The streets of New York felt both familiar and foreign as Adrian, Emily, and Ava navigated their way through the bustling crowds. For anyone else, the city might have seemed like it was getting back to normal after the chaos of the Chitauri invasion, but Adrian couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in his gut. This wasn’t their world, and every step they took felt like walking on a fragile thread, ready to snap at any moment.
Emily, ever the pillar of calm, led the way, her movements fluid and precise, like a predator stalking through the urban jungle. Ava, clinging tightly to her mother’s hand, was blissfully unaware of the undercurrents of danger that rippled around them. Her bright eyes sparkled as she took in the towering skyscrapers, her stuffed bunny bouncing with every step. Adrian kept close, scanning their surroundings constantly, looking for any sign that they were being watched.
“We need to make connections,” Emily said quietly as they passed by a group of construction workers repairing a section of the street. “We can’t do this on our own.”
Adrian nodded. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. But how do we find someone we can trust in a world like this? It’s not like we can walk up to Tony Stark and ask for help.”
Emily smirked. “Wouldn’t that be something? ‘Hey, Tony, we’re from an alternate universe. Mind helping us figure out how to survive?’”
Adrian chuckled despite himself, though the weight of the situation quickly sobered his mood. “Yeah, I’m sure that would go over well. But you’re right. We need resources. Information. Maybe even allies. We’re too vulnerable on our own.”
Emily’s eyes flicked to a nearby electronics store, where a wall of televisions was broadcasting the latest news. The images of Iron Man flying through the skies of Manhattan were plastered across the screens, accompanied by a news anchor’s voice detailing the ongoing recovery efforts.
“This world moves fast,” Emily said, her tone thoughtful. “We need to keep up if we’re going to survive here.”
Adrian watched the screen for a moment, his mind turning over the possibilities. They needed more than just information about the world. They needed to understand its players—both the heroes and the villains. This wasn’t just about staying out of sight anymore. If they were going to survive long-term, they would need to insert themselves into the flow of events, make sure they had a stake in what was coming.
“I think I have an idea,” Adrian said, his voice low but resolute. “It’s risky, but it might give us what we need.”
Emily raised an eyebrow, her expression curious. “I’m listening.”
“There are two paths we can take,” Adrian began, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention to them. “One is tech. The MCU is full of incredible technology—Stark’s suits, Wakanda’s vibranium, all that advanced AI. If we could get our hands on even a fraction of that, we could level the playing field. But it’s risky. Trying to steal tech from people like Stark, or worse, Hydra? We’d be playing with fire.”
Emily nodded, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “And the other path?”
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“Magic,” Adrian said, his voice lowering even further. “The MCU is full of mystical forces we barely understand. Doctor Strange, the Ancient One, the sorcerers at Kamar-Taj—they wield powers that go beyond anything technology can offer. It’s dangerous and unpredictable, but if we could tap into that kind of power... it could be a game-changer.”
Emily studied him for a long moment, weighing the options. She was a martial artist, grounded in the physical world, but Adrian knew she wasn’t one to shy away from new possibilities. She had always been adaptable, willing to embrace whatever was necessary to protect their family.
“Both options are risky,” she finally said, her voice steady. “But we can’t afford to sit around and wait for things to happen to us. If we’re going to survive here, we need to be proactive.”
Adrian nodded, his mind already racing with the possibilities. “I think our best bet is to start small. We gather information first—find out what’s happening under the surface. We avoid the big players for now, but we keep an eye on them. If we can figure out where we’re most likely to get access to tech or magic, we make our move.”
Emily’s eyes sparkled with that familiar determination. “Alright. But we need to be smart about this. No rushing in without a plan.”
Adrian smiled. “When have I ever rushed in without a plan?”
Emily raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “You mean besides the time you decided to rewire our entire kitchen without turning off the main power?”
Adrian chuckled. “Okay, fair point. But this is different. We’ll take it slow.”
Emily nodded in agreement, though there was a lingering tension in her posture. They both knew the stakes were high. In a world like this, one wrong move could spell disaster.
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Later that afternoon, they found themselves in a quieter part of the city, away from the bustling crowds and towering skyscrapers. It was an older neighborhood, full of brownstone buildings and narrow alleyways that seemed to stretch on forever. The kind of place where people could disappear if they needed to.
Adrian had chosen this area deliberately. It was the kind of place where information flowed freely in the shadows, where you could find people who knew things—people who might be able to help them without asking too many questions.
They ducked into a small café, the kind of place that felt like it had been around for decades, with worn leather booths and faded photographs on the walls. It was quiet inside, the air heavy with the scent of coffee and freshly baked bread. Adrian guided Ava to a booth near the back, where they could observe the room without drawing attention.
Emily slipped into the seat across from him, her eyes scanning the room as if she were assessing every potential threat. “What are we looking for here?” she asked quietly.
“Connections,” Adrian said, keeping his voice low. “People who know how things work in this world—how the underground operates. We need someone who can point us in the right direction.”
Emily nodded, though her expression was skeptical. “And how do we find someone like that without drawing attention?”
Adrian smirked, his mind already working through the angles. “We listen. In a place like this, you don’t go looking for information. You let it come to you.”
They settled in, sipping their drinks while Adrian kept an ear out for anything useful. The conversations around them were a low murmur, a mix of local gossip and mundane chatter. But it wasn’t long before something caught his attention—a group of men at a nearby table, speaking in hushed tones about someone called “The Broker.”
“The Broker?” Adrian muttered under his breath, leaning closer to Emily. “That sounds promising.”
Emily’s eyes flicked in the direction of the men, her body tensing slightly. “We should be careful. No telling what kind of business someone with a name like that is into.”
Adrian nodded, but his curiosity was piqued. In a world where information was power, someone called “The Broker” sounded like exactly the kind of person they needed to find. If this Broker dealt in information or rare items, he could be their way in—either to tech or to the mystical world.
“Stay here with Ava,” Adrian said quietly. “I’m going to see what I can find out.”
Emily shot him a warning look, but she nodded. “Be careful, Adrian. We can’t afford to make enemies right now.”
Adrian gave her a reassuring smile. “I’ll be careful. Just keep an eye on things.”
With that, he slipped out of the booth and made his way toward the men’s table, trying to look casual as he approached. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say yet, but he’d figure it out. He always did.
As he neared the table, the men glanced up at him, their expressions guarded. Adrian smiled disarmingly, his voice casual. “Hey, I couldn’t help but overhear… You guys mentioned someone called ‘The Broker.’ I’m new in town, and I’m looking to make a few connections.”
The men exchanged glances, their eyes narrowing suspiciously. One of them, a burly man with a shaved head and a tattoo on his neck, leaned forward. “And who the hell are you?”
Adrian’s heart raced, but he kept his expression calm. “Just someone who knows the value of good information.”
The burly man studied him for a long moment, then finally nodded. “Alright. But if you want to meet The Broker, you’re gonna need to prove yourself first.”
Adrian’s mind whirred with possibilities. He had no idea what that meant, but if this was the path they had to take to get what they needed, he was ready to take it.
Because in a world full of gods, monsters, and heroes, Adrian knew one thing for sure: information was power.