Su Zhan stood amid the quiet tension of Steve Rogers' apartment, his senses keen and his curiosity fully engaged. A powerful illusion cloaked the living room, set by Su Zhan himself, as he waited to see who would dare accept the mission to assassinate Nick Fury after the Winter Soldier's failure. This was no task for an ordinary assassin. Whoever took it on would need to be bold, highly skilled in close combat, and confident enough to strike even with Captain America present. Su Zhan's anticipation was unmistakable; he was eager to see who would have the nerve to step into such a dangerous role.
A figure slipped in through the window, moving with a curious mix of caution and confidence. Su Zhan watched intently, trying to discern the intruder's identity as the man crept into the living room, his features obscured by shadows and the lingering illusion. For a moment, nothing about him stood out—until, without warning, he drew a pistol and fired at the sofa. At that exact moment, his mouth opened unnaturally wide, and an impossibly long tongue lashed out, snaking across the room.
Su Zhan almost laughed aloud at the absurdity. He had expected a formidable assassin, perhaps another of Magneto's elite or a Hydra enforcer. Instead, it was Toad-Mortimer Toynbee, a mutant whose powers included extraordinary leg strength, allowing him to leap vast distances, and a prehensile tongue that could extend up to seven meters. The tongue was not just long but fast, capable of high-speed attacks and quick retraction. It could secrete a sticky, quick-drying adhesive, perfect for trapping opponents. His hands and feet also secreted this mucus, letting him cling to walls and ceilings. But beyond that, there was not much else to his abilities.
Su Zhan's disappointment was immediate. Compared to Arclight or even Callisto, Toad was not a top-tier mutant. For Magneto to send him on such a mission seemed almost insulting. Was this a test, or did Magneto simply not care about the outcome? Su Zhan felt that creating the illusion had been a waste of effort.
He let the illusion fade, no longer interested in playing games. "I'm done with the illusion. This one's all yours," Su Zhan said to Steve Rogers and Nick Fury, not even bothering to use telepathy. His voice carried easily through the room.
Toad looked around, confusion and alarm flickering across his face. "What's going on? Why aren't you dead? I just shot you—" He stopped mid-sentence, realizing that the Captain America he had been fighting had vanished, and Nick Fury, who should have been dead on the sofa, was now standing unharmed in the corner. There was another man here too, someone Toad had not noticed before.
The realization hit him. He had been fighting illusions.
With a startled shout, Toad fired again at Nick Fury.
Steve Rogers stepped forward, raising his shield to block the bullets. With a practiced motion, he hurled the shield across the room. Toad leapt to the ceiling, clinging to it with his adhesive hands and feet, but the shield bounced off the wall at a sharp angle and struck him squarely in the chest. Toad tumbled to the floor, stunned.
Steve caught the shield and pressed it against Toad's neck, pinning him to the ground. "Don't move," he ordered.
Toad froze, his bravado gone. Steve quickly disarmed him, tossing the gun aside. "Why are you here? Who sent you?"
Su Zhan watched the interrogation, unable to hide his amusement. "Come on, Steve. Do you really need to ask? Who else would send someone like this? It can only be Magneto."
Nick Fury's expression hardened. "Anyone who underestimates me will pay the price."
Su Zhan grinned, shaking his head. "You talk a big game, Fury, but without me, you'd be dead today. The Winter Soldier was already enough trouble, and now you have two mutants after you. Magneto is working with Hydra, and you've lost S.H.I.E.L.D.'s resources. What do you have left?"
Nick Fury shot Su Zhan a glare. "I don't believe you're helping me just because of Natasha. Besides, if Magneto looks down on me, maybe he looks down on you too. He knows you're here protecting me and still sent someone."
Su Zhan's voice grew cold. "I don't like your attitude, Fury. I saved you this time, but don't expect me to keep doing it."
He turned to Toad. "Did Magneto really send you alone?"
Toad shook his head, panic in his eyes. "I don't know! I just follow orders!"
Steve pressed the shield a little harder. "Do you really expect us to believe that?"
Su Zhan shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Even if you don't want to talk, I can find out what I want." He reached out with his mind, using his telepathy to probe Toad's thoughts.
After a moment, Su Zhan frowned. "He's telling the truth. Toad doesn't know if Magneto sent anyone else. Maybe Magneto really did only send him, but that doesn't mean Hydra hasn't sent someone too."
As he spoke, a sudden scream echoed through the apartment. Su Zhan spun around just in time to see Nick Fury being dragged away. The door slammed shut with a heavy thud, and the lock clicked into place.
Steve cursed and rushed after Fury, but Su Zhan remained still. He knew exactly who had taken Nick Fury. The mission was not over yet, and the real danger was only just beginning.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the task at hand.