Nathan caught the burly man's wrist mid-air, holding it with an iron grip. He looked into the man's eyes with quiet calm.
"I really don't like people touching me without permission," Nathan said.
The burly man tried to yank his hand back—but it didn't move.
Nathan's fingers were like a steel vice.
"What the—?!" the man growled, trying again.
Nathan twisted slightly. The man's wrist bent at an unnatural angle.
CRACK.
"AAAHH!" A scream tore from his throat as his knees buckled from the pain.
Across the bar, several men—clearly the brute's drinking buddies—pushed back their chairs and stood up, cracking their knuckles and glaring.
Nathan didn't flinch.
As the first one charged, Nathan drove a knee into the downed man's stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
He rose just in time to meet the others.
In a blur of movement, Nathan struck with the precision of a soldier. A punch to the jaw, a fist into someone's ribs, a sharp elbow to another man's side. He danced through them like a predator among prey.
In seconds, all of them were on the ground, groaning and bleeding.
Nathan stood there, untouched, calm—not even a crease on his clothes except for the blood on his knuckles.
A display of absolute dominance.
The bar went quiet. The ill intent that had hung heavy in the air vanished.
Someone whispered, "Damn… who is this guy?"
Another muttered, "He looks like a Hollywood pretty boy, but he hits like a monster."
A third added, "Anyone walking into this dump alone must be crazy—or incredibly dangerous."
Eyes turned away from Nathan, cautious, wary. He was no longer prey. He was the apex.
Nathan walked calmly to a nearby table. The men sitting there froze, their hands trembling around their glasses.
They were sure they'd be next.
Instead, Nathan simply pulled a napkin from the table and wiped the blood off his fists.
Then he turned and made his way to the bar counter.
Behind him, the table's occupants let out a collective sigh of relief, chugging their beer as if trying to drown their racing hearts.
Nathan sat down at the bar and tapped the wood.
"One cold beer."
The bartender said nothing, but slid a frosty glass across the counter.
Nathan let his hands rest on the cool glass but didn't drink. He looked the bartender in the eye.
"I want to see Ulysses Klaue."
The bartender blinked, expression unreadable.
"Never heard of him."
He began wiping the counter with a towel, like nothing had happened.
But Nathan was persistent.
"Come on. I know Klaue has a stake in this bar. I'm not here to make trouble—I'm here to make a deal."
The bartender didn't stop cleaning, but replied, "Mr. Klaue doesn't sell anymore. He's retired."
Nathan leaned forward slightly. "I think he'll want to hear what I'm offering."
The bartender paused.
Nathan continued, lowering his voice.
"I have a custom-built prosthetic arm. Military grade. Not just any tech—it's made with Chitauri components."
That made the bartender freeze.
Nathan saw the reaction and nodded. "Yeah. The same Chitauri that invaded New York. The tech's far beyond anything Earth has."
Klaue had once lost his arm after insulting Ultron—Nathan knew that story well. If anyone would be tempted by alien tech that could give him a stronger replacement arm, it was Klaue.
Nathan gave a small smirk. "All you have to do is tell him. That arm could be his."
The bartender gave no reply. Instead, he set his towel aside.
"I'll be back. Gotta restock."
He disappeared through a door leading to the kitchen.
Nathan didn't move. He stared at the beer glass.
Then, casually, he slid it over to the man sitting beside him.
"On me," he said.
The man blinked, surprised. "Thanks, man!" He grabbed the drink, guzzling it.
A few minutes passed.
The bartender returned, face unchanged, but he slid a slip of paper across the bar.
"Mr. Klaue will see you."
Nathan picked up the note and read the address.
It was a house just outside a small mining town—remote, perfect for hiding illegal goods.
Nathan nodded and left without another word.
---
The location on the paper led him to an abandoned mine, hidden behind a ridge and overgrown trees.
Next to the old dig site stood a small, single-story house, its windows covered with steel grates. Several armed guards patrolled the area.
As Nathan's car pulled up, the guards raised their rifles in unison.
"Identify yourself!" one of them shouted.
Nathan stepped out slowly, hands up, completely calm.
"I have something Klaue wants."
The guards narrowed their eyes.
"Leave your weapons."
Nathan nodded and allowed them to search him. He'd brought nothing but the documents in his jacket.
Once cleared, they escorted him into the house.
Inside, the lighting was dim. Dust floated in the air, lit by shafts of sunlight slicing through slatted blinds.
And there he was.
Ulysses Klaue.
The South African arms dealer sat in a worn leather chair, his stump of an arm resting in a sling. Despite the cozy setting, his eyes were sharp, his lips curled in a permanent sneer.
"So. You're the one who says you can build me a new arm."
Nathan nodded. "Better than new. A replacement made with alien technology. Stronger, faster, more responsive."
Klaue scoffed. "That's a big claim. You're not the first joker to say that."
"I don't bluff," Nathan replied, reaching into his coat and pulling out a folder filled with blueprints.
He tossed them onto the coffee table.
"These are specs. I've left out the critical functions—for security reasons. But it should be enough for you to know I'm not bluffing."
Klaue's expression changed as he scanned the documents.
Blueprints. Diagrams. Schematics. Circuit configurations.
All bearing the unmistakable signature of Chitauri design.
He paused.
"Where the hell did you get this?"
Nathan smiled faintly. "Let's just say I know some people. And I take what I need."
Klaue looked him up and down again.
"You're no ordinary thief."
Nathan shrugged. "I'm a man with a mission. You want that arm back, don't you?"
There was a long silence.
Then Klaue leaned back and smiled.
"Alright, Mr…?"
"Nathan."
"Alright, Nathan. Let's talk business."
___________________________________
Get membership in patreon to read more chapters
Extra chapters available in patreon
patreon.com/Dragonscribe31