[A/N]: I am back, and with me I brought this long chapter, so let's do our best to achieve 500 Powerstone goals to get you that bonus chapter
After packing what they needed, they headed to Stark Industries' private hangar. The facility hummed with activity as technicians ran final checks on various aircraft. Winter sun stretched long shadows across the concrete.
Jay had called Tony the night before, calling in a favor. After Latveria and the media circus that followed, commercial travel wasn't an option. One paparazzi photo would turn their getaway into a spectacle.
Tony stood near a modified Stark Industries jet, painted in red and gold with stealth modifications that probably cost more than most countries' GDP.
"Well, well, well," Tony called out. "Look what the cat dragged in. The lovebirds are finally back together."
Pepper emerged from behind the aircraft, tablet in hand. "Jay, Neena. I hope you're both well. The jet's been prepped according to your specifications."
She positioned herself between them and Tony, protective instincts honed by years of managing a genius with a death wish.
Tony was already warming to his theme. "Ah, young love! Off on your honeymoon phase, touring the world together. There's something beautiful about that kind of romance, isn't there, Pep?"
Pepper's elbow connected with his ribs. Her smile never wavered, but her voice dropped dangerously sweet. "Am I not young, Tony?"
Tony's face went through several color changes. "I... that's not... what I meant was..." He cleared his throat. "Let me show you the specifications instead! Yes, that's much safer territory."
Jay stifled a chuckle as Tony launched into an overly detailed explanation, clearly trying to change the subject.
"Custom Stark Industries propulsion system, extended range capabilities, full communication suite." Tony gestured enthusiastically. "The pilot's already been briefed and all the paperwork's handled. Diplomatic immunity, flight clearances, the works."
"What about the governments?" Jay interrupted. "Won't they be on edge after Latveria? I did technically invade a sovereign nation and assassinate their head of state on live television."
Tony's grin returned. "I don't know what you did for Fury, but you need to share the secret with me. The guy was fighting tooth and nail against the UN issuing a warrant for your arrest. He cited 'potential PR disasters' and the 'risk of losing public support' so convincingly that he put the fear of God into politicians worried about losing votes."
His tone shifted. "Congratulations, Jay. You're now the most sought-after celebrity on the planet. Everyone wants to meet you, get favors from you, or control you. So you need to be very careful where you show your face."
Domino burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Tony asked.
Jay squeezed Domino's hand. "Trade secret. Inside joke."
They completed final preparations quickly. Jay thanked Tony and Pepper while Domino loaded their luggage. As they climbed the steps, Tony called out one final piece of advice.
"Try not to start any international incidents! And if you do, at least get it on video!"
The jet's interior was pure Stark luxury—leather seats, advanced entertainment systems, and a cabin spacious enough to serve as a flying apartment. After hours in flight, the engines hummed with a low thrum that vibrated through the floor. Domino turned to Jay with a teasing expression.
"So," she said, stretching in her seat, "are we really going on this tour just for our honeymoon? What would Masacre think about us living in sin before marriage?"
Jay laughed and reached for her hand. "Actually, there's more to this trip than a romantic getaway. Let me explain something about my teleportation powers."
Blue circuits extended from Jay's fingertips to the screen in front of him as he used his technomorphing to cut off their cabin from monitoring.
He leaned toward her. "Right now, I need to physically visit a location and create a clear mental image to use as a teleportation anchor. I have to see the place, walk around it, understand its layout before I can reliably teleport there."
Domino nodded.
"I'm training to evolve the ability," Jay continued. "Eventually, I want to teleport to any location just by seeing a photograph or even imagining it. But for now, I need to build up a network of anchor points across every major city, every strategic location around the world."
Understanding dawned in Domino's eyes. "So this isn't just a vacation. You're building an escape network."
"Exactly. If we ever need to disappear quickly, or if there's business somewhere in the world, I'll be able to respond instantly instead of being limited to places I've been before."
Domino leaned back, studying his face. "Christ, just how many powers did you collect in those four months we were apart?"
Jay's fingers drummed against the armrest. "Well, I should clarify something first. I already had my healing and danger sense, plus power theft as my original mutations from before I met you."
He began ticking off acquisitions on his fingers. "My first major expansion came from darkforce manipulation and molecular mimicry that I acquired from enhanced prisoners in the Fridge, a SHIELD black site prison."
Domino's eyes widened.
"The Japan trip was productive. I negotiated with Ichiro Yashida, head of the Yashida Corporation. In exchange for treating him and extending his life, his son Kenuichio transferred his tachyon field manipulation to me. That's what let me acquire Muramasa Wade kept asking to borrow."
"Tomoe, a shrine maiden, provided technomorphing—the ability to interface with and control technology through touch. Now I can hack systems and bypass security for places I've never seen before."
His expression darkened. "Korea turned complicated fast. I had specific targets: two mutants with abilities to amplify and distort others' powers, very compatible with my original mutation. Chance was straightforward. I offered her money in exchange for her probability manipulation. But Kim Il Sung..."
Jay's jaw tightened. "The bastard was running the M-Gang. When I discovered what they were doing to those kids... the kidnapped mutant children they were trafficking, the surgical modifications they'd performed to harvest organs..." His hands clenched. "I lost my temper. I just took his power disruption ability and maimed him. Killed one of his goons."
Domino moved closer, wrapping her arms around him. "I'm sorry you had to go through that alone. I wish I'd been there."
Jay relaxed slightly but shook his head. "Phil Coulson had to extract me from Tiger Division custody afterward. The Korean government wasn't exactly thrilled about a foreign powered individual executing one of their criminals, even one as despicable as Kim."
His voice became more clinical. "To clear my head and properly train with my expanding abilities, I went to Nepal. Spent three months with the Masters of the Mystic Arts."
"Wait, wait," Domino interrupted. "I know I didn't believe in magic before, but after seeing Doom dealing with demons and Gorilla Man's curse, I can digest that. But there's a whole Hogwarts in Nepal, of all places?"
A rueful smile crossed Jay's face. "The Kamar-Taj monastery. They protect Earth from mystical threats like dimensional lords, demons from hell, and entities that exist beyond normal reality. The Ancient One leads them as the Sorcerer Supreme."
Seeing Domino's expression, Jay chuckled. "Here's the ironic part: I can't use magic at all. Not even the simplest cantrip. The Ancient One looked genuinely disappointed when she tested my potential."
"Then what did they teach you?"
"Everything else. Combat techniques specifically designed for hunting supernatural creatures. Tactical analysis of mystical threats. Meditation techniques and methods for bringing out the best in my existing abilities. I had access to their entire library of rituals and remedies, though I can't cast any of them myself."
Confusion flickered across Domino's features. "But wouldn't hunting supernatural creatures be incredibly dangerous if you can't use magic to protect yourself?"
Jay smiled. "That's exactly why I went to such lengths to acquire that blade. Muramasa works as an anti-magic artifact. It can cut through mystical barriers, disrupt supernatural creatures, even wound entities that are normally immune to physical damage."
His tone grew more serious. "And Kim Il Sung's power disruption doesn't just work on superpowers. It can disrupt all mechanisms, whether they're magical, technological, or energy-based. Combined with Murasama, that combination was my key advantage against Doom's sorcery."
Understanding dawned in Domino's eyes. "That's how you briefly turned Gorilla Man human. You disrupted the curse holding his transformation."
"Exactly. After completing my training at Kamar-Taj, I travelled to Afterlife, the Inhuman sanctuary, to negotiate with them for Gordon's teleportation powers. After some convincing, they agreed. Then I returned to America to acquire light and darkforce manipulation from two kids who'd been caught in an accident."
The weight of his preparation settled over Domino. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft.
"You were planning all of this just to get back at Doom, weren't you?"
Fury hardened Jay's features. "I had to, Dom. He took away my friends, he put the Morlocks and my inner circle in danger, and..." His voice dropped. "He pushed us apart. I couldn't move forward without paying him back for everything he'd stolen from me."
Domino hugged him tighter, feeling his heartbeat against her cheek. "I wish you had called. The mercs and I would have had a blast kicking that bastard Doom's ass."
Genuine laughter broke through Jay's darker mood. "I know you would have. But this was something I needed to do myself."
Once they'd both settled back, Domino's expression shifted to something more vulnerable. "I'm really jealous, you know."
Jay's eyebrows rose.
"You can train and control your powers so easily and effectively, while mine are just..." She stopped abruptly, and Jay could see the memory of her powers failing to save him during the Baxter Building incident still cutting deep.
Jay studied the pain in her face. "Actually, I've been thinking about something for a couple of days now."
His expression became thoughtful. "I couldn't take your powers before because your probability field works on such a large scale, setting complex chains of events in motion across vast distances. But now..."
He extended his hand toward her, fingers hovering just above her skin. "May I try something? I think I might be able to help you gain conscious control."
Trust overrode nervousness as Domino nodded.
The moment Jay's fingers touched her hand, his danger sense screamed warnings of imminent death. But he pressed forward, using Kim Il Sung's power disruption to weaken and interfere with the probability field that Neena's mutation unconsciously controlled.
The sensation was like trying to grab hold of lightning. As he felt her field destabilizing under his influence, he carefully extracted the power. The instant the transfer completed, the aircraft lurched violently.
"Ladies and gentlemen," came the pilot's stressed voice over the intercom, "we've just had a bird strike that took out one of our primary turbines. We're down to backup turbine. We're just entering Indian airspace now."
Jay's eyes snapped open, and he immediately focused on his newly acquired ability. Domino's power manifested as traditional six-sided transparent dice floating in his mind. Using his Adaptive Power Perk, he concentrated intensely on maximizing their survival probability.
"Backup engines are online and running smoothly," the pilot announced with obvious relief. "False alarm, folks. We'll be touching down in Delhi right on schedule."
The turbulence smoothed out, but when Jay looked at Domino, she was drenched in sweat and hyperventilating.
"Dom, what's wrong? Are you alright?" He reached for her immediately.
"I've never..." she gasped, her voice shaking. "I've never been in danger without feeling my luck would protect me. When you took my power, I felt so cold and empty."
Hot tears began streaming down her face, and Jay's heart clenched. It was like losing a limb she'd never realized she depended on.
Jay pulled her into his arms. "Dom, hey, look at me." He cupped her face gently, thumbs brushing away her tears. "Do you trust me?"
Through her tears, she managed a nod.
"I just need time to train your power to a level where it can be controlled through conscious effort rather than subconscious reflex. I promise you'll never have to doubt your abilities again."
A shaky smile broke through her distress. "I always trust you."
"Meanwhile," Jay said, his voice protective, "I can't let you be vulnerable without any powers."
Warmth flowed from his palms as he placed his hands on her shoulders, transferring two of his abilities. "Here. I'm giving you my danger sense and tachyon field manipulation. The danger sense will keep you safe by warning you of threats before they materialize, and applying the tachyon field to your knives and bullets will make them guaranteed lethal attacks."
The new abilities settled into Domino's consciousness like puzzle pieces finding their proper places. The danger sense was like gaining a new layer of awareness. The tachyon field felt like controlled energy at her fingertips.
Curious and eager to test her new capabilities, she picked up a butter knife from their meal tray and consciously applied the tachyon field. The blade began to glow with barely visible white energy threaded with black spots.
"Careful with..." Jay started to warn.
The enhanced butter knife sliced through the corner of their table like it was made of tissue paper, leaving edges so clean they looked polished.
"Oops," Domino said, but she was grinning with the excitement of someone experiencing active power control for the first time in her life.
Delhi's sprawling urban landscape came into view as they began their descent—a mixture of ancient architecture and modern glass towers stretching to the horizon under the afternoon sun. The aircraft touched down at Delhi's international airport with only one functional engine, but thanks to Jay's probability manipulation, the landing was smooth and uneventful. As the engines wound down, they walked down the aircraft steps hand in hand. The humid Delhi air hit them immediately, carrying scents of spices, exhaust, and eight million people living in close proximity.
"Ready for our world tour?" Jay asked, squeezing her fingers.
Despite the earlier emotional trauma, Domino's smile was radiant. She now carried part of his abilities while he worked to master hers.
"With you?" she said, taking her first breath of Indian air. "I'm ready for anything."
Jay looked out at the bustling city beyond the airport. After months of planning, training, and preparation, after the brutal confrontation with Doom and the painful separation that followed, he was finally moving forward. Not just as a man seeking revenge or trying to clear his name, but as someone building a future.
"Welcome to Delhi," he murmured, more to himself than to her.
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