Judgment of the Endless (MarvelxDC)

Lana wandered about the S.H.I.E.L.D Headquarters and came upon the training room. As she stepped into the training room, she immediately spotted Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, stretching in the corner. The air was thick with anticipation as the two rivals prepared for an intense sparring session. Natasha glanced up and gave Lana a nod.

"Ready for this?" Natasha asked, a hint of a smirk on her lips.

"Always," Lana replied, matching her smirk.

They took their positions on the mat, circling each other. The room fell silent, and then, with lightning speed, they launched into action.

Punches and kicks were exchanged with precision, each move countered expertly. The intensity of their sparring was evident as they pushed each other to their limits.

After several minutes, they both stepped back, panting and sweating. They called a truce, acknowledging each other's skill.

"You haven't lost your touch," Natasha said, wiping sweat from her brow.

"Neither have you," Lana replied, grabbing a towel.

They sat down on the edge of the mat, taking a moment to catch their breath.

"So, what's been going on lately?" Natasha asked, her curiosity piqued.

Lana sighed. "It's been a lot. We've been integrated into S.H.I.E.L.D., dealing with new protocols, and then there's Darius."

Natasha raised an eyebrow. "Darius? The powerful being Fury mentioned?"

"Yeah, him," Lana confirmed. "He's powerful, unpredictable, and seems to be here just to experience life. But his presence is causing a lot of attention."

"What do you think his intentions are?" Natasha asked.

"I think he's genuine in wanting to experience life," Lana said. "But with power like his, it's hard to say what might happen. We're keeping a close eye on him."

Natasha nodded. "Well, if you need any help, you know where to find me."

"Thanks, Natasha," Lana said, appreciating the support.

==

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After her session with Natasha, Lana headed to a café where she was meeting her team from ISIS. The familiar chaos of her colleagues was a welcome distraction.

Sterling Archer greeted her with a grin. "Lana! How was your sparring match with Black Widow?"

"Intense," Lana replied, giving him a light punch on the arm. "But I held my own."

Cyril Figgis, Pam Poovey, Cheryl Tunt, and Dr. Krieger were already seated. Cyril was fidgeting with his phone, Pam was devouring a plate of nachos, Cheryl was doodling on a napkin, and Krieger was, well, being Krieger.

"Lana!" Pam called out, waving her over. "How's it going with the whole Darius thing? Any new developments?"

Lana sat down, joining the group. "It's been interesting. Fury's trying to figure out where he fits into all this."

"And what do you think?" Cyril asked, looking up from his phone.

"I think Darius is genuine," Lana said. "He's here to learn, not to conquer. But his powers are attracting a lot of attention, and that could be a problem."

"Tell us something we don't know," Archer said, rolling his eyes. "Anyone with powers gets attention. It's practically a rule."

Lana chuckled. "True. But Darius is different. He's ancient, powerful, and has a unique perspective on things. I think he could be an ally, but we have to handle this carefully."

"Well, you've got our support," Pam said, raising her glass. "To Lana and her mystical friend!"

The rest of the team raised their glasses, and they continued chatting and catching up. The atmosphere was lively, filled with the usual banter and jokes.

...

After a while, the conversation turned to their recent integration into S.H.I.E.L.D.

"It's still weird working under Fury," Archer said, leaning back in his chair. "But I guess it beats Malory's constant micromanaging."

"Yeah, and the resources are better," Cyril added. "We've got access to top-notch equipment now."

"And actual health insurance," Pam chimed in, making everyone laugh.

"Plus, we're not exactly on our own anymore," Lana said. "We've got backup if things go south."

"I just miss the old office," Cheryl said wistfully. "It had character."

"Character? It was falling apart," Krieger pointed out.

"Exactly," Cheryl replied, unbothered.

As the team continued their conversation, the banter picked up, filling the café with their familiar, playful energy.

"So, Cyril," Archer began, leaning back with a mischievous grin, "how's it feel working under actual field agents who don't lose their cool every five minutes?"

Cyril bristled, trying to maintain his composure. "For your information, Archer, I've been doing just fine. In fact, I've been taking some advanced training courses."

Pam smirked. "Advanced training courses, huh? Like 'How Not to Get Your Ass Kicked 101'?"

Everyone laughed, and Cyril rolled his eyes. "Very funny, Pam. I'll have you know I've passed with top marks."

"Top marks in what? Being a dweeb?" Cheryl added, drawing more laughter.

"Alright, alright," Lana interjected, trying to give Cyril a break. "Let's not gang up on Cyril. We're all adjusting in our own ways."

Archer leaned in towards Lana, a teasing glint in his eye. "Speaking of adjusting, Lana, when are you going to show us some of those new moves you picked up from Natasha?"

Lana raised an eyebrow. "You mean the moves that would put you on your ass in two seconds flat?"

Archer chuckled. "Maybe I'll pass on that demonstration, then."

Pam leaned forward, a gleam of curiosity in her eyes. "So, Lana, any juicy details on the mystical dude, Darius? I hear he's quite the looker."

Lana shook her head, smiling. "Pam, you've got a one-track mind. Darius is... well, he's different. Powerful, yes, but also kind of mysterious."

"Sounds like your type," Archer quipped, earning a playful slap on the arm from Lana.

"Enough about my type," Lana said, changing the subject. "What about you, Cheryl? How's it been working in an organization where your antics aren't the norm?"

Cheryl shrugged nonchalantly. "It's been... fine. I mean, sure, there's less opportunity for chaos, but I'm managing."

Krieger, who had been quietly sipping his coffee, finally chimed in. "I must say, having access to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s tech has been quite enlightening. I've got so many new ideas for inventions."

Lana gave him a wary look. "Just make sure none of those inventions lead to accidental explosions, okay?"

Krieger feigned innocence. "Who, me? Never."

They all laughed again, the camaraderie among them as strong as ever. Despite the new challenges and changes, they were still the same team at heart.

==

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[Elsewhere]

Darius wandered through the bustling streets of the city, his white hair and attire catching the eye of many passers by. Beside him, Zuri, the small black panther pup, padded along, hidden from view in his shadow thanks to his powers.

The city was a stark contrast to the serene landscapes of Wakanda, but Darius enjoyed the change of scenery. The noise, the people, the energy—it was all part of the experience he sought on Earth.

He paused outside a small convenience store, glancing at the sign that read "No Pets Allowed." With a slight smirk, he pushed the door open and entered. The bell above the door jingled, and the cashier glanced up, frowning at the sight of Darius.

"You can't bring animals in here," the cashier said, eyeing the shadowy outline of Zuri.

Darius raised an eyebrow, his mischievous smile widening. "Don't worry, she won't cause any trouble."

Before the cashier could argue further, the door burst open again, and two masked men stormed in, brandishing guns. The atmosphere in the store shifted instantly, tension replacing the casual hum of everyday life.

"Everyone on the ground! Now!" one of the robbers shouted, waving his gun menacingly.

The customers and the cashier dropped to the floor, fear etched on their faces. Darius, however, remained standing, his expression calm and unbothered.

The second robber approached Darius, shoving the barrel of his gun into his chest. "I said, get down!"

Darius looked down at the gun, then back up at the robber, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I heard you the first time."

"Do you have a death wish or something?" the robber snarled.

Without warning, Darius moved. His hand shot out, grabbing the gun and crushing it effortlessly. The robber's eyes widened in shock as he stumbled back, his weapon now a twisted piece of metal.

"Perhaps it's you who should reconsider your choices," Darius said, his voice dangerously calm.

The first robber, seeing his partner disarmed, pointed his gun at Darius. "Stay back or I'll shoot!"

Darius sighed, raising his other hand. A wave of energy pulsed from his palm, knocking the gun from the robber's hand and sending him crashing into a display of snacks.

Zuri, sensing the danger had passed, emerged from Darius's shadow, growling softly at the robbers. The cashier and customers watched in stunned silence as Darius casually dusted off his robes.

"Is everyone alright?" he asked, glancing around.

The cashier nodded, still in shock. "Yeah... yeah, we're fine. Thank you."

Darius smiled warmly. "Just doing my part."

With the robbers subdued and the store safe, Darius turned and walked out, Zuri trotting beside him. The city buzzed with life around them, but Darius's thoughts were already on his next adventure.

Social Media Buzz

Unbeknownst to Darius, one of the customers had recorded the entire event on their phone. As soon as Darius and Zuri left the store, the customer uploaded the video to social media. The footage quickly went viral, capturing the attention of millions.

In the video, viewers saw Darius effortlessly disarm the robbers and crush their weapons with ease. Comments and reactions flooded in, with people amazed by the mysterious figure's strength and composure.

"Who is this guy?!" one commenter wrote.

"Did you see how he crushed that gun? Unreal!" another exclaimed.

"Looks like we've got a real-life superhero," someone else chimed in.

As the video spread across various platforms, news outlets picked up the story, speculating about the identity of the enigmatic man in white robes. The incident in the convenience store became the talk of the town, and Darius's presence in the city was now a subject of fascination and curiosity.

==

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Back at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Nick Fury received an alert about the trending video. He watched the footage intently, recognizing Darius immediately. Fury leaned back in his chair, contemplating the implications of Darius's presence and his blatant use of power.

"Motherf*cker," Fury muttered to himself.

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