After spending the afternoon with the girl, Aetheris felt significantly better.
No wonder those creeps are so obsessed with little girls, there really is something to it.
"Uncle, you're such a smooth talker. I bet you've tricked a bunch of girls before, haven't you?"
Annie blinked her wide eyes at Aetheris, curiosity written all over her face.
Well, she couldn't be blamed. The whole of America had been abuzz with gossip about this infamous playboy. Before Aetheris crossed over, Tony Stark changed girlfriends more often than he changed outfits.
Even that famous pair of twins didn't last a full week.
"Heh, I wouldn't say I tricked them. It's just... I'm too charming. They throw themselves at me. If I didn't graciously accept their love, I'd be doing a disservice to the young women of America."
Aetheris sighed and shrugged, as if the whole thing was a burden he bore for the greater good.
"Pfft!"
Annie burst into laughter, rocking back and forth, completely disarmed by Aetheris's shamelessness.
What she didn't realize was that he was actually telling the truth.
Everyone condemns the playboy, yet deep down, they all want to be him. In the end, the dragon slayer becomes the dragon.
The trip from Brooklyn to Annie's house wasn't far, it was one of Aetheris's suburban villas, after all.
Security there was top-notch.
"That'll be thirty-five dollars," the driver, a middle-aged Black man, said.
Aetheris pulled out a crisp hundred-dollar bill and handed it to him, then stood quietly by the car.
The driver froze, expecting the rich-looking man to say something along the lines of, "Keep the change."
But Aetheris just stood there, saying nothing.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Hurry up and give me my change."
In the end, under the driver's resentful glare, Aetheris pocketed the full sixty-five dollars in change coins and all.
Damn it, I haven't even called you out for calling me old earlier!
Sure, I'm magnanimous... but that depends on who I'm dealing with.
A Black uncle?
Nope. Sorry!
"Mr. Stark, thank you," Annie said sincerely at the villa's entrance.
If Aetheris hadn't shown up when he did, her night would've ended in disaster.
"The pleasure was mine." Aetheris gently took Annie's hand and placed a polite kiss on it.
"But let me give you some advice: never go somewhere that remote at night again. Not every knight shows up in time."
"I understand. Thank you, Uncle."
Annie rose on tiptoe and gave Aetheris a soft kiss on the cheek.
"Good night."
"Good night."
Aetheris watched her walk inside. He didn't follow, he didn't want to disturb Ethan's wife.
It was late at night. Just a man and a woman alone? Not a good idea.
He set the suitcase down, and the Mark III Hellfire Armor instantly equipped itself. With a blast of flames, he shot into the sky.
Annie stood at her bedroom window, watching as Aetheris disappeared into the night sky.
But he didn't go home.
Home no longer felt warm.
"Paul, search for the Pandey antigen."
"Sir, location acquired."
"Full speed ahead."
Ten minutes later, Aetheris arrived at the crater where Thor's hammer had fallen.
"Sir, energy fluctuations detected. Threat level: Class One," Paul's mechanical voice reported.
After nearly half an hour of searching, Aetheris finally reached Mjölnir.
"They say only someone chosen by the God of Thunder can lift Mjölnir. I wonder if I can manage it."
He gripped the hammer's silver handle.
"Ugh!"
Aetheris felt as if he'd latched onto a block of ice. In that instant, he understood that he wasn't worthy either.
"Is war inevitable? Is there no way to prevent it before it begins?"
He remembered something Odin once said in the original storyline:
"A wise king never seeks out war. But a true warrior must always be prepared for one."
"Fury, I think I've found something that might interest you."
"Do you have to call me twice in one night?! I need sleep too!"
Fury, rudely awakened, was not in a good mood. Moments ago, he had been whispering sweet nothings to Captain Marvel in his dream, about to seal the deal only to be yanked out of it by a ringing phone.
He nearly had a heart attack.
"What if it's Thor's hammer?" Aetheris held the phone away, fearing Fury might start shouting through it.
"…Hmm...Where are you?"
An hour later, Aetheris was lying casually in the grass, chatting with Annie, when the sound of roaring engines cut through the air.
Over a dozen Cadillacs arrived in style.
"Hi, I'm Agent Hill."
A striking woman with cropped hair and an elegant aura walked up.
"Hi, I'm..." Aetheris's eyes lit up as he eagerly took her extended hand in both of his.
"Mr. Stark, the people's hero," Hill replied with a faint smile.
"Director Fury didn't come himself?"
"The Director is handling other matters. I'm in charge here for now." Hill's sharp blue eyes flicked to the hammer behind Aetheris.
"So that's the famous Mjölnir?"
"Yep. What, did you think I was joking?" Aetheris glanced at the beautiful woman walking past, his gaze lingering.
She wore a form-fitting black tactical suit that accentuated her graceful figure. Her fair neck was long and elegant, like that of a swan.
A goddess flawless and untouchable.
"What's so special about it? Can it summon lightning or something?" Hill didn't touch the hammer. Instead, she turned to Aetheris, hoping for an explanation.
He looked at her perfect profile—those long lashes, refined nose, delicate ears and felt the spark ignited by the young maid earlier flare into a blaze.
"You could try lifting it. Just to see."
Seizing the moment, Aetheris guided Hill's hands and firmly placed them on Mjölnir's handle.
She felt his hands wrap around hers, steady and unyielding. Behind her, his solid body pressed close—something else seemed to be pressing against her too.
She hesitated, took a deep breath, then tightened her grip on the handle.
"Mmm..."
Hill bit her lip and summoned all her strength. Her rigorous training had left her body lean and powerful.
Aetheris felt it clearly her body tensed, powerful and refined, surging with force. It nearly crushed his golden staff in the process.
"Phew..."
Hill let go and wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.
"It really is something special."
Aetheris watched her beautiful face, thinking:
No matter how special this hammer is, it's still nothing compared to you. I'd trade ten of Thor's hammers for just one night with you.
(End of Chapter)
Want to read the chapters in Advance? Join my Patreon
https://patreon.com/Glimmer09