Marvel : Super Extraction

"Mr. Stark," Norman called, striding forward with an outstretched hand. "Welcome to Osborne Group. I'm Norman Osborne."

"Mr. Osborne," Leon replied, meeting the greeting with a faint smirk. He leaned forward slightly, exuding confidence. "Good to see you too."

Norman's eyes narrowed, though his expression remained composed. "Word is, you're here to discuss some kind of cooperation with my company. Care to enlighten me?"

Leon chuckled, a low, easy sound that carried an edge of mischief. "Well, I'll level with you, that was just a little excuse to get past your receptionist. No hard feelings, I hope?"

Norman's brow creased, a flicker of irritation breaking through his polished facade. "An excuse?" He'd come into this meeting with low expectations, but hearing Leon admit it outright still stung.

"Exactly," Leon said, unfazed. "I'm actually here to buy something special from you. The spider silk, your group's unique strain. I figured a face-to-face would get me further than a polite email."

Norman tilted his head, studying Leon with skepticism and intrigue. "Spider silk? That's it? You went through all this trouble just to ask about that?"

Leon shrugged, his grin widening. "Call it curiosity. I've heard your silk's got toughness, strength, and stickiness that puts ordinary spider silk to shame. I want some of it."

Norman's gaze turned cold, his voice flat. "Then you can leave. I am worried you'll crack the formula and siphon off my profits. Door's that way."

Leon's eyes glinted, undeterred by the rejection. "Tch, you're a tough nut to crack, old fox." He paused, then stood abruptly, his tone shifting to something sharper, more deliberate. "Fine. How about this: I've got a real cooperation proposal for you. But this isn't the place to talk. We need somewhere secure."

Norman blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change of tone. After a beat, he rose, his curiosity. "Follow me," he said, heading toward the elevator.

Leon trailed behind at a leisurely pace, hands in his pockets.

The elevator ride was silent, the hum of machinery underscoring the growing tension. They ascended to the top floor, stepping into the sleek, imposing expanse of Norman's office. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed a sprawling cityscape.

"Sit," Norman said, gesturing to a chair. "What do you want to drink?"

"Just water," Leon replied, settling in with a casual air.

Norman moved to the water dispenser, pouring a glass and sliding it across the desk. He sat back in his own chair, fixing Leon with an unreadable stare. "Alright, Stark. What's this 'real cooperation' you're dangling in front of me?"

Leon took a sip, then set the glass down with deliberate calm. "I hear your Osborne Group's working on a 'Super Soldier Program'. "

Norman didn't flinch. "That's hardly a secret. Any major player in the game knows about it."

"Fair enough," Leon said, leaning forward. "But I also hear you're cooking up some suit and flying skateboards, too."

Norman's eyes sharpened, a flicker of unease breaking his composure. 'Those projects were buried deep, how the hell did this kid know?'

Before Norman could respond, Leon dropped the bombshell. "And then there's the Osborne family curse—your genetic disease. If I've got my memory right, you're running out of sand in the hourglass, aren't you?"

Norman shot to his feet, his face twisting with fury. "How do you know that?" His hand slammed a hidden button under the desk, and with a mechanical whir, panels in the walls slid open, revealing a ring of gun barrels, all locked on Leon. "You've got one chance to explain, Stark, or you're not walking out of here."

Leon didn't blink. He raised his hands in mock surrender, his smirk unshaken. "Easy, Osborne. You don't need to know how I found out—just that I did. And I know why you're pushing the Super Soldier Program so hard. It's not just for the military, is it? You're making it to save yourself, to save your bloodline. And from what I hear, you're damn close to cracking it."

"Fine. Let's say you're right. Why bring this up? What's your angle?"

Leon shrugged, his tone light but laced with intent. "Simple. You wouldn't sell me the spider silk, so I figured I'd sweeten the deal with something you can't ignore. I'm not here to ruin you, Osborne, I just want the silk."

......

Meanwhile, Across Town

Obadiah Stane paced his dimly lit office, his heavy footsteps echoing off the walls. His phone buzzed, and he snatched it up, snarling, "What?"

"Sir," came the nervous reply, "Leon Stark was spotted at the Osborne Group. Norman Osborne met with him personally."

Obadiah froze, his blood turning to ice. "What the hell's he doing there?" His voice dropped to a growl. "Is Tony pulling strings behind my back?....This ends tonight." He leaned closer to the receiver, his words dripping with menace. "The second Leon steps out of that building, you grab him. Find the chance, I don't care how messy it gets."

The line went dead, and Obadiah sank into his chair, a smirk twisting his lips. "Tony," he muttered, his voice a venomous whisper, "I'm done playing nice with you."

.......

Norman's eyes widened, unable to believe what he heard. "You're telling me this is about spider silk?"

Leon shrugged, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Pretty much."

Norman's eyes narrowed, unconvinced. "And this 'cooperation' you mentioned, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Easy," Leon replied, leaning forward slightly. "You sell me the silk, and I give you useful advice."

"Just that?" Norman pressed, suspicion coiling in his voice.

"Just that," Leon echoed, his casual demeanor unshaken.

Norman exhaled through his nose, a calculated pause stretching between them. "Fine. You can get your silk. Now talk, what's this 'useful advice'?"

Leon's smirk faded, "That genetic serum your lab's cooking up? Although your research direction is correct, I strongly advise against using it on yourself. Those biogenetic agents are highly effective, they can prevent the genetic diseases afflicting the Osborne family. However, once injected, they also trigger a surge of primal, animalistic instincts, causing one to lose humanity and reason."

Norman's face tightened, his mind racing. 'Leon wasn't guessing. He knew.' The serum's animalistic side effects were the last hurdle in Osborne's Super Soldier program, a secret buried deep in lab reports. No human trials yet, but the data hinted at exactly what Leon described. "How do you know this?" Norman demanded, his voice a low growl.

Leon waved it off with a grin. "Doesn't matter. What matters is you don't shoot that junk into your veins until it's safe. So take me to the spider silk lab? I've held up my end."

He stood, brushing off his pants, utterly ignoring the subtle hum of hidden weapons lining the room. But Norman's voice cut through the air like a whip. "Wait."

Leon glanced back, eyebrow raised. "What now?"

Norman leaned forward, his desperation masked behind a cool facade. "You know the flaw. Do you know how to fix it? If you do, I'll cut you in, dividends, a stake in the program, even a dose of the serum for yourself. Power like that… you'd be unstoppable."

Leon chuckled, shaking his head. "Pass. I'm not dying to play Captain America."

Norman blinked, thrown off. "Why not? Who wouldn't want that kind of strength?"

"I'm not him," Leon said flatly. "I'm me. That's enough." Then, with a sly tilt of his head, he added, "But if you toss in the suit and a flying skateboard, I might point you toward a solution."

Norman's eyes gleamed with intrigue. "Done. Now, how do we fix it?"

"You know Dr. Hank Pym?" Leon asked, his tone deceptively light.

"Of course," Norman scoffed. "Who doesn't?"

"Then get him on the line," Leon said. "And while you're at it, track down Peter Parker. You're familiar with him, right?"

Norman's pupils shrank, a flicker of unease breaking his composure. "Harry's friend. What about him?"

Leon's smile turned cryptic. "Let's just say he's tied to your work more than you realize."

Norman's thoughts spun. Leon knew too much. As Leon turned toward the door, Norman's hand hovered over a hidden button on his desk.

But before he could press it, Leon spun around, finger aimed like a loaded gun. *Bzzzt!* A jagged arc of electricity erupted from his fingertip, slamming into Norman's chest. The shock hurled him back.

Leon lowered his hand, his expression ice-cold. "Don't even think about it, Osborne. I don't play nice with backstabbers."

Norman wheezed, staring up at him in stunned disbelief. "What…What the hell are you?"

"Just a guy who likes spider silk," Leon said, his smile razor-sharp. "Now, about that lab…"