James leaned back in his chair, picturing Mindy's joy when she saw herself and Anny immortalized in digital legend.
The empire was growing. Hydra was bleeding. And for one night, in the roar of the crowd and the glow of screens, James allowed himself to bask in glory.
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The Champion concept had taken shape overnight. Annie, the child of shadowed tragedy, was gone. In her place now stood Mindy, the Daughter of Flame. Tibbers, once the raging bear of fire, had been reborn as Anny—the fearless little cat who would never leave her side.
There would always be dissenters in Noxus, the story went. Families who disagreed with the High Command. The "Mindy family" was one of them, living quietly in the deep woods. Her father, Carlos, and her brother, James, kept her safe, but her only constant companion was Anny, the kitten.
Mindy grew restless. The forest was stifling. The world beyond was vast, and she wanted to see it for herself. One night she slipped away with Anny. She wasn't defenseless—she had the spark of fire within her, and the will to use it.
Her wandering brought her to the War College, where Ryze noticed her raw talent and recruited her. There were other students, other children her age, and for the first time she felt free.
Carlos discovered her absence, days later. Panic gripped him. James was away hunting, so it fell to him as a father to find her. He unsealed his old rifle, the assassin's weapon he'd sworn off, and prepared to walk the path again. He left only a note for his son.
When James returned and found it, he understood immediately. His father was searching for Mindy. Relief steadied him—at least she wasn't alone. But word soon reached him of both Carlos and Mindy being drawn into a battle in Summoner's Canyon. James had no choice. He armed himself with the Umbra Sentinel, fitted with the new Nexus Arms, and stepped into the fight.
James told the story with a straight face, walking Mindy through each scene. She sat cross-legged on the couch, Anny perched on her lap, as he laid the drawing in her hands.
"What do you think? This is the character I designed for you. Do you like it?"
Mindy turned the paper over and over, eyes wide. The drawing showed her in miniature form, clutching Anny, flames curled around her hands. "I like it! I like it very much!" She pressed the drawing to Anny's face. "Anny, look—you look amazing!"
The kitten batted the paper with her paw and meowed softly.
"See?" Mindy laughed. "Anny likes it too. When can we play it?"
James ruffled her hair. "Don't worry. The first new Champion of the season will be you. Mindy the Daughter of Fire—and Anny, her partner."
Tony Stark leaned over the back of the sofa, smirking. "Not bad. The kid's adorable. We should form a team once she's live. Champions for everyone."
James shook his head. "Forget it. You'll never get Iron Man into the League. Be happy with ranked matches when you're bored."
Mindy hugged the drawing to her chest. "Thank you, James. You're the best brother ever. But… Why the Daughter of Fire? I like butterfly knives and pistols more."
James gave her a look. "That's boring. Too ordinary. And too violent. Doesn't match you and the game." He pointed at Anny. "This fits. You hold the kitten, and when you're angry, flames roar out. That's more interesting."
Mindy thought about it, cheeks puffed out. "…Well, maybe. But does Anny grow bigger?"
"Yes," James replied without missing a beat. "That's your ultimate: Mindy's Fury. Anny senses your anger, jumps out of your arms, and instantly grows to full size. If enemies are too close, they're stunned."
Mindy blinked, then frowned. "Sounds like Anny's stronger than me." She looked down at the cat as though betrayed.
James almost laughed. Only a child would compete with a kitten. "No. You're the Champion . Anny's your shield. You're good friends, right? Partners. She only has one skill, and it's to protect you. That way you both shine."
Mindy mulled it over, then nodded firmly. "Okay. That's fine. Anny protects me, I protect her. We're a team."
Carlos watched from across the room, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. His children—one by blood, and one by choice—looked content. The house felt warmer from it. "James, do you have time to come home for a while?"
James leaned back. "Not yet. Championship Night is done, but I've got to be in Washington. I have a promotion review. Once I know where I stand, I'll take some time off. Mindy's going on vacation. I'll spend it with her."
Carlos nodded. "That's fine I guess. Just make sure you don't disappear for too long. She won't say it, but she misses you."
James met his father's eyes, the weight of old regrets lingering between them. "I'll make it work."
After putting his family on the plane, James turned back to business. League Games had its marching orders: the new season would debut with Mindy the Daughter of Fire and her companion, Anny. Marketing had already drafted the launch trailers.
But James's attention shifted. Washington is waiting, and with it, the senior agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
By the time he arrived at headquarters, the lobby was thick with activity. Coulson was at his side, greeting arrivals, making sure protocols were held. James scanned faces undetected, Cortana was working in silence collecting data and surveilling the surroundings with James hearing. A subtle pulse of nerves, a heartbeat too fast, an intention misaligned with words—these told him more than dossiers ever could.
One figure drew his focus.
John Garrett.
A Level Eight Agent. Older than Coulson in rank, one of Fury's reliable veterans—or so the official record said. In the future James remembered, Garrett would be unmasked as Hydra's Clairvoyant. For now, he was still wearing the mask of camaraderie.
"John," Coulson said warmly. "Good to see you again. This is Agent James Gibson. He'll be promoted to Level Six at this meeting."
Garrett's handshake was firm, his smile well rehearsed. "So this is the famous Agent Gibson. I've heard the stories. Didn't expect to see you in our ranks."
James matched the warmth, letting no crack show. "I wasn't expecting it either. But here we are. S.H.I.E.L.D. is… a fascinating place. An agency no one believed existed, powerful enough to hold the world together in secret. It's hard not to be interested."
Garrett's smile lingered, but behind it James caught the flicker. A thought misaligned with his words. A shadow that whispered of something darker.
James confirmed his allegiance. Another mask to be stripped in time.