Claws Out (Marvel x MHA fanfiction)

Chapter 37 - Mall Trip Encounter

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The air was stale.

It was hard to breathe this deep underground, especially now that the machines that used to pump in clean air were broken and shut down. The woman had been here before, had lived here. Once upon a time, it was her whole world, her life's work. Now it was nothing more than a tomb for dilapidated dreams and messy ideas.

Fortunately, since she'd been here before, she knew exactly where to go for what she was looking for. Unfortunately, her boss decided it was too risky for her to go alone, so he sent her with two lackeys that were... interesting, for sure. If not annoying.

"What are we looking for here, exactly?" The taller one asked, she had never bothered learning their names. Knowing that their part in the grand play she was directing would be small and unimportant compared to what The Doctor had planned.

Though, it was rather convenient having people who listened to your orders again, and this one was able to light the way with a blue flame that danced across his scarred and stapled skin.

"We aren't looking for anything. I know exactly what I'm here for and you two are making sure nothing kills me." She rolled her eyes as she spoke, stepping over a broken piece of medical equipment. "Just keep quiet and continue lighting the way."

The younger one, a small blonde girl dressed like she was still in middle school, spoke up, "Yuck, this place is gross. Where are we?"

"You are standing in one of the most high tech medical research labs in all of Japan." The woman said, right before a dead lightbulb sparked and crashed to the ground behind them. "...What's left of it, at least."

The boy rolled his eyes, "Right. If this hellhole was one of the most 'high tech' research places in all of Japan, how come none of us had ever heard of it?" He had a challenging look in his eye, natural defiance, the woman recognized it immediately. She'd seen it so many times before.

"Because it was a well kept secret. All manner of weapons were born here, we couldn't let just anyone know about it."

She guided them through the maze of, what was once, white sterile walls and flooring. Now it was dirty and broken and nothing.

Dried blood was smeared on the floors and walls, dirt and grime and mold had slowly started coating the walls, slash marks were scattered about in perfect three's. The woman found herself sneering at those.

X-23. The Doctor's greatest creation, the weapon to end all weapons, the final piece of the Nomu puzzle... Now she's out in the world, gallivanting around pretending to be a hero. Shaking her head, the woman sighed and cleared the thoughts from her mind. X-23 would be reclaimed soon enough, then The Doctor could resume his work. All would be well.

The trio turned and stopped at the end of a long hallway. The door at the end was their destination, the woman prayed it held an undestroyed version of what they came for.

"So... What are we here for?" The younger girl asked, skipping alongside the two adults like she was simply promenading around the park.

"A vital tool for what The Doctor is planning." Was all she replied with.

Approaching the door, they saw that the metal had been mangled and wedged shut to the point of disuse. Another gift from X-23 perhaps, if the slashes and cuts in the material gave any clue.

The woman sighed and looked at the dark-haired man, "How hot can your flames get?" He gave her a blank look.

"What's the thing made out of?" He asked with a bored voice while knocking a hand against the door.