#victor von doom MY BEST FRIEND victor von doom……….

[humanveil]

they’re really not lying about that doctor doom casting……

[katsfixationcorner]

In Every Universe

Marvel Rivals!Steve Rogers x Marvel Rivals!Bucky Barnes

Summary: In the midst of the Timestream Entanglement, Steve Rogers searches for allies among the now linked universes. What he finds is an old friend -who, in his universe, was long dead- being held captive by Hydra. He manages to rescue both Bucky Barnes  and Clint Barton, taking them to the safehaven that is the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda. Now out of harm’s way, Steve and Bucky reconnect and find healing in each other. 

Warnings: Mentions of death, Grief, Fluff/Angst, Men in Love (they’re gay your honor)

Word Count: 3.1k

A/N: This fic is my interpretation of the events of Marvel Rivals lore. Years (and lore) will not be correct. I did the best research I could but there will always be discrepancies. All you need to know is the year is 2099 and Steve was unfrozen in 2088 (couldn’t find a legit year so I chose one).

I couldn't get this out of my head, so I took a break from other works to write this~ Enjoy~

I do NOT consent to have my work copied, translated, or run through AI.

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Too much had happened within the last seventy-two hours. 

Between being transported to the advanced-beyond-words city that was the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, gaining use of their technology (then having to learn how to use it), finding his old partner Bucky Barnes in the throes of Hydra, then having to save himself and his new allies from said partner after his brain was hijacked by an eldritch horror… Let’s just say Steve Rogers was going through a lot.  

None of that mattered though. The only thing on Steve’s mind was Bucky. Bucky -who was his closest friend for years- needed his help. And Steve needed him too, for more than just saving the universe from Victor von Doom. 

But this Bucky, however similar he was, wasn’t his. His Bucky, the one Steve grew up with, died over one-hundred and fifty years ago. Though for Steve, it had been merely eleven years since he lost his friend. While eleven years is quite some time, Steve still struggled with the loss of the man he held close to his heart. Now face to face with him once more, Steve felt he was being torn in two. On one hand, he was elated to see his friend again after so long. On another, he knew this Bucky wasn’t the same one he knew. He didn’t have the same memories that Steve shared with his Bucky; he didn’t share the same feelings he had. That was enough to shatter his heart into a million pieces, and it would if he dwelled on it too long. 

So he threw himself into work. A lot needed to be done if he was to organize enough heroes to help restore the timelines. Together with King T’Challa, he was able to put together an outline of a plan while Shuri helped Bucky restore his sanity and control of his new arm. 

But it wasn’t enough. 

No matter how hard he tried, Steve couldn’t tear himself away from Bucky. He needed to see him, to make sure he was okay. He couldn’t lose another one, not after just getting him back. There was so much he had to say, so much he wanted to do. He couldn’t waste any more time. 

Once he had a moment to himself, Steve made his way down to the medical laboratory. There was a chance Bucky wouldn’t be available, but he couldn’t stand not seeing him any longer.

When Steve entered the lab, he scanned the room for the person who had been plaguing his mind. He swept the room once before he found him. Bucky was laid out on a sterile bed in the middle of the room hooked up to a machine three times his size. By the grimace on his face, he wasn’t too thrilled about it.

Wakandan doctors roamed with purpose, checking monitors and talking amongst themselves. The one tending to Bucky gave Steve a nod when he approached. Steve, however, wasn’t paying attention. His gaze was fixed on his best friend’s face. 

“How’re you holding up?” Steve asked once he was close enough to Bucky, stopping to stand next to the lab bed. 

Bucky turned his head towards Steve, giving him a tired smirk that managed to take Steve’s breath away. “Better now that I’m not being puppeted by Cthulhu. Still feel like a building fell on me though, which I guess is on par with everything lately.” 

Relief spread through Steve’s body. “I’m glad, Buck. That’s good to hear.” He expressed, suppressing the urge to pull Bucky off the machine he was hooked to. Instead, he turned towards the doctor overseeing his friend’s recovery. “How’s the treatment faring? Will he be released soon?” 

The doctor glanced at Bucky briefly then returned their attention to their monitor. “His neural functions have returned to normal levels. We’ve been able to contain the corruption, for now. Princess Shuri will have to analyze these new results before he can be fully released,” the doctor paused, their gaze traveled back up to Bucky who had shifted uncomfortably, “however, he is stable enough to move. Should you feel the need to stretch, Mister Barnes, don’t stray too far.” 

Bucky chuckled then gave the doctor his best two-fingered salute. “Wouldn’t dream of it, doc.” 

While the doctor undid the wires attached to his vibranium arm, Bucky turned his attention back to Steve. “They gave me a room, but they’ve kept me here in case I lose it again.” Bucky paused. He chewed his lip as his mind whirred. “It’d be nice to shower.” He settled on, meeting Steve’s gaze after a moment of thought. “Was lucky if those Hydra bastards bothered to hose me down.” 

The thought of the pain and torment Hydra put Bucky through filled Steve with a rage that boiled his blood and turned the entire room red. But Bucky wasn’t with Hydra; he was here. Safe. And Steve would do anything to keep them from taking him ever again. 

The anger must have surfaced for by the time Steve’s gaze had wandered down to Bucky’s arm then back to his face, concern had flooded Bucky’s face. His eyes roamed Steve’s features, making note of the scowl tugging his lips into a frown and the crease in his forehead. He wouldn’t bring attention to it, not here. Instead, once he was freed from the wires and cables, Bucky lifted his flesh arm towards Steve. “Give me a hand, pal?” 

Steve let a chuckle out under his breath then took hold of Bucky’s hand, pulling him up into a sitting position. The movement made Bucky groan in pain. When he felt ready, Bucky pushed himself off the bed, and -with Steve’s help- managed to get onto his feet. 

Steve hooked one arm around Bucky’s waist and held his arm around his shoulders with the other. Once Bucky was steady and secure in Steve’s hold, the pair made their way out of the lab. Their pace was slow, but Steve wasn’t in any rush. Once they reached the hall, Bucky tugged on Steve’s arm to steer him towards the right. 

“That way,” he instructed. 

Steve nodded then guided them further down the hallway. It wasn’t long before Bucky stopped in front of a simple metal door. He retracted his arm from around Steve’s shoulders then pressed his hand against the door’s scanner. Once it flashed green, the door slid open and allowed the two men inside. 

When Bucky noticed Steve’s perplexed expression, he shrugged his shoulders. “It’s to keep everyone safe.” He explained, gesturing for Steve to sit him on the edge of the bed. “You know, in case whatever Hydra woke up sinks it’s claws into me again and makes me go on a rampage.” 

Steve didn’t like that explanation, but he wasn’t about to dispute it. Instead, he set Bucky down carefully then straightened up to take in the room. It was scarcely decorated, though not without care. The only furniture in the room was the bed, a nightstand, and a wardrobe - all of which were beautifully crafted out of a type of dark wood. The windows were covered with deep purple curtains with gold trim. The plush bedspread was a matching purple, and the silken sheets were gold. As Steve turned to glance out a window, he noticed an open doorway with a pulled back curtain leading into a private bathroom. 

Though Steve’s room was much more extravagant (much to his displeasure), Bucky’s was no less comfortable. He was glad that his friend was being treated well regardless of what had happened earlier that week. It gave him hope that he had chosen his allies properly. 

Once Steve had gotten a lay of the room, he returned to Bucky who still sat in the same place Steve had put him. Bucky’s gaze was fixated on a spot on the floor. For some reason, he wouldn’t look up at him. Concerned, Steve immediately rushed to Bucky’s side. “Are you alright?” He asked intently, preparing to haul his friend back to the medical lab. 

Bucky only nodded, but this didn’t make Steve confident that he was feeling well. He watched Bucky carefully in an attempt to discern what could be the matter. Bucky’s jaw kept clenching and unclenching as if he was struggling with words. It seemed as though there was something weighing on his mind. If he needed to say something, Steve decided, he would give him the time he needed to put his words together. 

So he waited in silence, giving Bucky the space he needed. After a few minutes, a vulnerability that wasn’t present in the Hydra lab when they met the first time appeared on Bucky’s face. Another moment passed before he gained the courage needed to meet Steve’s eyes. 

“I lost you,” he murmured softly. Now in the privacy of his room, the neutral mask Bucky kept on shattered. Unshed tears moistened his eyes; his bottom lip quivered despite the control he had over his voice.

Steve’s posture stiffened. He had to proceed carefully or else he would end up breaking down and melting into a puddle on the floor. “The Steve you lost, he wasn’t me.” He explained gently, though his tone remained distant. “I’m sorry that-“ Steve stopped himself. Everything he wanted to say sounded wrong, so he settled for something else. “I never intended for my presence to bring you pain. I don’t want to hurt you.” 

“I know.” Bucky sighs. He took a deep breath and tore his gaze from Steve’s face. “I just-” The words got stuck in Bucky’s throat. When he managed to force them out, his voice cracked from the strain.  “I never got to say good-bye.”

Those words hit Steve harder than he could have ever anticipated. The weight of them dragged him down until he dropped onto the bed, sitting him on the edge next to Bucky who still wouldn’t look at him. “He meant a lot to you?” Steve probed. He sensed -no, hoped- the feelings he shared with his Bucky were somewhere in him, but he had to be sure. 

“He was everything.” Bucky admitted softly. Then, as if he realized he said something he shouldn’t have, Bucky clears his throat. “He meant a lot to everyone.”

“But he meant more to you?” Steve pushed. 

Bucky hesitated then nodded. “Even after everything Hydra did -after everything I did- he never stopped trying to help me. Never gave up on me. And when things went to shit, because they always do, we had each other. That was enough.” 

Steve knew exactly how Bucky felt. Losing his friend so tragically and unexpectedly made him realize how much he kept to himself. He wasn’t about to make the same mistake again. “Bucky -my Bucky- always had my back.” He began carefully, thinking each thought through before speaking. “Even when I did something stupid or reckless. He was always there. I never thanked him for that…or anything. I suppose I figured I’d have the time to.”  

Though he clung to Steve’s words, Bucky was afraid to look at him too long -he was nearly identical to the Steve he’d known. Looking at him felt like being stabbed in the chest. But hearing him say the same things about himself (well, his Bucky) that he’d heard from his own Steve… It gave Bucky pause. He knew this Steve and his were different people, but they were also so similar. At times it was like the man he loved was still with him. 

The thought made him ache. He didn’t want to let him go. He couldn’t. Not yet. 

But maybe… Maybe, in some twisted way, he hadn’t completely lost him after all. Steve, this Steve, was here. He cared enough to search for him through all the entangled universes. Him.

Bucky could feel Steve’s eyes on him. He had finished speaking but Bucky was lost in his thoughts. Bucky let Steve’s words sink in a bit more before he responded. Something Steve had said stuck with him. It was the way he spoke in the past tense like… 

Bucky finally lifted his eyes back to Steve’s face. Where he expected to find a hint of nostalgia or a thread of sympathy, Bucky, instead, found pain.

“Your Bucky…” Bucky hesitated. “Did he… Did you lose him?” 

The hurt on Steve’s face gave Bucky the answer before he even responded. Steve took a long, deep breath before saying anything. “It was a long time ago, during the war. He, uh, he was killed during a skirmish in Austria.” 

Bucky’s chest tightened when he heard how his counterpart had died. He would have met the same fate if Hydra hadn’t found him. 

And now, for the first time in weeks, the pain of Bucky’s loss had dulled. Through his loss of his Bucky, Steve held the same grief Bucky did. Their pain was shared. It felt as though, even if just for a moment, half of the weight of Bucky’s loss had lifted from his shoulders, like Steve was holding the other half for him. 

The silence that had grown between them was now filled with a sense of understanding. Bucky let his gaze roam Steve’s face, now taking him every detail that he had been too afraid to see. His features were warped by a hurt that Bucky needed to lessen. In an attempt to lighten his mind, Bucky resorted to the only thing he knew would have any effect: his tormented sense of humor.  “Are you sure he died? You know, we have a habit of coming back when you really don’t want us to.” 

Though a bit morbid, Bucky’s teasing brought a small smile to Steve’s face. “I’m afraid so.”

That smile was enough. Though brief, the energy it provided was contagious. Bucky couldn’t help but let out a breathy laugh, one that Steve accepted with his own. If anyone had been looking for Bucky, they would have been perplexed having seen Bucky and Steve sitting in an empty room laughing over the memories of their dead partners. But Bucky didn’t care. Steve’s laughter was infectious, his smile brighter than any star in the entire galaxy. He’d do anything, anything, to bask in his light, even if it only lasted for a moment. 

Steve found himself shifting closer to Bucky. He was near enough that their thighs touched. Bucky didn’t seem to mind, he was still watching Steve even as his smile faded. No matter how hard he tried, Steve couldn’t tear himself away from Bucky’s face. He looked exactly like him save for the scar that decorated his left eye. 

Steve had to tell him -he had to. “He meant a lot to me too.” He murmured softly. “More than anything. And I-” Steve had to take a breath to compose himself or else tears would start flowing down his cheeks. “I lost him before I could tell him. He never knew that I-” 

“He knew.” Bucky interrupts just as quietly. “Trust me… He knew.”

A surge of emotion overtook Steve. With only the briefest of hesitation, he lifted a hand to Bucky’s face, stopping only when the tips of his fingers brushed against Bucky’s jaw. When Bucky leaned into his touch, Steve lost all the control he thought he had. He cradled Bucky’s face like he was made of glass, using his other hand to trace the sharp edges of his features with his fingers. 

Bucky’s gaze never wavered. He looked at Steve like he had been drowning and Steve was his savior. He leaned into Steve’s caress, pressing his cheek into his hand like he couldn’t get enough. Bucky ached for his touch, and Steve was more than happy to oblige. 

Steve leaned forward slightly, using their closeness to map all the little details on Bucky’s face. When they grew increasingly close, Bucky’s breath hitched. The sound drew Steve’s attention from the line of Bucky’s scar downwards until he stopped, taking in the curve of his lips. 

Steve couldn’t help himself. It had been too long. He craved the man before him so much it pained him. With a brief glance upwards to Bucky’s eyes, Steve murmured, “Can I?”

“Please…” 

Bucky’s plea was enough. Steve quickly closed the distance between them then brushed his lips tentatively against Bucky’s. A sigh escaped his mouth as he leaned into Steve, nearly melting from the gentleness of the kiss. Their lips moved together unhurriedly, savoring the taste of each other. 

Steve pulled away first, though he hadn’t wished to, to gauge Bucky’s reaction. Bucky’s pupils were dilated and his cheeks were flushed. His breath was uneven, and Steve could hear his heart hammering in his chest. Steve was faring no better. Neither of them moved, though. They were transfixed by each other, yet still wary of what they felt. Both men remained still, gazing at each other like the other could disappear any second.

Then, all of a sudden, the tether that kept them apart broke. Both of them surged forward at the same time, grasping onto each other desperately. This time there was no hesitation. Their lips slammed together as if pulled by magnets. Steve raked a hand through Bucky’s hair, tangling his fingers in the coarse strands and pulling him flush against him. Bucky’s vibranium arm found its way around Steve’s waist, his hand clutching at the back of Steve’s shirt like he was afraid Steve would pull away again. 

Unlike their first, this kiss was hungry and passionate, fueled by a desperate need to keep the other close. The two men barely parted for breath. Steve breathed in Bucky’s soft groans like they provided all the air he needed. They poured everything they had into the kiss. All the pain they shared, the love they had for each other, everything. Even when they finally parted, both disheveled and flushed, they never detangled themselves. The hand Steve kept in Bucky’s hair dropped to the base of his neck, rubbing circles into his skin with his thumb. 

Steve had a thought to say something -to tell Bucky that his feelings for him would never change no matter which universe they were from- but as Bucky smiled at him, a soft, shy smile that made Steve forget to breathe, he decided against it. Words could wait.  

It was Bucky who leaned forward next, stealing a much more chaste kiss before pressing his forehead against Steve’s. They sat pressed together for what felt like hours, bathing in the warmth and comfort of each other’s bodies. They both knew the holes in their hearts would never fully close; the empty space left by those they loved and lost would never fill. But over time, the wounds of loss would scar, the pain would fade, and -no matter what-  they would always have each other. 

Steve made a decision then, that not even the threat of universal annihilation would ever part them. He would do whatever was needed to keep from losing Bucky again. And whatever the future had in store, they would weather it together.

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Taglist: @finnisbae22 @escapefromrealitylol @aisling1985

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[the-invisible-bunny]

I actually completely forgot that I needed to edit and post chapter 4 of Friendly Fire (AU where Johnny and Sue don’t join the Fantastic Four and instead Peter and Johnny meet at college and juggle falling in love with secret identities) because I distracted myself with my current three favourite WIPs. Done so now. Peter gets to meet Sue and Namor, they finally kiss, and then voila identity related issues. So I can go back to distracting myself with…

1. The fic where Sue (meaning only the best for them both) tells Peter to back off making a move on Johnny because she thinks Peter is too irresponsible and the resulting angst eventually resolves with them getting together and all is well.

2. The fic where the Fantastic Four get caught before they steal their rocket and the adults are arrested. Johnny is heartbroken (and Victor von Doom ends up his legal guardian) and with his school friend Peter they make up cool stories about themselves as superheroes with superpowers complete with bad drawings (because I am bad at drawing so they are also all enthusiasm no talent).

3. The fic where for reasons (protecting the children, probably aliens) Johnny get his memory wiped and believes himself to be a single father to Franklin and Valeria, with his friend Peter checking in on him regularly and reporting back to the other three about how worryingly angsty Johnny’s subconscious has made his new backstory and obviously they fall in love.

4. The fic where the other three return after an absence to find they’ve been longer than they thought and Johnny is now happily married to Namor and everyone is thoroughly confused. And then maybe they go back to their original time and confuse the hell out of everyone else by fervently shipping Johnny with Namor.

[digital-magus]

I'll admit I'm out of the loop on current events for ol' Earth 616, so this may not currently be true, but I want to voice my support and appreciation for Doctor Victor Von Doom. Guy's got two main goals in life:

Rule Latveria with an occasionally-literal iron fist

Put an end to THAT BLASTED RICHARDS!

and considering he's the rare tyrant that understands the best way to stay in power is to keep your people fat and happy, I'd say those are some pretty reasonable, justified goals, at least when it come to super-villainy. I mean, Reed may nominally be a hero, but he's just the worst. Not only is he a lame super ("Mr. Fantastic"? Really? You're sticking with that one?"), he's just kinda a shitty person. Not even in an interesting or edgy anti-hero way, he's just an inconsiderate, self-important shit-waffle who gleefully risked the lives of his best friend, his fiancé, and his fiancé's beloved brother on what can best be described as the spaceship equivalent of the Oceangate Titan. Fuck that guy!

*This message funded by the Latverian Ministry of Interdimensional Veracity

[grimmusings]

(Aggressively) ⭐ 🥹

⭐ Oliver Queen (Arrowverse) + Kat Squieri (OC): I don't know if this would be the best combination or the worst à la Loki, but I kind of want to find out? I can see the battlefield vibe for them that she has with Cassian, but Ollie does not have his sense of humor (and he's a very mean trainer 😅). But honestly he probably needs someone who can clap back at him.

⭐ Leo Timens (The Wizard of Oz) + James Nicholls (OC): I'd LOVE to write Leo and Will into James's veteran backstory, but of the two of them, Leo would be a lot more understanding and way less angsty about finding out that James has been alive all this time. Sadly, James would have to come to him because my agoraphobic cowardly lion never leaves his bookstore.

⭐ Karolina Dean (Marvel) + Victor Von Doom (Marvel): Funny story about how the Runaways once befriended a Doombot, but this is actually sort of mean because Karolina would probably be terrified to meet the real Doom. Could be silly shenanigans if he's wearing his mask and she mistakes him for their bot friend though.

⭐ Mordred ó Dubhuir (Arthuriana) + Kassadin Squieri (OC): Throwing you four because this one is pure stupidity, but I just really want Mordred and Kass to take one look at each other and either go, "Holy shit, we're identical!" or "I don't see the resemblance."

[lightdancer1]

Also while I'm at it:

That AU Phase IV introduces mutants with a blend of different X-Men storylines (and I mean X-Men, not Wolverine and his amazing friends). Magneto introduces himself holding a Russian nuclear-armed and equipped submarine hostage, and Rogue introduces herself doing what she does best: reducing Carol Danvers to a vegetable and the Mr. Hyde to her Dr. Jekyll.

MCU hasn't introduced Victor von Doom yet, so I'm letting him make his debut after the Thanos-snap (which did get him in this universe or he would have been seeking to exploit the power vacuum) as the new major human-tier threat.

As for the big one in the first story, there are two. One of them is the Great Serpent, God of Fear, Cull Borson and his Eight Worthy.

The other......he hungers. Stan Lee originally wanted it to be the Fantastic Four versus *God* and this is something my take on Galactus, Devourer of Worlds, very much looks into. Galactus was six galaxies over when everything went down and first Thanos halved his food supply (already annoying) and then something on Earth restored the half that was missing, and that's what's driving Big G to make his route to Earth and what woke up Fin Fang Foom from his nap.

[endarkculi]

AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY - A hypothesis, by Endark

This is a tad out-of-the-blue, I'm fully aware, but I've been conversing with friends through other media about the upcoming finale to the current "phase" of the MCU, and I'd like to posit a personal hypothesis about its story here and now, in the public eye. In a best-case scenario, I will be able to go "I f'ing called it!"; in the worst, I can come back later and debate with myself over whether the story they actually went with was better or worse than my own idea. Either way, I'm taking you all down with me. Beware of spoilers below the Keep Reading line, as I will briefly be mentioning other works in the MCU.

So, let's start with what we already know. The current phase has been focusing on the Multiverse. There have been multiple instances of people, even heroes like Scarlet Witch and Spider-Man, trying to bend it to achieve selfish goals. We've had evil versions of existing characters already make appearances, such as Dr. Strange. And we know that the (current, after Kang was deemed unfitting) villain for Doomsday is going to be Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr., who's notably already appeared as...basically the founder of the MCU, Iron Man. Perhaps you can already guess my prediction already, but let me continue, because this is my post and you can't control me.

Let's now go back to Endgame, but not quite the Endgame we know. Same basic set-up at the end: a lot of strife and sacrifice has led to Iron Man and Dr. Strange enacting their one-in-an-infinity chance to achieve victory over Thanos, at the cost of Tony sacrificing himself. But now, let's imagine that Tony...well, doesn't sacrifice himself. Maybe he snapped a little too late, maybe he decided to use the gauntlet for a different wish, maybe he simply didn't want to die, for himself or for those who would mourn him. And let's say that, because of this simple divergence from the Golden Timeline, everyone that isn't Tony Stark ends up dead...and even then, Tony's got a whole bunch of brand-new scars, physical and emotional.

But it's not too late to fix things, he thinks. His friend, the Doctor, was able to attain great magical power while motivated by the grief of a lost love; maybe he can follow in his footsteps, now that the Sorcerer Supreme role's vacant. He'll even inherit his friend's title of Doctor, out of respect. The problem is, this can't be fixed. Alright, then, new goal: just...find the perfect universe, move in, and do the best you can there. Except there isn't a naturally perfect universe; there's this thing called the "golden" timeline, but even then, a lot of good people had to die in it. And he's so, so sick of death at this point.

New new plan: just...make your own universe. Take a piece from this, a part from that, bring the whole gang back together. Most of them lost their Tony, so it's not like you're being selfish about this. You're doing the right thing! You'll be the Victor when all is said and done! And if the right thing risks breaking everything else...well, nothing else was perfect like your world's going to be, so no big loss, right? And considering your own timeline contains nothing but Doom, it's not like you've really got anything to lose.

And so, my hypothesis: Robert Downey Jr. isn't returning to the MCU to play Dr. "Victor von" Doom, because the MCU Doctor Doom is literally going to be Evil Tony Stark. And any claims from Disney about Victor and Tony being different people might just be filthy lies meant to befuddle theorycrafters, like when Iron Man 3 previews fooled people into thinking Ben Kingsley was actually The Mandarin, and can only be proven or disproven when the movie actually airs.

[alarajrogers]

Little more complicated than that.

In the 90's, they established that Magneto's "real name", never before previously established, was Erik Lehnsherr. However, they claimed at the same time that Erik Lehnsherr was Romany. This was spitting in the face of the man who made the character a Holocaust survivor, Chris Claremont; it was also, shall we say, poorly received by the fans who knew anything about the Holocaust. But most of us assumed Erik Lehnsherr was the correct name, just the ethnicity was wrong. (In story, it was revealed that he "was Romany" by Gabrielle Haller, the Israeli ambassador. She had once been one of his best friends and had defended him at the world court, but Haller's primary allegiance had to be Israel and Jews worldwide, so in my headcanon she threw him under the bus and claimed he was Romany because no one wanted his existence sparking a wave of antisemitism. (In the Marvel Universe, this is not going to make matters worse for the Romany people because Dr. Victor von Doom, ruler of Latveria and well-known dictator who wants to conquer the world, is proudly and openly Romany.)) His wife Magda actually was Romany, so this is what we assumed.

The movies came out and they established his name to be Erik Lehnsherr.

Then in the late 90's we got a story where Magneto killed a forger named Georg Odekirk, who had originally given him the Erik Lehnsherr identity. It was then that we learned the name was fake, but we didn't learn who he really was. This was somewhat problematic for continuity -- in Age of Apocalypse, Magneto, who'd been going by "Magnus" in Israel, is identified by David Haller as "Erik" when David tries to kill him. David cannot actually know Magneto's name from the future because he was in a coma when it was revealed, so presumably, he's getting it from Magneto's mind because he's a powerful telepath... but why would Magneto have been thinking of the Erik false identity when he cast it aside and he's now Magnus the Jewish man? A telepath should have gotten either Max or Magnus, not the fake name from in between. But whatever. David is Gaby Haller's son, maybe he read his mother's mind.

We learned his real name was Max Eisenhardt in Magneto: Testament, which came out in the 00's I believe. So, he'd been Erik Lehnsherr for a decade, then his name was unknown for nearly a decade but the movie version was named Erik so we all still called him that.

So at this point, in any given piece of adapted media -- movie, TV show, alternate universe, whatever -- it's a crapshoot as to whether he's going to be Erik or Max. In comics canon he is Max but went by Erik for a long-ass time, so he will answer to that, or to Magnus. Some have theorized that he cast Max aside as the Sonderkommando who helped the Nazis murder his own people (this was a real thing, the Jews who were picked for the horrible job of maintaining the machinery of the gas chamber and picking up the bodies of the dead), but the timeline doesn't work; he claimed to have adopted Erik in order to find Magda (and because he was a wanted man, having killed a lot of people in the Soviet town of Vinnitsa.) More likely, he cast aside Max because Max let his daughter die. (He was kind of being beaten to death at the time but Magneto has never let logic and common sense stop him from self hatred.) Erik Lehnsherr was impersonating a Romany in order to find his missing Romany wife, and his papers claimed he was Romany, but I kind of suspect Erik was whatever he needed to be for whatever he was trying to accomplish at the time. Like... he did not live as a Romany unless he was actively in a Romany village asking people about Magda.)

Hii, I haven’t read many Xmen comics yet, I have just started, but I was wandering, why is Magneto sometimes Erik Lehnsherr and sometimes Max Eisenhardt?

Sorry if I spelled the names wrong

max is his real name which was established in magneto testament and erik is a fake name max used to protect himself

[aquamanandfriends]

Make It Right

| muse: Victor Von Doom | open to: canons or oc’s | made with legacy but can repost with beta | sexuality: pansexual | suggested connections: ex, will they won’t they, someone he went to school with, friend of a friend, maybe they are dating his enemy 

Victor hadn’t indented to make the event awkward for them, he didn’t know they’d be there. It was hard to catch himself staring but he did his best. Finally, he couldn’t stand it anymore and approached them when they were alone. “I know that I lost my chance, but I can’t...” he sighed. “I can’t get you out of my head and I keep trying to think how I can make this right. Tell me. Whatever it is, I’ll do it.”

[ficview]

View - Stipulations

By Anonymous

(I like to call them by this hilarious tag connecting all their fics - author has already arranged a ride to church trust me)

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/14771135/chapters/34161176

Kicking this site off with a glance at one of my most reread Starker fics :)

Stipulations is without doubt the second-best piece of fanfiction to grace the Starker fandom. And to those wondering, yes, it is the slash ship between Peter Parker and Tony Stark. Inappropriate and scandalous, but the most intriguing things often are, right?

The plot and character premises themselves are pretty template. Peter Parker, 18, high school senior with a raging crush on Tony Stark, finds himself at a party thrown for incoming MIT undergrads by said crush, along with an opportunity to save Iron Man himself when danger strikes at the party. Thanks to Victor von Doom's Doombots, the two begin to work together and closer until sparks fly.

Pros:

-- Peter's characterization is nearly on-point. I could totally get the sense of the blithering, hardworking and eternally horny teen aiming to aspire higher while staying aware of his economic limitations. His crush on Tony is INTENSE and till the end, I wasn't entirely sure if what he saw was love or his own rose-tinted version of it. Just some teensy parts of his personality were a bit off.

-- MJ and Ned were the best best friends ever. Both felt true to their personalities and acted in a realistic manner. So did Aunt May. Loved their discussion about the relationship at the end.

-- Every stage of Peter's crush evolving into something more serious was the strongest when written in his POV.

Cons:

-- Tony's POV made zero sense looking back which is a general weakness in the Starker fic world. If someone looking handsome and saving his life is attractive, he should have fallen in love with 50% of the Avengers. And there is no way a forty-something feels all those mid teen emotions or at least acts on it like an honorary Mean Girl. Thankfully, the writing was good enough to allow me to gloss over these major faults.

-- Convenient incidents happening at even more convenient times. Victor Von Doom probably did more to unite the couple than murder either one through his well-timed Doombot attacks.

-- Bad overall message. I can appreciate a good age-difference love story but with those sugar daddy-sugar baby vibes and no plausible reason for why one of them is even in this relationship (other than the obvious), the story does come off like a glorified Lolita.

YET, it is an engaging read. The build up to their first sexual encounter is honest to god one of the best *chef's kiss*. Though minimal, I enjoyed the presence of the other Avengers. However, the most memorable pieces were all those little stipulations the two kept making, only to break the last of them into smithereens.

[brightbeautifulthings]

Runaways, Vol. 2: Best Friends Forever by Rainbow Rowell

"'I guess I should look for a job, too. What should I put on my resume--"high-school dropout, D-list Avenger"?' 'I was a D-list Avenger. You were at least C-list.'"

Year Read: 2022

Rating: 4/5

Thoughts: I think I liked this even more than volume one. It's fun having the band back together and seeing how they navigate their new circumstances as a group, from deciding who's taking custody of Molly to fending off an angry Doombot together. While I found Victor von Doom’s Doombots out of place in a Winter Soldier story, they're a much better fit here, and the hilarity of that fight scene, alongside Julie Power's actual hero experience, really highlights what a hot mess the Runaways are. They're not a superhero team, but they are a family, and their loyalty extends only to each other.

There are good character arcs here for Molly, Karolina, Gert, and Victor, as they struggle to come to terms with this new existence. Gert is two years displaced from her timeline, Molly’s plot with her best friend is weirdly sinister, and Victor fears that being put back in a functioning cyborg body would make him a villain again, while Karolina tries to make a long-distance relationship work. Some of the romances happen a little abruptly, and I would have liked more development and buildup on those (although some of the full-page art on them is flat-out gorgeous), but it is a graphic novel, and a young adult one at that. The pace tends to be pretty fast overall. I'm having a lot of fun with these, and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for this ragtag team of misfits.

[thatsmrfantastic-archived]

sTEVE YES

sTEVE NO

[puppetmaster55]

I posted 16,981 times in 2022

1,166 posts created (7%)

15,815 posts reblogged (93%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@sapphireswimming

@sockdooe

@yarrayora

@gentrychild

I tagged 13,661 of my posts in 2022

Only 20% of my posts had no tags

#voltron - 2,024 posts

#danny phantom - 1,421 posts

#bnha - 1,363 posts

#shance - 1,362 posts

#the owl house spoilers - 514 posts

#puppet liveblogs - 503 posts

#servamp - 493 posts

#bnha manga spoilers - 356 posts

#jujutsu kaisen - 278 posts

#puppet answers asks - 258 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#about irl stuff. it's just. yeah this is me getting annoyed bc i'm the one awake at 1am feeding them and getting them to sleep for the night

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Shiro: why are there rumours that we’re both in a romantic relationship? Lance: *laying in Shiro’s lap letting him play with his hair* Lance: i have no idea.

Shiro would be more suspicious but he likes playing with Lance's hair too much to self-examine

69 notes - Posted June 18, 2022

#4

Why would AFO's bird be a vulture? Obviously he's a goose.

I enjoy the comedy of visually his bird looks like a Chuck Jones vulture, but also the chaos of him being a goose is...

I'm gonna have to field this one to @gentrychild

86 notes - Posted July 22, 2022

#3

Lance fell first but Shiro fell harder

Lance: *fell first, but in a gentle way that allows him to not come off as a simp*

Shiro: *fell slower, but is a simp*

89 notes - Posted June 10, 2022

#2

Love that toh never tries to explain whatever the fuck is going on with Hooty, like everything we get to know just raises more questions. Eda just created him. He can swallow people whole and regurgitate them, he can skin himself and puts his skin like clothes to dry, he can get out of the house and the whole thing is horrifying and leaves behind still beating organs, he has several shark like teeth through out his throat. Is any of this explained? No n i love it, i hope he keeps getting worse❤

absolutely nothing about Hooty is explained and nothing about him should be explained

247 notes - Posted May 24, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Trying to figure out how to really explain it but god it’s so pathetic that it’s almost hilarious how hard the mcu is trying to make holland spidey into actual spidey when like. green goblin is just some homeless dude

they brought willem dafoe’s green goblin, his rich ceo of a huge science corporation, into the mcu and had him actually state that his company and the Osborne name just did not exist in the mcu. literally, he went looking for his company and found nothing, he went looking for his son and found nothing (he would’ve joined forces with his mcu counterpart if they existed but they canonically just Do Not Exist At All)

and this is meant to be The Big Villain of the movie! Peter Parker’s most famous foe and the mcu just could not make him into a rich ceo and like. Norman Osborne is Just Some Dude in the mcu. the one single villain that literally could not be reworked into “seems like they should be the villain of an iron man movie but go off I guess” and he’s Just Some Random Dude to Holland’s spidey and not the father of his very best friend or the ceo behind the company whose radioactive spider gave him spider powers

like, I know that Willem Dafoe is gonna knock his performance out the park when I finally watch the movie but goddamn this is so fucking pathetic that the mcu, that Mouse Corp, is so against having a villain be a rich dude that they obliterated one of marvel’s most iconic villains

and they want to take on Dr Victor Von Doom, who I’m gonna call will end up being some angry intern with vague beef that he got overlooked by Dr Reed Richards and make some weird iron man-like suit to make him on equal standing instead of the monarch of a country

718 notes - Posted January 13, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[ao3feed-lokiangst]

Peter Parker, The Photographer with No Self Preservation

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/6B5KmnS

by Hanako_Light

Based on a video from TikTok user @emptyjunior. You might see my comment on the video.

It had been years since Peter had become Spider-Man, and a single year since he graduated from Midtown High. So now 19 year old Peter Parker needs a job, because being Spider-Man has no living wage. Some dear friends get fed up with the Daily Bugle and are ready for a new news station. One that doesn’t villainize anyone. One without bias or opinions on anything. One that understands the world that vigilantes, villains, and anti-heroes are living in.

That's when V-Pals News comes in. A project that Peter happily joins on their own accord. Becoming the photographer for the newly made newspaper. Though, just photos of Spider-Man won’t be enough. He needs photos of other people in their secondary lifestyle. So why not put those Spider Powers to use?

Words: 2385, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man (Tom Holland Movies), Spider-Man - All Media Types, Ultimate Spider-Man (Cartoon 2012), Deadpool - All Media Types, Daredevil (TV), Cloak & Dagger (Comics), X-Men - All Media Types, Ghost Rider (2007), Venom (Marvel Movies)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: Other

Characters: Peter Parker, Wade Wilson, Matt Murdock, Jessica Jones (Marvel), Danny Rand, Luke Cage, Marc Spector, Johnny Blaze, Eddie Brock | Venom, Olivia Holt, Aubrey Joseph, Felicia Hardy, Logan (X-Men), Frank Castle, Kurt Wagner, Otto Octavius, Curt Connors, Norman Osborn, Flint Marko, Victor von Doom, Loki (Marvel), Herman Schultz, Maxwell 'Max' Dillon, Adrian Toomes, Rhino (Marvel), Cain Marko, MacDonald Gargan, Antonia Dreykov, Original Characters

Relationships: Other Relationship Tags to Be Added

Additional Tags: Precious Peter Parker, Peter Parker Has Spinnerets, Peter Parker is a Mess, V-Pals, Not Canon Compliant, so many characters - Freeform, Team Red (Marvel) - Freeform, avengers slander, peter is 19, Trans Peter Parker, Peter Parker is Spider-Man, daily bugle sucks, Photographer Peter Parker, Kidnapping, he gets free tho, He/They Pronouns for Peter Parker, Neo Pronouns, A lot of them - Freeform, villain party, Everyone Loves Peter Parker, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Fluff, Not Avengers friendly, Peter is a Little Shit, Peter Parker Acts Like a Spider, BAMF Peter Parker, No beta we die like Uncle Ben, Peter Parker is Trying His Best

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/6B5KmnS

[ad1thi]

underrated stevetony fics rec list (P1)

i feel like a lot of really good stevetony fics get swept under the rug because this is such a big fandom and sometimes people miss out on quality content?? so this is a rec list of some of the stevetony fics i feel like everybody should have read/ be reading

Edit (31.12.2020): this got very long (i had almost 50 fics on my list, so ive decided to split this list into two parts. part 2 will be out soon!!)

Edit (20.02.2021): part 2 is out now!!

//

picture me in the trees: @ifmywishescametrue

Tony and Steve were childhood friends that almost became more, but Tony moved and they lost their chance. Thirteen years later, a chance meeting brings Tony back into Steve's life.

Free: @iwanttopizzamanyou

"Steve reads, and the words dance in front of his eyes, because while this used to be his dream, what he wanted, all he can think about is how this Hell will soon become his full time life."

Steve discovers fame, with fans waiting for him in the lobby and girls passing him their numbers after the shows. It used to be what he wanted, he supposes. Except his future managers keep asking more and more from him, and he's not sure his old life will survive. Tony is ready to help, and compromise, but Steve maybe isn't anymore.

making it work: @/ironarm 

“Just tell him you don’t want to see him anymore,” Clint replies, finishing the end of his burger and starting to crumple up the wrapper, “It’s not like you love him or anything.”

“Clint, if I thought I could get rid of him about a week ago, I would have. But for some fucked up reason, I can’t lie to him. It’s like, I see those baby blue eyes, and bam. Whatever barrier that I built up from childhood trauma is gone.”

Clint chokes on the last piece of his burger, almost resisting the urge to smack Tony on the side of his head.

Tony was a fucking idiot.

Boys Like Us: @naferty

The video had been a mistake. One of the biggest mistakes he had ever done in his life, and considering Tony Stark had done a bunch of shit in his younger years, and even older years, that was saying something.

It was just that none of those things were as embarrassing as that video.

He blamed Clint for everything

Stained Fingertips: @thesoundofnat

“I don’t really believe in magic,” he said, clearing his throat. “But I’m almost certain you’re a goddamn wizard, Steve Rogers.”

Steve would remember those words for the rest of his life.

(Or, Steve is maybe slightly obsessed with drawing Tony. Not that Tony minds.)

Inhale, Ex-Sail: @summerpipedream

"Rich pirates decked out in top-of-the-line black market gear,” grumbled Tony, ”why don’t I have the budget to make those again?’

Rhodey inched back so that he and Tony were back-to-back. “We’re apparently law abiding citizens now, which means having to pay taxes.”

Tony scowled. “Urg, right. Remind me why I wanted to do that again?”

Rhodey rolled his eyes. “What was it you called him last time? Your sweet tart? Your apple pie in the sky? The wind beneath your wings? Hopefully he’ll fly here fast enough so we don’t get killed. Or worse, mugged.”

Tony Stark Bingo K1 - AU: Steampunk

As Constant As A Star: @atsadi

The Swan Princess AU

As young children, Prince Anthony and Princess Natasha of neighboring Midgardian kingdoms are betrothed, and spend their summers together every year until they are wed. Tony adores his headstrong friend Nat: it’s her scowly little companion Steve he’s not thrilled about at first. But soon Steve goes from being a thorn in Tony’s side to being his dearest friend – and much, much more than that. Despite Steve feeling the same way about Tony, the pair still dance around each other for years as Steve struggles to accept his feelings for another man: especially one already betrothed to another. Not to mention that Tony is a prince, and Steve is nothing but a squire.

But before they can make peace, Tony is kidnapped and dragged into the beginnings of another conflict in the nearby magical kingdom of Asgard – he really hates magic. With his potential usefulness diminishing by the day, Tony races to escape even as Steve, Natasha, and their friends race to find him and bring him home.

And—just to make matters worse—Tony has been trapped by a powerful spell and turned into a swan, of all creatures. He really, really hates magic.

Always Yours: @hollyjollyhope

Getting kidnapped is normal for them, at this point. But there's nothing normal about this.

And suddenly, Tony has a choice to make.

Oxeye Daisy (patience): @s-horne

“You make me want things I can’t have.”

Steve startled at the voice from behind him and turned around to see Tony standing in the kitchen doorway. He stared straight at Tony for a long moment. The room was quiet, time stretching out in a thick and uncomfortable silence as neither man dare to move nor opened his mouth to speak first.

White Clover (a promise): @s-horne

“Hey, sweetheart.”

Tony lifted his head as he tried to focus on Steve’s voice. When he managed to open his eyes and blink a bit of the blurriness away, he was rewarded with a gentle smile being shone down at him.

“There you are,” Steve said. “Was worried I was going to have to talk to myself.”

Though his tone was light, Tony knew what he meant. It was no secret that Tony was physically weaker and a hell of a lot more human than Steve was and was therefore struggling more with the lack of regular nourishment that came with being held hostage.

“Course not,” Tony said back, voice hoarse but plastering a smile on his face all the same. His head was pounding and his eyes couldn't stay open. “Would I ever do that to you? You’d never get a sensible answer.”

Acta non verba: @firebrands

unapologetic fluff about two idiots who can barely keep it together with how hard they're crushing on each other

or:

tony has to help steve with math + a halloween party = a good time for everyone, eventually

you take me higher than the rest (everybody else is second best): @firebrands

tumblr fill for adi & anthonydarling, who asked for "'Prank' war, but the kind to see who can make the other blush the most in public" from this prompt list

Adjacent, Against, Upon: @firebrands

A political AU!

Steve Rogers is running as the Mayor of somewhere, America. Tony Stark, his campaign manager, deals with a candidate who isn’t interested in lying, and just wants to do good by these citizens, god damn it.

song of unrest: @omg-just-peachy

How was Steve supposed to reconcile all of this? The way he looked so different but still felt so much the same? It made Steve’s head spin. He knows he shouldn’t care so much, that he is what he is, but he just wants to know.

Paint The Town Blue: @omg-just-peachy

Ten years since he’d seen or spoken to Tony Stark, ten years since they’d broken up to go away to school. And now this email. It could be his only chance to see Tony again.

Camelot: @weethreequarter

For one shining moment, there was Camelot.

In 2019, Karen Page meets Captain Steve Rogers to conduct an exclusive interview on his late husband, President Tony Stark.

In 2007, Steve meets Senator Tony Stark and falls in love.

he thinks he’s lancelot (but he’s more of a sir lamorak): @theotherwasdeath

Tony knows firsthand that violence isn’t funny. So why oh why does he think that the scene playing out in front of him, Steve and Victor Von Doom in a knock-out, drag-down fist fight, is absolutely hilarious?

wildflowers: @tinytonysnark

“So,” Steve begins, clapping his hands together, “the city of SHIELD is in debt. The big ups have sent for financial advisors, all the way from DC! They’re gonna take a look at the city’s spending and make some cuts.”

He squints at the camera against the morning sun shining through the courtyard, “I’m not that worried. Everyone here in the parks department is an important member of the team and absolutely needed.”

The camera swings towards the office where from the large glass window, Natasha can be seen picking up the ringing phone before immediately slamming it back down onto the receiver.

[A Parks and Rec AU]

trinkets of your affection: @starklysteve

Kissed him once for every year I loved him, Steve had written.

By that count, Steve owes him five more kisses now.

Tony traces the words, hands trembling, and tips back a shot of Howard's ancient whiskey. None of it burns anymore.

One day, he'll have lived more days without Steve than there are words in the diary.

For the first time since he'd woken with shrapnel in his chest, Tony fears the future.

----------

Or, five things Tony keeps to remember Steve by, and one thing Steve gives him to remember.

[bubbletimestories]

Painful and cold (Fantastic 4 scene) (2005)

Summary : Reed Richards tries to create a machine to reverse the solar storm effects and helps Ben Grimm being human again. After a fight with his friend (cause it's taking too long), Reed decides to try on himself. Watching everything through monitors, Victor von Doom waits for his time.

Themes : Science, hate, fainting, fight, desire

Warning : Mention of torture, pain

A/N. It's basically the movie scenes but focused on Reed and Victor, with something more than hate from the latter / Translated with Google trad and all my apologies.

You can find it here too : english and french

***************************

The usual tingle invades the scientist as he pushes the control buttons, adjusts the settings before his final test. However, this time, it is not just the excitement before an experience that occupies him but his friend, his best friend, the way he lookd betrayed. This short moment at the planetarium, Reed had no right to enjoy it, he made a promise and in this man so introverted, so awkward in his relationships, loyalty is essential. That's why he is ready to risk his life, to transform his body irreversibly, so that his friend can find his back. However, when he turns to face the machine he has designed, apprehension can be seen on his face, because he knows he may not come back and if he fails, who will help? Probably Susan, no doubt, but he doesn't want to put such a burden on her. No, he must believe in himself, the calculations are good, it should work... But that's also what he said in the space station and the result was not long in coming.

The cabin opens, bathing the large dark room in an icy glow. A last breath to give himself courage and Reed Richards steps forward, thinking only of honoring his promise, only of his friend who has never let him down. No matter how hard his heart beats in his chest, he stares at the doors as his ears fill with the roar of the machine. An intense heat begins to radiate around him but the young man simply grits his teeth, straight on his legs, resolute. After a few minutes, the capsule finally opens and Reed sees Susan in the semi-darkness. He doesn't feel any different except for the fatigue and he's still alive, that's a good thing. So he would have succeeded? Hope bursts in him, he meets the gaze of the woman he loves, exchanges a smile while looking around him, attesting that all is well. He must warn Ben, all this waiting will not have been in vain and it is high time for his friend to be himself again. Then, Reed will give himself a little rest, he feels strangely heavy...

His body drops without him quite realizing it, the right half numb. No, no, he doesn't have…time for that…he's almost there… Susan rushes over to him, he tries to make her understand that he just has to give it another try, injecting more power to generate the solar storm. He has trouble speaking, or even keeping his eyes open, but he needs to pull himself together. He vaguely feels that he is being lifted, his body dragging miserably behind him without his being able to do anything about it. He leans on his good leg, guided by Susan to his room while continuing to mumble that he must improve the machine. The young woman puts him to bed, gathering the stretched limbs like marshmallows on the covers before asking him to rest a little. It's no use, Reed has already slipped into a dreamless sleep, the limp half of his face slowly returning to normal. The young woman takes a minute to examine him then leaves him alone, she has to go and warn Johnny of what has just happened. She hopes that this failure will not lead to more serious consequences, they already have too much to think about.

It doesn't take long for the lab's silence to be broken again, as Ben arrives with Victor's minion. A tension hangs in the air and the stone man remains on his guard, especially when he realizes that von Doom is estanding instead of his best friend. But after all, Reed disappointed him just a few hours ago, why is he surprised not to see him? As if reading his thoughts, Victor confirms that Mr. Fantastic is with his girlfriend, having a good time rather than looking for a solution to a problem that, deep down, no longer concerns him. Normally, Ben would never listen to a single word of this "fast-food, strip-mall science guy" but nothing is normal anymore: his body is mutilated, his marriage in pieces , his identity destroyed. So he believes von Doom when he tells him that he can make the machine work, put an end to this nightmare. He trusts him as he enters the cabin, too blinded by the prospect of being himself again.

Victor adjusts the settings with the tip of his gloves, serene about the turn of events. Despite his superhuman strength, Ben Grimm poses no real danger if taken on his feelings and even his rocky skin will soon no longer be a problem. The instructors are starting to panic, the power drops dangerously but this experience will not be a failure. Driven by a prideful determination, Doom approaches the solar storm generator, feels the burn on his skin before he releases all the electricity he has accumulated from his body. This feeling of power, he drinks it, delights in it, who would not want to become a god? It doesn't matter to him that his skin is burning, he appears in his true light: solid, resistant, grandiose. The thanks of Ben, who has become fragile again, do not reach him, as well as his slow realization he has been fooled. Victor sends him flying with the back of his hand, already focused on the one person he really wants to see suffer. He witnessed his accident, maybe he can pick him up when he is most vulnerable, left alone in his bed by this insignificant blonde.

“Vic?"

A smile slips on the lips of the Latvarian hearing that nickname. After all that time, he still calls him Vic. He probably didn't even thought about it. Maybe it's as well that he sees him so, almighty. Reed stands at the railing overlooking the stage, still weak but already trying to reason with his old college friend, as if his words might have any impact. He always have to take himself for the most intelligent, be interested in him only to explain things as to a child. Reed pauses to catch his breath, white as a sheet before glaring accusingly at the ex-billionaire. A part of him dares to believe they can still handle this conflict as adults. But what shines in Victor's eyes is that flame he already had when he was younger, something all-consuming and destructive. He finally has an opportunity to destroy the man who has ruined his life, who has consumed his thoughts for too long, who obsesses him.

“So tell me, what happens when you superheat rubber?"

Mr. Fantastic gets out of the way as best he can as a bolt of lightning cracks through the air, not fast enough to prevent the attack from flanking him. Alone, without mastery of his abilities, he can only flee but Doom does not give him this opportunity. Now that he is at his mercy, he won't leave him any more. Never. The next arc hits Richards head-on, the impact sending him crashing through the window. The scientist lands heavily on the stone ledge, tries to catch himself but his body is dragged to the ground, his arms outstretched like bread dough. He concentrates as best he can, his fingers slip, he loses his grip and falls forty floors, not without hitting another ledge before gravity pulls him back in. His body feels every impact without being able to offer the slightest resistance, he ends his fall just above the doors, violently colliding with the metal structure under which he has passed so many times. This final impact destroyed his last strength, he lost consciousness, his chest hanging in the void under the horrified gaze of passers-by.

When Victor leaves the Baxter Building, he exudes confidence, he feels like a new man and nothing can stand in his way. Raising his eyes, he sees his inert rival and picks him like a fruit, closing his fingers on his wrist before dragging him. The broken glass on the ground sends back to the fallen billionaire the image of a fragmented and disfigured being, perhaps it is time to change skin for good. With an angry kick, he shatters that reflection before carrying Reed to the car Leonard has parked nearby. There is something fun and enjoyable about being able to dispose of the scientist as an object after all this time. Even if the communication window with the driver is raised, Victor will not let his joy go too much, he will resist the urge to walk a possessive hand on the captive, preferring to concentrate on the next step.

The first thing Reed feels when he regains consciousness is an intense pain in his limbs, an icy burn that runs through every bone. The bite makes him want to scream but his jaws are tight, his lips sealed with the cold. Strong ties hold wrists and ankles but it is not certain that he could escape even without these fetters. Even if he struggles to think, he easily understands that a chemical process stiffens the structure of his muscles, infiltrating his torso and paralyzing him. In the shadows stands a hooded figure, Doom's voice strangely distorted beneath a metallic mask. As at the Baxter Building, he enjoys playing the teacher, ensuring a certain position of dominance.

“Chemisty 101. What happens to rubber when it's supercooled?"

Only silence answers him, and the sound of Richards' fingers trying to move, the rest of his blue body shivering. Despite everything, he continues to look at his enemy with a mixture of defiance and reproach, as if he still wishes Victor would stop everything and accept he needs help. His brown eyes follow him despite the frost, Dr. Doom grabbing his fingers before twisting them back, almost reaching the breaking point, enjoying the moans of pain he hears. In this sadistic gesture oozes a decade-old frustration, that of not being Reed, his equal, a part of him, in him. Anger at having only ever been a fellow scientist, simply Vic, eclipsed by a doe-eyed woman.

"Painful? You don't know the meaning of the word."

He insists on the word 'painful', expelling it with a gasp of all the fury rumbling beneath the metal of his skin as he releases his fingers. Reed grits his teeth, tries to keep control of himself despite the pain, he won't give Victor that pleasure. Short of breath, he can only meet his gaze trying to stay strong, he does not intend to be impressed. The new villain turns away, he still has to eliminate the other two. For Johnny, he already has the right equipment, a little flashy but the target is just as much. As for Susan…it's probably a little hurt on his ego that he couldn't get her, but now that he has Reed, she doesn't matter at all. He is no longer satisfied with trying to supplant his rival, he can completely dominate him. So he retrieves a missile launcher, spots the heat signature quickly, fires without an ounce of hesitation. All that remains is to eliminate the Invisible Woman and he can really have fun, for a long time, with his new rubber.

(I let you imagine the rest....except if you want me to write something a bit hotter ^^ and make a step away from the movie)

(Damn, my brain is jumping about it...what Vic would do)