Three Weeks Ago

Domina

I licked my lips in excitement after I left the meeting with Yao. I was looking forward to our fight. It's been a long while since I've had any real challenge. The martial artists and chi users of Tokyo gave up a long time ago and were inducted into my hand, becoming extensions of my will.

It was certainly not easy to break them, but it was immensely fun. I suspected the case would be the same with Dante and his little girlfriend. For people so young and green, they were certainly accomplished. Killing a Black Newt, foiling a Harpy army ambush, a Garok, and Mesmer, all within a day?

That took serious power and potential. They've earned my attention, but that didn't mean I was about to do something as obvious as attacking them personally.

No, that was too... pedestrian, uninteresting.

Why break them when I could have people they've wronged do it for me?

Reports on the ground tell me the East Europeans hate a vigilante called "Arsenal" who fought with them briefly. There's a 10-million-dollar bounty on his head. As they were now, they weren't that much of a threat, but with the Firstborn enhancements and a few choice weapons, I could see how they could be useful pawns.

The remnants of Hydra also wanted his head. They had super soldiers, but they were few and far between. They could also benefit from the Firstborn's enhancements. The problem with their kind, however, was their fanatical devotion to their leaders. It was admirable when it benefited you, but it was a bitch-and-a-half to break. And I didn't have the patience for that...

It was better to have someone else do it for me.

---

Kevin Thompson (AKA Killgrave)

It'd been five years since the accident with my parents that gave me my abilities... and life couldn't be better. After my parents disappeared, I replaced them because I understood how unnatural it would be for a child of my age to live by himself.

A rich childless couple from New York seemed the most ideal, so I did that and basically made every day a non-stop party. I hit amusement parks, bought games, visited film sets, and did anything my 12-year-old brain could cook up without drawing too much suspicion.

My appetite grew more... mature after puberty kicked in, and my balls dropped. Girls went from playthings I'd occasionally use if I wanted sympathy from a mark to sexual objects I couldn't get enough of.

Pretty quickly, I learned I was not nearly as witty and handsome as I thought I was, and getting girls was a lot harder than they made it look on TV. I grew bored of trying and did what I always do when something didn't go my way—simply "asked" for it.

Every girl I saw was mine for the taking, and I was convinced the world was as well until I ran into her at a club in one of the more upscale parts of New York. With platinum hair, piercing purple eyes, and a figure that could kill, she looked like she came straight out of an anime.

Immediately, I knew I HAD to make her mine. With my coiffed hair, purple jacket, and my entourage of women, I walked up to her. Several men across the crowded club stirred as I made my approach, but none of them made their move, not that it would've made a difference.

I was Killgrave, and the world was my playground.

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I settled in the chair beside her. She raised a brow, looking up from the drink she just ordered from the surprised bartender. He must've been impressed that I had the balls to approach her at all.

"You have to be the prettiest girl I've ever seen," I said. "Did you fall out of heaven looking this way, or are you something far more interesting?"

"It's all natural," she said offhandedly. "I had very... unusual parents."

"Unusual, really?" I grinned. "Why don't you let me buy you another drink, and you can tell me all about it?"

"Are you even old enough to be in here?" she asked, and I frowned. Some of the girls in my entourage giggled at the jab. I sent them back to our booth with a casual command. Then I snapped my finger at the bartender and pushed my ability.

"Get me whiskey neat, and another one of what the lady is having."

The bartender frowned at first, then blinked before obeying almost mechanically. The girl's brow hiked up at the display.

"How did you do that?"

"If you join me at my booth, I promise to tell you all about it." I smiled, placing my hands on her shoulder. "Come over?" I nudged, using my powers.

The girl, to my surprise, looked at my hand like it was some kind of pest.

"No thanks," she said, shrugging my hand off. "I've got somewhere to be."

I gawked at her as she stood up and started walking away. I chased after her immediately, grabbing her.

"Hey, wait up?" I said again, flexing my ability. This time, the girl laughed and grabbed my wrist, twisting it. I dropped to the floor immediately and let out a startled scream.

"I like to gather playthings too," she said, "but I recognize the difference between prey and predator." Her grip grew tighter, and I bit back a scream struggling to bubble to the surface.

"What a waste," she said, shaking her head. "For someone so powerful, you lack imagination." She let go of my hand, and I yanked it back in pain and fear. "Now crawl away like the pathetic worm you are," she announced and walked away.

For several tense seconds, I sat there on the ground, stunned. I just had the first real taste of adversity I've had in years, and I was high off that shit.

Let the games begin! I grinned.

---

Domina

I sat cross-legged with a quartet of Hand Soldiers flanking me. I was having a face-to-face with the new leaders of the Albanian and Russian gangs in New York City.

"I hear you have a bone to pick with the vigilante that put your bosses away?"

The men shared a confused look, likely divided between undressing me with their eyes and asking questions about my peculiar look.

"We certainly do," the heavily scarred man to the left answered. His name was Peter, and he apparently rode with Dante before he turned on them and kidnapped Henri, their former leader. He tore through the gang after Henri's disappearance, proving himself to the leadership back home, hence why he had the position.

"You know of the bounty, yes? Chase him if you want to. We will honor it. Though, I suggest you let your men do the heavy lifting. I'm not sure somebody of your constitution could put down Arsenal."

"You'll be surprised," I quirked a smile. "Though I feel the need to clarify, I'm not here to toss my hat into the ring. I'm here to make the chase a little more interesting." I produced a mugshot of Dante that he got when he was 18 and dumped a photo cache of all of the X-Men, a few members of the Brotherhood, and the two SHIELD agents he's been known to associate with.

"Through you, I want to place a 1-million-dollar bounty on each of their heads, and double the bounty on Arsenal's head personally."

Sergei, the dark-haired Albanian, looked at me skeptically. "Why?"

"I'd rather remain out of the limelight. There's a reason why you haven't heard of me until now. I like to keep things that way," I said. "In fact, in exchange for your cooperation, I'm ready to offer members of your gang who're willing to toss their hat into the ring. A little chemical enhancement."

I produced 10 small vials of demonic blood essence produced by the Firstborn. They're the latest batch and a refinement of his first formula.

"Enhancements?" the Russian asked.

"Arsenal was able to take out an entire building of your soldiers because he wasn't playing fair to begin with. These vials will put you physically on his level. They're my company's latest attempts at the super soldier serum. I think you'd be most pleased."

The Russian didn't budge, but I saw the greed in his eyes.

"This will make us stronger than the Red Guardian?" Sergei demanded.

My smile grew even wider. "Much stronger."

"Are they safe?" the Russian prudently asked.

"The effects are permanent if that's what you're asking, and you will certainly look the part of a super soldier."

He didn't look very satisfied with my answer. Before he could press me further, however, Sergei slammed his hand on the table.

"Done!" he announced, and I clapped my hands.

"Splendid."

You've got to love it when a plan comes together.