lacking in raw power.
That was Bul-Kathos' assessment.
He caught the knife midair, as effortlessly as swatting a fly.
Then, with a flick, he sent it back, crackling with lightning.
Weapon Toss: Brutal Throw!
Infused with immense strength and thunder, the knife surged with devastating force.
If Valla's throws struck vital points for massive damage, Bul-Kathos' were like hurling a brick with brute force.
Even if it didn't pierce a demon, the impact would leave them reeling in pain.
Bang!
Author's Note
I sincerely apologize for the rushed drafts you've noticed.
Life's been chaotic lately, and I've slipped in the editing process.
I'm working to get back on track and adjust my state of mind.
Oh, and about the car plot being called filler…
Seriously, the car has a purpose! It's the spark for meeting a superhero. Skipping it would feel off…
I've thought about whether some chapters, like the lore-heavy ones, might seem like filler.
I could make each chapter stick to one perspective, but that would be filler.
I've laid out all the necessary plot points and setups for what's coming. I don't think filling a chapter just to stretch perspectives is needed.
Every chapter's content serves a purpose—I swear I'm not padding!
Some have even complained the perspective shifts hurt the reading experience, calling it disjointed.
I considered fleshing out certain parts, but ultimately passed.
Content that doesn't drive the plot forward feels unacceptable to me.
(Chapter End)
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