Chapter 2: The Suitcase Full of Surprises – Or, "My Dating Life Just Got a Whole Lot More... Magical?"
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Plot Event: Chitauri Invasion survived (partial). GP earned: 500. ]
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Congratulations! You've earned a Free Normal Draw. ]
Adam stared at the holographic notification floating in front of him, a mixture of exhilaration and exhaustion washing over him. The past week had been a blur of increasingly frantic attempts to warn Tony Stark, who, to his credit, was a surprisingly difficult man to corner. Even with the "King's Haki" as his ultimate trump card, navigating the labyrinthine security of Stark Tower and the sheer force of Tony's genius-billionaire-playboy-philanthropist schedule had been a monumental task.
He'd managed to slip into the tower after his dramatic 'nappy time' entrance, only to discover that getting to Tony was like trying to get a coherent answer out of a conspiracy theorist – impossible and slightly maddening. He'd been intercepted by Happy Hogan, who, after a brief, tense standoff where Adam seriously considered putting him to sleep, surprisingly listened to a few of Adam's increasingly desperate (and heavily redacted) warnings about "impending cosmic unpleasantness." Happy, bless his eternally stressed heart, had actually relayed a message to Tony. The result? Tony had sent down a team of "consultants" – read: highly trained security personnel with very sharp questions – to "evaluate" him.
Adam had pulled out the King's Haki again, more subtly this time, feigning a sudden, intense headache that somehow spread to everyone in the room. He called it "migraine empathy." It had bought him enough time to drop a few more cryptic clues about alien portals and Norse gods before disappearing into the bustling streets of New York, leaving behind a very confused, very sleepy security team.
The actual Chitauri invasion, when it finally kicked off, was somehow both exactly as he remembered and infinitely more terrifying. The sheer scale of the destruction, the alien screeches, the terrified screams of civilians – it was a sensory overload that made his skin crawl. He'd spent the day not fighting, because, let's be real, his "sleep" power wasn't exactly suited for taking down alien battleships. Instead, he'd focused on civilian evacuation. He'd used his King's Haki in short bursts, clearing pathways, getting people out of harm's way, and generally making himself a chaotic, albeit effective, presence in the midst of the chaos. He'd even managed to trip a few Chitauri, purely for the satisfaction of seeing them stumble. Take that, bug-faced invaders! Gravity is my secret weapon!
He'd witnessed Thor's arrival, the thunder rumbling through the city, and felt a surge of fanboy glee mixed with genuine relief. He'd seen the Hulk smash, Captain America lead, and Iron Man fly. He'd seen enough to earn his GP, and frankly, enough to warrant a lifetime supply of therapy.
Now, back in his borrowed apartment, the lingering smell of ozone and fear still clinging to his clothes, he finally had a moment to breathe. And to check his system.
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Gacha Draw Tier: Normal Draw. Cost: 100 GP or 1 Free Ticket. ]
"Free ticket, baby! Let's see what kind of cosmic junk the universe wants to bestow upon me this time. Please be something useful. Not another artisanal cheese grater, I already have one of those." He tapped the "Draw" button. A shimmering animation played out, a colorful roulette wheel spinning before landing on…
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: [Legendary Item] Newt's Filled Suitcase (Fantastic Beasts) acquired. Recipient: Adam. ]
Adam's jaw dropped. "No. Way. You're kidding me. A Legendary item? From a Normal draw? Is this some kind of pity gift for almost getting vaporized by a space whale? And it's Newt's freaking suitcase?! The one with a literal pocket dimension full of magical creatures?! Oh, this is going to be so much fun."
He laughed, a slightly manic, breathless sound. This wasn't just a useful item; this was a game-changer. This was a whole new level of shenanigans. Forget basic survival; he could now build an entire ecosystem in his pocket! He could hide from Thanos in a literal magical zoo! The possibilities were endless.
A worn, brown leather suitcase materialized with a soft thump on his ratty coffee table. It looked utterly mundane, like something an eccentric uncle would carry to a particularly dull family reunion. But Adam knew better. He carefully unlatched it, peering inside.
A faint, earthy scent wafted out, mingled with the distinct smell of exotic flora and… something fluffy. He saw glimpses of lush greenery, tiny, glowing eyes, and heard faint, rustling sounds. It was a whole world in there. And the system message confirmed it: "already populated with various magical creatures who are cared for automatically and are loyal to Adam."
' Okay, this is officially the coolest thing that has ever happened to me. Forget superpowers, I've got a portable Narnia! My future dates are going to be wild. 'So, want to come back to my place? I've got… a thunderbird.' '
He grinned, already picturing the look on Wanda Maximoff's face when he inevitably tried to impress her with a literal magical menagerie. ' Forget flowers, I'll bring her a Bowtruckle. Or maybe a Niffler. They're cute, if a little larcenous. '
This item, more than anything else he'd received so far, cemented the reality of his situation. This wasn't just about surviving; it was about thriving. It was about making the MCU his own, one ridiculously overpowered item at a time. The New York invasion had been terrifying, but this… this was hope. And a whole lot of mischief.
He carefully closed the suitcase, a feeling of warmth spreading through him. He had a secret weapon, a mobile safe house, and a potential source of truly bizarre companionship. The game was on.