When the President stepped out of Nick Fury's car, all eyes turned to him.
He was safe, rescued from terrorist captivity. That alone should have stunned the nation.
But that wasn't what left the reporters speechless.
No, what truly stunned them was the oversized, gaudy "gold" chain around his neck, swaying in the breeze like something straight out of a low budget 90s rap video.
Cameras immediately zoomed in.
Every lens in the area pointed at that chain as if it were the true national treasure.
Meanwhile, the Vice President, who'd acted as commander-in-chief for one glorious night, stepped forward to greet the President with a wide, welcoming grin.
His tone was cheerful, polished. As if he hadn't been involved in a conspiracy with terrorists.
But the President already knew everything. Killian had told him plenty.
The President's warm expression slowly chilled into stone as he looked at his betrayer.
The Vice President's smile froze. Secret Service agents moved in.
He was promptly escorted away, with little ceremony and zero resistance.
The press had a field day. Not just about the betrayal, but also… the gold chain.
Even White House staff were left whispering to each other. After the betrayal was exposed and the vice president dealt with, the President's second order left everyone baffled:
He wanted a games room and a swimming pool built.
Using government funds.
On a flying helicarrier.
The absurdity of it was almost too much to process.
No one dared to comment, though. The President had just survived an assassination plot, and his judgment, no matter how questionable, was currently beyond reproach.
Still, whispers rippled through the halls.
Finally, someone mustered the courage to speak.
"Mr. President, about the thing on your neck…"
That question hung in the air like a live wire.
The President slowly turned toward the staffer. He didn't even let him finish. Instead, he removed the massive "gold" chain from around his neck and held it in both hands.
Admiring it with reverence, he spoke almost dreamily:
"Just look at this beauty. The craftsmanship. The aura. It matches my temperament perfectly, don't you think?"
He gently placed it back around his neck like it was a priceless crown.
Then he smiled, clearly pleased with himself.
"If you ever want to buy something truly special, you must visit the grocery store on 58th Avenue in Manhattan. High quality, affordable prices. You'll surely find treasures there. Just like I did."
Things slowly returned to normal at the grocery store.
After the chaos of Hydra's downfall and the battle with Killian, there was finally a moment of calm.
Luke and the others had hardly rested in days, but the rewards were clear.
For taking down Hydra, Luke had scored the helicarrier of his dreams.
Defeating Killian had also triggered another evolution in Doggo's mutation.
And thanks to the President, Luke now had a legal license to soar freely through the skies in his flying fortress.
No matter where he went, S.H.I.E.L.D. needed to wipe his butt. The world was finally bending in his favor.
One evening, Luke and Wanda were curled up on the couch watching a late-night sci-fi flick. The lights were low, popcorn scattered, Doggo asleep nearby.
Wanda leaned into Luke's side, her voice soft and teasing.
"You know… a dark room, a good movie, and a handsome man beside me. Kinda perfect."
Luke glanced at her cautiously. "I'm sure you say that to everyone who lets you pick the movie."
She giggled and shifted closer, resting her head on his shoulder. "Just relax. Enjoy it."
A few more minutes passed. Wanda's fingers started tracing slow patterns on Luke's chest.
He stiffened. "Wanda…"
She looked up at him, eyes glittering mischievously. "Yes?"
"You're trying to seduce me, aren't you?"
Luke swallowed. He could feel himself slipping. Her perfume, her warmth, her smile.
For a moment, he was dangerously close to giving in.
Then, in a sudden burst of willpower, he pushed her off the sofa.
Wanda fell onto the carpet with a surprised scream. "Seriously?!"
"You underestimate my power!" Luke declared triumphantly, grabbing a handful of popcorn to throw at her. "Not today, Satan!"
Wanda scowled, then threw a pillow at his head using her powers.
Two Days Later - Early Morning
The rumble of engines shattered the early morning quiet as a convoy of over a dozen military trucks rolled down the street.
This wasn't just any construction team, it was a military engineering unit. And at the helm was none other than General Hans.
The President had personally dispatched them to build a swimming pool and a games room.
In the lead vehicle, an officer sitting in the passenger seat turned to the general behind him.
"General Hans, are you sure this isn't some kind of... prank?"
Hans narrowed his eyes, arms crossed over his chest. "The order came directly from the President."
"But... we build missile silos and bunkers, not jacuzzis."
"I'm aware," Hans said flatly. "But this time, we're building a swimming pool. And the client is very, very important. So keep your opinions to yourself."
The officer fell silent, sensing the weight of the situation.
Hans wasn't exaggerating. In his classified briefings, the grocery store owner had been mentioned multiple times. The New York invasion, Hydra, Killian, even the rescue of the President, his name kept popping up.
The man was clearly no ordinary civilian.
As the convoy parked in front of the grocery store, Hans nodded at a nearby soldier.
The young soldier jogged over, pausing at the entrance. Just as he raised his hand to knock.
The door creaked open.
A plump Husky's head poked through the gap, blinking sleepily.
The soldier stared inside cautiously, but there was no one else in sight. Just... the dog.
General Hans also got out of the car.
The soldier hurriedly reported: "General, there seems to be no one in the shop, should I go in and ask?"
After the soldier reported, he found that the general did not look at him.
Instead, he was looking behind him.
He hurriedly turned around and found that the plump Husky had actually followed him out, then raised its head to look at the sky.
There seemed to be something up there.
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