smittenbysteve

[smittenbysteve]

Shadow Syndicate Vol. 1

Krakoa’s Silent Compound thrums under a twilight sky, its war room bathed in the soft glow of bioluminescent vines that twist like living art across the walls. The air hums with mutant-tech, a blend of organic warmth and cold precision. Felix Eisenhardt stands at the heart of it, his dark blue suit pulsing with pink and yellow chaos magic, dark brown, semi-curly hair catching the light as he manipulates a holo-stylus with a glance, his magnetokinesis bending metal with effortless grace. His presence is a quiet storm, leadership radiating like heat from a forge, doubts tucked deep beneath his sassy grin. Steve Rogers, in tactical gear, shield propped against a console, pores over schematics of Roxxon’s London vault, his blond hair slightly mussed, blue eyes flicking to Felix with a spark of mischief. “Felix, darlin’,” Steve drawls, snatching the stylus mid-air, “you’re gonna magnetize my coffee mug again, aren’t you?” His grin is warm, cutting through the mission’s weight like sunlight.

Felix laughs, a low, playful sound, guiding the stylus back with a flick of his eyes, his fingers brushing Steve’s in a deliberate spark. “Captain, my chaos runs this show. Roxxon’s got a chrono-orb in London, and I’m not letting it screw with time.” He leans closer, voice dropping to a teasing murmur. “But I could let you screw me.”

Steve’s chuckle is deep, his hand grazing Felix’s arm, lingering just long enough to feel personal. “You’re on, Specter, but keep your eyes on the prize.” His tone shifts, all business, but his gaze lingers, their love a steady anchor in the storm of planning. “Vault’s a fortress—drones, lasers, the works.”

The team gathers around the holo-table, the air thick with anticipation and the faint hum of tech. Kate Bishop, quiver slung over her shoulder, fidgets with an EMP arrow, her ponytail bouncing as she grins wide. “I’m so ready to snipe their cameras, but someone’s gotta keep up with me.” Her voice is all bravado, but her glance at Yelena Belova is softer, searching. Yelena, leaning against a console, Widow’s Bite gauntlets charged, smirks, her blonde braid catching the light. “Don’t trip over your ego, Bishop,” she retorts, her Russian accent clipping the words, but her eyes betray a warmth that makes Kate’s grin widen. Kurt Wagner, blue tail flicking lazily, polishes his rapier with a cloth, humming a German folk tune, his yellow eyes warm and steady. “No bamfing into trouble, ja?” he quips, winking at Bucky Barnes, who’s cleaning his rifle with methodical precision, bionic arm whirring softly. Bucky grunts, “Just point me at the bad guys, elf.” His scowl is more habit than mood, a flicker of amusement breaking through as Kurt chuckles.

Felix’s briefing slices through the chatter, his voice crisp, commanding, every word weighted with purpose. “Roxxon’s vault is holding a chrono-orb, a relic that can warp local time—think hours looping or days vanishing. It’s guarded by drones, laser grids, and chrono-traps that’ll freeze you in a second. We go in quiet, nab the orb, and get out before they know we’re there.” Steve nods, his shield catching the light as he leans forward. “Stealth’s our edge. If it goes loud, we hit hard and fast. Kate, you’re on overwatch. Yelena, clear the path. Kurt, Bucky, you’re with me on the vault. Felix, you’re our wildcard.” Kate adjusts her bow, smirking, “I’ll get the high ground? No problem.” Yelena rolls her eyes, “Don’t fall off, hotshot.” Kurt’s tail sways, “I’ll bamf us past the traps, easy.” Bucky loads a clip, his voice low, “I’m ready to break some shit.”

London’s fog wraps the city in a damp shroud as the team approaches Roxxon’s sleek skyscraper, its neon logo a cold beacon piercing the mist. Felix disables the outer alarms, wires twisting like vines under his focused gaze, he cloaking their heat signatures in a ripple of chaos magic. Steve leads, shield low, his movements fluid as he signals the team with a raised hand. Kate scales a fire escape with catlike grace, her arrows frying cameras with soft pops that blend into the city’s hum. Yelena slips through shadows, her EMPs dropping guards with barely a whisper, her smirk flashing when Kate winks from above. Kurt bamfs Bucky to the vault level, a faint sulfur trail lingering, Bucky’s bionic arm smashing a reinforced lock with a dull clang that echoes in the silence.

The vault chamber is a sterile glow, the chrono-orb pulsing like a living heart at its center, time rippling around it in faint waves that make the air feel thick. Felix’s magic steadies the distortions, his leadership calm under the pressure, his voice low but firm. “Careful, team. One wrong move, and we’re stuck in a loop.” A drone swarm activates, their red eyes glowing like embers in the dark, lasers slicing the air. Steve’s shield deflects a barrage, his voice sharp: “Kate, hit ‘em!” Kate’s explosive arrow scatters the drones in a burst of sparks, Yelena’s Widow’s Bite frying their circuits with a crackle. Kurt bamfs Bucky to the orb, Bucky securing it in a dampening case with a grunt of effort. Felix holds off a collapsing security grid, metal groaning under his will, his eyes blazing with focus. “Move, now!” he barks, opening a portal back to the Compound.

They tumble into the war room, breathless but victorious, the orb safe in its case. Kate sprawls on a couch, panting, “Holy hell, that was too damn close.” Yelena nudges her with a boot, smirking, “You loved every second, admit it.” Kurt passes out beers, his tail flicking as he toasts, “To victories, mein Freunde!” Bucky cracks a rare smile, clinking bottles, his bionic arm glinting. Steve pulls Felix into a quick embrace, whispering, “You were brilliant, love.” Felix grins, his sass returning, “Told you I’d pin you, Cap.” The team laughs, digging into fish and chips from a London safehouse stash, the grease and salt grounding them. Felix’s leadership is a quiet fire, his doubts absent, the Syndicate’s bond forged in the heat of the heist, their chatter and laughter filling the room as the fog of London fades from memory.

Authors Note; This is my first Vol of my alternate universe, and if people like it hopefully not my last. Felix is my original character and his backstory will be explained later on in the story.