Two days later, Arthur arrived at the launch site accompanied by Reed and Ben.
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement and tension. Technicians rushed back and forth, engineers checked clipboards and computers, and the sound of tools blended with hurried voices. Arthur, meanwhile, observed everything carefully. This would be his first time in space, and although he would never admit it out loud, the sparkle in his eyes betrayed his excitement.
Reed walked with purpose, taking the lead. But his stride faltered when his eyes landed on a figure he would have much preferred to avoid: Victor Von Doom.
Victor stood there as though he owned the place. He exuded forced superiority, and his smile was the very picture of a man convinced everyone else around him was beneath him.
Arthur quickly noticed Reed's discouraged expression and put the pieces together. It wasn't hard to guess who stood before them.
(So that's Victor Von Doom… judging by Reed's face, he must be a real pain.)
Of course, Doom wasn't just another arrogant genius. He was one of Marvel's most dangerous villains: brilliant, powerful, and absurdly egocentric—the kind of man who takes himself far too seriously.
(This might be the perfect chance to take down one of Marvel's most annoying villains.) Arthur thought, smiling inwardly.
"You must be Arthur Morgan. Reed mentioned Stark praised you, but I'd like to hear your credentials."
Doom's voice dripped with disdain, as if he had already decided Arthur was nothing more than an irrelevant intruder.
Arthur raised an eyebrow and let out a low chuckle.
"Credentials, huh? Do you actually talk like this outside of interviews? Want me to show you a résumé, or maybe a letter of recommendation signed by my mom?"
Ben coughed to stifle a laugh, while Reed rubbed his temples.
Arthur took a step forward, staring at Doom with an easy calm, no rush at all.
"I've heard about you. Victor Von Doom, right? A smart guy who probably wakes up every morning, looks in the mirror, and thinks: 'Congratulations, world, you're lucky I exist.'"
His smile widened.
"And now you want my credentials… Well, sorry to disappoint, but I didn't bring a shiny badge or a stack of diplomas."
Arthur tilted his head slightly, as though sizing Doom up.
"But you know what's funny? You've got this aura of a 'great man,' a 'powerful scientist,' but behind the act all I see is someone desperate for everyone to acknowledge how amazing he is. Honestly, man… you're basically the upgraded version of that guy at the bar who won't stop talking about his ex."
Ben couldn't hold it in this time and burst into laughter, earning a death glare from Reed.
Arthur finished with a mocking grin:
"So, if you want my credentials, Doom, here they are: I don't need to prove anything to you. And honestly… if you've got this much free time to worry about me, maybe you're not as brilliant as you like to think."
The silence that followed was heavy. Everyone waited for Victor's reaction, his superior smile trembling at the edges.
Victor opened his mouth to respond, but Arthur had already lost interest. The arrogant grin was turning into a scowl, but to Arthur, it wasn't fun anymore.
He turned his back casually, leaving Doom standing there like nothing more than an obstacle in the way.
"Anyway…" Arthur said, stretching his arms with a lazy yawn.
"I'll take a look around. It's not every day you get access to a space launch facility. Would be a waste to stand here listening to someone who just loves the sound of his own voice."
Reed froze, torn between scolding Arthur or silently thanking him for his boldness. Ben, meanwhile, nearly burst into laughter again but held it back when he felt Doom's furious glare burning into his back.
Arthur walked off with a casual wave, as if nothing had happened.
"Reed, Ben, I'll catch up with you in a bit. Don't worry, I won't push any red buttons. Probably."
He raised a hand in a carefree wave, disappearing into the corridors of the base, leaving Victor Von Doom behind, seething in silence, struggling to rebuild his aura of superiority.
Seeing Arthur just turn his back on Victor, Reed and Ben exchanged glances. Reed looked torn between concern and relief, while Ben shook with the effort of holding back laughter, his grin already plastered on his face.
At least in that moment, they both shared the same thought: Arthur's approach, risky as it was, had been brilliant. Doom wasn't used to being ignored—let alone insulted—and that was worth its weight in gold.
Victor, for his part, snorted loudly. Without another word, he spun on his heel and marched into the spacecraft.
Ben finally let out the laugh he'd been holding. "That was way more fun than I thought it would be."
Reed just sighed and shook his head, though he couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
---
A few minutes later, Arthur strolled casually through the base. His eyes wandered over the steel corridors, the massive control panels, and the windows revealing the towering ship waiting for launch.
(I wonder if someone would lend me one of those sleek space suits. Bet I could take some incredible photos with one. Damn, I forgot to ask Reed.)
Lost in thought, a soft yet firm voice called from behind him:
"Excuse me, are you Mr. Morgan?"
Arthur turned—and for a moment, completely forgot where he was. Standing before him with natural poise was a striking blonde in a dark-blue space suit, the kind of figure who drew attention even among all the futuristic technology around them. Her smile was warm and confident.
"That's me. Can I help you with something?" Arthur asked.
"Pleasure to meet you. My name is Susan—Susan Storm." She introduced herself gracefully, holding a folded space suit in her arms. "This is your uniform."
Arthur accepted it with a genuine smile.
"Thank you very much. And the pleasure's mine. Arthur Morgan—though I guess you already knew that." He chuckled, extending his hand.
Susan shook it firmly, her smile never fading.
"I know."
She'd already formed a good impression of him after seeing how he handled Doom. Few people ever spoke to Doom like that and walked away unfazed.
"It's almost time for launch," she added, glancing briefly at the massive digital clock on the wall. "Could you deliver these other suits to Reed and Ben?"
Arthur lifted the uniform he'd already been given and nodded.
"Of course. Don't worry, I'll handle it. Besides, it'll be fun to see Ben complain about the design."
Susan laughed softly before stepping away to handle other duties.
---
A few minutes later, Arthur found Reed and Ben seated near the hangar. He handed them the suits with the same ease as if he were dropping off a package.
Ben grabbed his, stretched the fabric, and immediately scowled.
"This thing's for space travel or Swan Lake? Seriously, who designed this?"
Before Arthur could fire back with a joke, a young, energetic voice chimed in from behind:
"Victor did."
The three of them turned to see a young man approaching, a confident grin on his face and a mischievous glint in his eyes. He carried himself with the carefree charisma of a movie star.
"My name's Johnny. Johnny Storm." He made sure to emphasize it. "I'm Susan's younger brother. She asked me to come help out."
Arthur reached out to shake his hand, though he couldn't stop the thought from flashing through his head:
(Why does he look so much like Chris Evans?)
"Pleasure to meet you, Johnny," Arthur said with an amused smile.
"Pleasure's mine, man." Johnny replied, shaking his hand with energy.
Reed, who had been silent until then, checked his watch again. His tone was steady, but the tension in his voice revealed the gravity of the moment:
"It's almost time. Let's suit up."
Arthur took a deep breath, looked at the uniform in his arms, and couldn't hold back his smile.
---
(End of Chapter)
A/N: What will happen when Arthur is exposed to the cosmic storm?
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."