Marvel: Playing Iron Man, Falling In and Out of Love with Jinx

"Shark—Fish!!"

Fizz's energetic voice echoed through the kitchen. Meanwhile, Neeko had returned to her usual form, sulking in the corner, drawing imaginary circles on the floor.

To welcome their new friend, Neeko had eagerly volunteered to bake a third cake.

She hadn't even gotten a bite of the first two, which, of course, had left her fuming!

Fortunately, she finally got a taste this time, but…

She'd added way too much sugar. So sweet it made her cry.

Duke looked over at Neeko and couldn't help but smile wryly. At the end of the day, Neeko was still a child, barely had time to learn anything before being thrust into a life of wandering.

Fizz, on the other hand, was happily digging into the overly sweet cake using his Sea Stone Trident as a utensil. The little guy seemed to love it.

Well, if he liked it that much, let him have as much as he wanted.

Once the cake was gone, Duke pulled Neeko over to act as his interpreter.

"Hello, I'm Duke!"

He extended his hand to Fizz with a warm smile. After Neeko translated his greeting into excited gibberish, Fizz eagerly stomped his feet and grabbed Duke's hand, grinning from ear to ear.

"Shark—Fish!"

"Alright, got it, Shark Fish!"

"Neeko, do your best as our translator!"

"Neeko knows!"

With Neeko acting as his voice, Duke began to converse with the little fish man.

"Fizz, is it okay if I call you that?"

"Sure! Fizz loves new friends!"

Fizz waved his Sea Stone Trident enthusiastically. Duke's eyes lingered on it with some envy. If only he could study that weapon, it might give him some insight into Ornn's legendary smithing techniques.

After all, that trident held the power to stir the entire ocean.

In fact, half of Fizz's strength came from it.

"Fizz, if you like cheesecake, you can come back every day," Duke said, smiling. "Just, please, no more pranks on the crew. You'll scare them half to death."

"Why?" Fizz blinked his large, curious eyes. "Playing together is fun!"

"We'll play with you too. As long as you want. And as your new friend, I have a gift for you."

"This gift will help me find you whenever I want, and it also lets us talk to each other. That way, we can chat anytime!"

Duke took one of his earlier inventions, a locator device, and quickly modified it. He handed it to Fizz. The device could link to Edith for tracking and communication, powered by a fragment of Hextech crystal as its battery.

After some modifications, it became a sleek armband, complete with a trident-shaped emblem on the surface.

"Shark— Fish!!"

Fizz held the armband high, cheering with joy.

From her spot leaning against the doorframe, Miss Fortune covered her forehead and sighed.

"I must be going insane."

"You'd better get used to this sort of thing," Duke replied, patting Fizz's slippery head. He then handed over a handheld game console.

Because hey, what kid doesn't like video games?

Even if Fizz had lived for a thousand years, his playful, mischievous spirit still burned as bright as ever.

But make no mistake, underestimating him was a deadly mistake.

Fizz's backstory made that clear: he had no mercy for those driven by greed or selfishness. The key to earning his favor? Be genuine.

Leaving Fizz and Neeko in the kitchen, Duke stepped onto the deck with Miss Fortune, the cool night sea breeze brushing past them. He turned and said:

"With Fizz's help, our plans will have stronger backing, and your position will be more secure."

"But how?"

"Fizz is one of Bilgewater's most feared legends. You don't need me to tell you how heavy his name weighs on the people here."

Duke took the wine glass handed to him by Raven. Miss Fortune picked one up as well, the party had already begun. The Siren's Call was lit up in celebration, and the crew's excitement filled the air.

On the deck, sailors raised their mugs in chorus. Others gathered around two arm-wrestling brutes on an oak barrel, placing bets with rowdy cheers.

Despite the lively energy, no one dared disturb Duke and Miss Fortune's private corner.

"Gangplank ruled Bilgewater not just through strength and influence, but because of the Church of Nagakabouros behind him."

"But now," Duke continued, "I can offer you the blessing of Janna, the Storm Spirit. And if Fizz steps forward for you, your fame will reach heights even Gangplank could never achieve."

"Can that really work?"

"If I say it can, it will."

His tone brimmed with confidence. He gestured subtly to Captain Lister. Miss Fortune swept her loose hair from her face, her gaze softening as she looked at the young man who'd changed her life.

There was something fluid in her eyes, like ripples in a quiet lake.

She leaned in, resting lightly against Duke's firm shoulder. A faint, fragrant breath escaped her lips.

"Suddenly… I think I'm a little drunk."

"If you're drunk, just enjoy the breeze."

Duke didn't push her away. Together, they gazed across the crowd, spotting Graves sitting quietly in a corner, nursing a bottle of rum.

"Hey," Miss Fortune chuckled. "You know what they're saying in the streets of Bilgewater?"

"What?"

Duke turned to her, the firelight casting a soft glow on her charming features.

"They say Graves has lost his mind over Twisted Fate's betrayal."

"Hah! Serves him right." Duke scoffed. "You think you can just take something and run? Not on my watch."

"But you have made his life hell, haven't you?"

Duke shrugged, unapologetic. "Just teaching the oaf a lesson, who's boss around here."

"Raven told me you asked him to track Twisted Fate?"

"Yeah. Graves and Twisted Fate were an unbeatable duo, one thinks, the other acts. Perfect synergy."

"If we can bring them both in, I'll feel even more at ease."

Duke glanced out at Bilgewater. The glittering lights of the upper city stood in stark contrast to the dark, deathly stillness of the lower districts.

"You know," he said, remembering Piltover and Zaun.

Miss Fortune gave a soft hum. "Go on."

"My hometown wasn't so different from Bilgewater's slums, chaotic, brutal. I only got this far because I was lucky."

"If Mr. Collin hadn't taken me in, I'd probably be dead in a ditch somewhere in Zaun. Just another forgotten street rat."

"But you're here now, aren't you?"

"Yeah… You're right."

Duke chuckled, and Miss Fortune's arm silently wrapped around his shoulder.

"Speaking of which, our little bet still hasn't been settled."

"I don't recall losers being this eager to pay up."

"I always honor my bets."

Miss Fortune bit her lip, eyes twinkling.

"You won. You can ask anything of me."

"Anything?"

Duke raised a brow, his gaze shifting slightly.

"Anything."

"Then come to my cabin tonight."

Patting her shoulder, Duke turned and walked toward Jayce, who was waiting on the portside. Miss Fortune stomped her foot lightly as she watched him go.

"Hmph!"

"But at least now," she murmured to herself, "I have someone to rely on."

She looked out at Bilgewater under the night sky, a complex expression on her face.

Betting on Duke had been the boldest, and smartest, move she'd ever made. If she hadn't impulsively approached the Swordfish that day during her pursuit of the pirate lord…

She'd probably still be plotting her revenge against Gangplank.

Portside.

"Duke," Jayce said, "I heard Bilgewater will experience Soul-Eater's Night in twelve days. What's your plan?"

"Get through it, of course."

Duke looked unfazed, but Jayce seemed worried. "The local sailors are terrified of that night. Are we really ready for this?"

"So what are you suggesting?"

"Return to Piltover. Relocate the experiments."

"Sorry. That's not happening."

"Why risk so much?"

"Because I'm a man," Duke said, locking eyes with him. "And men don't abandon their friends in times of crisis."

"Besides, I've got bigger plans here."

"But…"

"Jayce," Duke interrupted, patting his shoulder. He pulled out a rosewood box and handed it over. "If you're truly worried about your safety, then do what I told you before."

"Build yourself a hammer that can protect you."

Duke turned and left. The night was still young, and he had a lot left to do.

Jayce opened the box and saw a gleaming Hextech crystal inside. His expression turned complicated.

He had never given Duke a Hextech crystal… and yet Duke had one, a perfectly stable one.

That meant Duke had already mastered the technique for creating Hextech gems.

And his were more refined than Jayce's own.

Staring at the flickering blue light of the gem, Jayce recalled Duke's words. He closed the box slowly, letting out a long breath.

"If you can do it, then why can't I?"

"I'll prove I'm no less than you are…"

"Duke Sanchez!!"

Late at night.

Dressed in light nightwear, Miss Fortune arrived at Duke's door, a bottle of Noxian whiskey in one hand, two crystal glasses in the other.

"The door's open. Come in."

"You really don't believe in locking up, do you, you little tease?"

She stepped inside, smiling seductively at Duke, who was bent over his desk writing.

"Like you asked, here I am. What are you planning to do with me?"

"Perfect timing."

Duke walked over and took the whiskey and glasses from her hands.

"Come here for a sec."

"Why the rush?"

She followed him to the bed, eyes twinkling mischievously.

Thirty minutes later.

Miss Fortune stared at the pen and paper in front of her, jaw clenched. She looked at Duke's back as he continued to write, and she wanted nothing more than to shoot this damn man in the head.

He dragged her here in the middle of the night…

To help him write a proposal?!

You've got to be kidding me, Duke!!

End of chapter...

To everyone, we're still in the early chapters!! And those who joined the Patreon, thank you so much! 🙏Your support truly means the world. You're the reason this story keeps growing, chapter by chapter, world by world. Bonus chapters will drop soon in patreon.

🔹 Hexcore Initiate – 15 chapters ahead

🔸 Arc Reactor Elite – 35 chapters + 1 bonus

👉 patreon.com/MrBehringer