Adrian’s heart raced as he stood at the edge of the table, his palms damp with nervous anticipation. The burly man who had been eyeing him suspiciously finally leaned back in his chair, a slow, calculating smile spreading across his face. The other men at the table exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued by the stranger who had just inserted himself into their conversation.
“You say you’re looking to make connections?” the burly man asked, his voice gravelly, the tone sharp with the weight of unspoken threats.
Adrian nodded, trying to appear calm and confident, though every instinct told him to be cautious. This was the MCU’s underworld—a place filled with people who dealt in secrets, weapons, and power. He had to play it right, or things could spiral out of control quickly.
“Yeah,” Adrian replied, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. “I’m looking to get in touch with the right people. I don’t have time for games, and I’m willing to pay for what I need.”
The burly man raised an eyebrow, clearly sizing Adrian up. “Pay? What exactly do you have to offer?”
Adrian hesitated for a split second. He wasn’t exactly swimming in resources—everything they had was what they’d managed to scrounge since arriving in this universe. But what he lacked in wealth, he made up for in knowledge. And here, knowledge could be worth more than gold.
“I’ve got skills,” Adrian said, keeping his gaze locked on the man in front of him. “Tech expertise. Engineering. I can get my hands on things most people can’t.”
The man’s grin widened, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Tech, huh? You’re not a Stark wannabe, are you?”
Adrian chuckled softly, shaking his head. “No. I work with more subtle tech—things people won’t see coming. I’m more interested in making the right kind of noise, if you know what I mean.”
The burly man exchanged a glance with one of the others, then nodded slowly. “Alright, I’ll bite. You want to meet The Broker? We’ll see if you’ve got what it takes.”
Adrian felt a weight lift from his shoulders, though he remained cautious. “And what exactly does proving myself entail?”
The burly man’s expression hardened, and he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “The Broker doesn’t deal with just anyone. If you want in, you’ve got to show you can handle a job. Something small, at first. A test, if you will.”
Adrian’s mind raced, but he kept his expression neutral. “What kind of job?”
“Simple,” the man replied, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. “We’ve got a shipment of... sensitive items that need to be moved from one place to another without attracting attention. You do that, no questions asked, and The Broker might be willing to talk to you.”
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Adrian felt a jolt of uncertainty ripple through him. This was dangerous territory. He had no idea what kind of “sensitive items” they were talking about—drugs, weapons, stolen tech? Whatever it was, it wouldn’t be good, but he also knew this was a chance they couldn’t afford to pass up. They needed access to The Broker, and this was the path that would lead them there.
“Alright,” Adrian said after a long pause. “I’m in.”
The burly man’s grin returned, and he pushed a scrap of paper across the table toward Adrian. “Here’s the location where you’ll pick up the package. Bring it to the drop-off point by tomorrow night, and we’ll see if you’re worth The Broker’s time.”
Adrian glanced at the address scribbled on the paper. It was in a part of the city he didn’t recognize, but that didn’t matter. He was committed now, and there was no turning back.
“Tomorrow night,” Adrian repeated, folding the paper and slipping it into his jacket pocket. “Got it.”
The burly man’s eyes lingered on him for a moment longer, then he nodded, his expression darkening. “Don’t screw this up. People who cross The Broker don’t last long in this city.”
Adrian didn’t need the warning to know that failure wasn’t an option. He gave the man a curt nod, then turned and made his way back toward the booth where Emily and Ava were waiting.
Emily’s eyes were sharp, watching every move Adrian made as he approached. When he slid back into the booth, she leaned in, her voice low. “What did you find out?”
Adrian exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his face. “I’ve got a lead on The Broker, but it’s going to require us to take on a job—something shady. I didn’t get details, but we’re transporting something ‘sensitive.’ If I do this right, we might get an in with The Broker.”
Emily’s brow furrowed, concern flickering in her eyes. “Adrian, you know how risky that sounds. We don’t know who these people are, what they’re into.”
“I know,” Adrian said, his voice hushed but urgent. “But we need this. We need resources, connections—something to give us an edge. If The Broker is as connected as these guys say, we’ll get access to things we couldn’t find on our own. Tech, magic, information—it’s all on the table.”
Emily bit her lip, her gaze flicking to Ava, who was happily distracted by her stuffed bunny, unaware of the conversation. After a long moment, she sighed and nodded. “Alright. But we do this carefully. No unnecessary risks.”
Adrian nodded, grateful for her trust. “We’ll do it right. I promise.”
---
The next night, Adrian stood in the shadow of a tall warehouse on the outskirts of the city, his pulse steady as he waited for the contact to show. The dim streetlights cast long, eerie shadows over the cracked pavement, and the distant sounds of traffic were the only indication that the rest of the city was still alive and thriving.
Emily stood beside him, her stance casual but alert, her eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. She was his backup, the safety net that would help ensure nothing went wrong. They had decided to leave Ava with a trusted neighbor in the building where they’d been hiding, knowing this mission was far too dangerous for their daughter to be anywhere near.
After what felt like an eternity, a black van pulled up to the warehouse, its tires crunching on the gravel as it came to a stop. The door slid open, revealing a tall, thin man with slicked-back hair and a sharp suit. He looked more like a businessman than a criminal, but Adrian knew better than to judge by appearances.
“You’re the guy?” the man asked, his voice clipped and professional.
Adrian nodded. “Yeah. Let’s get this done.”
The man gestured toward the back of the van, where a large, black case sat. “That’s your package. Deliver it to the address I gave you, no questions asked. You don’t open it, you don’t inspect it, you don’t even look at it. Got it?”
Adrian’s stomach twisted with unease, but he kept his expression calm. “Got it.”
With that, the man stepped aside, allowing Adrian and Emily to lift the case from the back of the van. It was heavier than Adrian expected, but between the two of them, they managed to load it into the trunk of their car.
The man gave them a final nod before sliding the van door shut and driving off into the night, leaving them alone with the mysterious package.
As Adrian and Emily climbed into the car, the weight of the situation pressed down on them. They had no idea what was inside that case, but they knew one thing for sure: this was a pivotal moment in their journey. If they completed the job successfully, they would be one step closer to unlocking the resources they needed to survive in this world. But if something went wrong, the consequences could be dire.
Adrian glanced at Emily, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. “We’re in this together.”
Emily nodded, her gaze unwavering. “Always.”
With that, they drove off into the night, the unknown future looming ahead of them like a storm on the horizon.