-Billie POV-

The moment I opened my eyes, I understood that at least 2 days had passed since that dreadful night. I wasn't allowed outside or allowed to interact with the outside world but from what I could see from the window I know that it rained last night based on the wet grass and I also know it's not the day after the ritual because there was no rain that day.

Ever since the ritual I have noticed that I have grown stronger, my grip seems to be capable of bending steel, my legs feel like they can make a jump across the city in a single leap, and I feel the strength to lift a building in my arms but this room has been imbued with some kind of energy that makes it so that I can't get out of it.

The biggest change is in my mind itself "You can rule this world, those puny insects with their metal weapons are dust under your feet" These voices keep whispering promises of treasure, of a kingdom, of power over the world "Give me your vessel and all of your deepest desires shall be fulfilled" I shake my head as I try to focus on the task at hand.

The task of removing the shadows from my arms, these globs of black darkness clinging to my skin, I pulled, I shined light on them, I even tried to burn them but it didn't change. They weren't those ink-like dark things either, they were just shadows on my arms.

The voice in my head laughed "You are the daughter of darkness, no light shall touch you for eternity" Even though I had decided to ignore the voice, I couldn't help but snark at it "There is no darkness without light" but it's next words were chilling to hear "SHADOWS! Don't exist without light. The absence of light is darkness itself" even though it's words made me tremble I did not back down "So, wherever there is light you have no power then."

The voice laughed in a thin wheeze making my whole body tremble in fear as it told me "It isn't about who is stronger, light or darkness. It's a constant war and we will win once you give me control of your vessel" I grit my teeth as I defy the terrifying force "I will not allow you control, I will fight you to my last breath" It once again did that shrill laugh that would break glass as it whispered but this time it wasn't in my mind but right next to my ear "You will certainly try"

-Black cat POV-

The smile was painful to hold but I managed as Dad brought in the two kids he wished to adopt. The fact that CPS even allowed him to adopt kids means that they are shit at their job. The kids got out of the car and the agent left once he got her father's signature.

I let the kids Bang and Susan inside and they seem to be really cautious about this whole adoption thing. Orphans really do have great intuition huh, I always thought that was a myth. They seem to already understand that half of the stuff in our house is stolen. They probably understood that no one actually buys a chandelier for a two-bedroom apartment.

I watched them judge the room and the odd contents of it like 2 vacuum cleaners, a single earring, and a dozen or so wallets spread around the place and I smirked knowing they wouldn't like living here and would leave in a week so that I can finally get back to the heist.

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All of the planning in my head came crashing down when they both started grinning at each other and exploring the bunch of wallets before playing with the dirty golf balls lying around. I frown and start to wonder why the old man is adopting all of a sudden, it doesn't make sense.

So once the children have their dinner and sleep I get in the way of Father as I ask him while glaring at him "Why are you doing this?" He looks down at me and tells me with no emotion in his voice "They need a home" I snort at that as I refuse to budge "And you don't need any more children, so why are you doing it?" He looked down at me and for the first time in my life, he refused to answer "None of your business" as he pushed me away.

I watched his retreating figure and tried to think of ways to protect the kids from whatever he has planned for them.

-Natasha POV-

She walked through the murky underground filth of sapporo as she tried to follow Banners instructed path. Halfway through the journey Natasha understood that the path has been filled with a lot of running around in circles, probably to throw off any tracks I might leave behind. I always thought that banner must know what he is doing considering he had a lot of near misses with various governments. SHIELD calls it luck, I think it's skill.

After the final bend I could finally walk back out to civilization and fresh air into a small river stream. I found him sitting under a tree for shade from the burning sub "Dr. Banner. Must say a very weird path you have given me" He looks up startled from his brooding as he asks to gauze my reaction "Not afraid of waking up the Hulk?" I smile and sit beside the man on a rock.

I point at the ant on his arm as I ask him "If an ant bite can't turn you into Hulk, I'd say I can't either" he shakes his head as he says "You'd be surprised how easy he turns" I look at him with surprise as I ignore his statement and question him "How did you know you were being watched?" He smiles as he takes out an apple from his bag and starts eating it while he answers me "I am always being watched, I just don't know from where they are watching"

I point at the pendant I am wearing as I tell him "Right now you are being watched from here" He looks at the pendant and I could feel his gaze falling on something else and I smirk to myself as I tell him "We can help you escape most organization's" he shakes his head depreciatingly as he points out "By claiming me for yourself" I deny him immediately "Nothing like that Mr.Banner, we will provide you sanctuary so that you can do whatever you want. All we want is the Hulk to stay inside and not cause trouble"

Banner gets up and starts walking away so I follow him as I question "What's wrong with that offer?" He shrugs as he admits "I don't know, maybe they will have mandatory blood draws to make sure that the Hulk is 'Calm'" I got to give it to Banner, he knows how scummy agencies work.

I work for a scummy agency right now so I still have to convince him somehow. "A little bit of blood in Exchange for safety" I shouldn't have said that as it seems to have hit a nerve as he says "In exchange for safety I have to give up my conscience and let the future turn to nightmare" The slight hint of green on his forehead made Natasha fear for her life but Banner seems to notice her distress as he closes his eyes and calms himself.

After a few deep breathes he turns to Natasha as he says "After Hell's kitchen, Ross asked me to take the blame for Abomination in exchange for protection and making me the head of a new project, I wanted to agree but what he wanted was just another unattainable power. I disagreed, he tried to shoot me. I escaped" I now understood his hesitation to take the help of a government agency for 'protection'.

Natasha still wanted to try once more but his previous anger stopped her from forcing the matter, so she instead decided to help him in her own way. She turned off the video and audio feed of SHIELD before I gave Banner another offer "How about this, I'll help you escape and in exchange I'll always know where you are" Banner shook his head as he asked me "Well, how is that any different from SHIELD knowing where I am?"

I grin as I follow him into the forest "Well for one, I am not shield" he stops his relentless walk as he turns to her "Why do you want to help me?" I look into his eyes and decide to give him a tidbit of my past to gain his trust "I have a lot of blood on my ledger, so I know how you feel? To hurt others because you didn't have the control to stop. To have that on the back of your mind every single day. I know how it can eat away at your psyche. I would have loved to have someone who understood"

He looks into my eyes with hope as he says "I will take your help but I warn you that the moment you betray me, I will not be the one to kill you" With that terrifying threat out of the way Natasha smirks as she says "Atleast I will not take you through the sewers" He chuckles nervously as he says "I thought the smell would keep the Hulk at bay" I shook my head as I flirt with him "It will keep the ladies away for sure" and he flirts back "Funny that it brought you to me then" I smile and we carjack an old pickup and hit the road.