𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐑 | 𝗯𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀

three : intimidation

three : intimidation

ELAINE, PIETRO, AND WANDA CUT THE POWER TO THE SHIP IN THE SALVAGE YARD. Pietro sped his two sisters up to where Klaue was stationed. They saw Klaue pick up his handgun, aiming it at Pietro before shooting once.

Pietro was much faster, speeding towards him and disarming Klaue, leaving the bullets on Klaue's desk. Pietro stood with his arms crossed as Elaine and Wanda stepped into sight.

Klaue immediately knew who they were. "Yeah. The Enhanced. Strucker's prized pupils." He took a seat as if it were all some joke, lifting a bowl and offering it to the triplets. "You want a candy? Hm?" The Enhanced ignored him, and he put the bowl down. "I was sorry to hear about Strucker. But then, he knew what kind of world he was helping create. Human life. Not a growth market."

      Pietro looked down before glancing at his two sisters. None of the triplets knew Strucker was dead. But then again, to the siblings, he was just helping them take down Tony Stark.

      Klaue took their expressions in and his tone dropped slightly. "You didn't know? Is this your first time intimidating someone? I'm afraid I'm not that afraid."

      Wanda took a step further into the light, a scowl forming on her face. "Everybody is afraid of something."

      "Cuttlefish." Klaue stated, pointing at Elaine and Wanda, causing Pietro to tilt his head to the side. "Deep sea fish. They make lights, disco lights..." He made the sounds and motions with his hand and mouth. "to hypnotize their pray, and then..." he grabbed the air with his fist, uselessly demonstrating what Cuttlefish did. "I saw a documentary. It was terrifying."

      Pietro used his speed, grabbed a candy, and went back to where his was standing all in the blink of an eye, startling Klaue as he did so. Klaue shook it off and continued anyway. "So if you're going to fiddle with my brain and make me see a giant Cuttlefish, then I know you don't do business. And I know you're not in charge." Klaue stood up. "And I only deal with the man in charge."

      As if on cue, Ultron appeared outside the window of the office they were in.

▔▔▔▔▔▔

Klaue, Ultron, the triplets, and one of Klaue's helpers led them to a secluded area. The helper pulled back a door, revealing bins that were labeled TOXIC WASTE. The bins began moving down, and another level with a dozens of tubes of Vibranium took its place.

Klaue took a tube before walking over to Ultron who began speaking. "Upon this rock, I will build my church." Klaue gave Ultron the tube, who flipped it in his hands. "Vibranium." Ultron tossed it to Pietro, who caught it and intently inspected it.

"You know, it came at great personal cost." Klaue mentioned as he nervously scratched the back of his neck. "It's worth billions."

Ultron chuckled before looking down at Klaue and speaking. "Now so are you." The helper's phone began buzzing repeatedly as Ultron easily remotely paid him. "It's all under your dummy holdings. Finance is so weird. But I always say, "Keep your friends rich and your enemies rich and wait to find out which is which"."

Klaue looked up from the phone and slowly turned back to Ultron. "Stark."

"What?" Ultron asked.

"Tony Stark used to say that. To me." Klaue replied. "You're one of his."

"What? I'm not—" Ultron began, grabbing Klaue's arm and pulling it up. The helper grabbed his gun to use it, but Elaine used her powers and flicked her hands by her side. His hand was now frozen to the gun as blue mist and electric strands surrounded it. "I'm not. You think I'm one of Stark's puppets? His hollow men? I mean, look at me. Do I look like Iron man? Stark is nothing!"