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“Don’t worry, Sue,” Reed said, his voice betraying his growing anxiety. “We can get this annulled.” He couldn’t even force the words out — Susan married to Doom. They had been too late to save her from being coerced into marrying the monarch of Latveria. Why his nemesis had chosen Sue as his bride remained unknown but Reed knew the reasons were likely nefarious.
“Richards, how inconvenient for you as I will agree to no such thing,” Doom replied nonchalantly.
Johnny turned to Reed, the man who was supposed to fix all of their problems, the man he thought he’d some day call his brother-in-law…now his brother-in-law was an Eastern European dictator. “Can’t we get the UN or…someone to stop this? Sis would never want to marry him.”
”Out of deference for my bride, I will ignore your comment, Jonathan. Furthermore, whether Susan desired this union is a moot point as it has come to pass. She is now a Latverian citizen. Zargo here was delighted to join us, granting my country a queen at last.”
The flustered priest shifted his eyes back and forth. “Yes, Excellency. A beautiful ceremony.” He all but hid behind Susan who had remained silent, still absorbing the day’s events. She, of course, knew of Reed’s interest although it had been a waiting game of a courtship, hindered by the pursuit of science and justice. If any man were to force her into marriage, her first guess would’ve been Namor. At least she held some affection for the man.
Doom, however…
She barely knew him and what she did know she didn’t like. Once she reluctantly accepted Doom’s demands, she’d been to shown a room full of different handcrafted wedding gowns. As someone with a deep interest in fashion, she briefly forgot her perilous situation and had allowed herself to admire the artistry of the gowns of varying shades of white. Remembering her groom, she’d had some waitstaff girl pick a dress for her. Sue numbly allowed the girl to fix her hair up and apply makeup for the charade of a fairytale wedding. It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life…
”How do we know this ain’t some scheme and he’s some goon?” Ben nodded towards Zargo.
”I signed them, Ben.” Sue assured him quietly.
”I assure you that Zargo’s credentials are valid as he was handpicked by myself to be educated at the Werner Academy. He has been of great use to me. If you wish, however, you may request a copy of the marriage certificate.”
Ben folded his massive arms and shook his head. “And Susie signed this? I don’t believe it!”
Doom waved off the orange monstrosity’s critiques. ”You may see it for yourself although the marriage documents are in Latverian, of course. Furthermore, as the consort to Doom, you will address Susan as befits her station.”
”Station smashion, you barely even know her. How do we know she’d be safe here?”
”I have no intentions of injuring my bride, I assure you. Perhaps less formal and more fitting for commoners, but Mrs. von Doom will suffice.”
“I can’t believe this.” Johnny shook his head. He approached Sue, pulling her into his embrace. “We’ll figure something out, sis.”
”Doom, if you do anything to hurt her —“
Doom cut off Reed’s attempt at a warning. “As I have just stated, I have no desire to harm Susan. The opposite, in fact. You know Doom is a man of his word. I bestowed upon her a vow of protection only one such as myself can afford her. Ask yourself, how often has she been endangered amidst your attempts at saving the world?”
Doom’s words cut deep, leaving Reed stunned momentarily.
“She will want for nothing. As my queen, she will be even more powerful whilst having the most protection possible.”
“Just tell me this, Doom. Why?”
”I owe no explanation, yet I will grant it. I have considered potential brides befitting me and the nation. She is a beloved figure throughout the world, intelligent, quite beautiful, powerful, and coveted by the likes of you and the Submariner. Truly, she is a perfect match for Doom. Having Susan as my consort will only solidify my rank.”
Susan looked away from the scene unfolding before her. She considered turning herself invisible and fleeing into the night, although she felt invisible amongst the conversation that dictated her future. She nearly smiled at the idea of her running away while invisible, her wedding dress and veil flying in the wind like some spectral bride. The whole situation made her think of those gothic novels the girls at the beauty salon had loaned her. Now she was the innocent trapped in some dreary castle with an enigma of a husband. She repressed a shudder at the notion of Victor von Doom being her husband…and all that could entail…
Although she had been allowed a choice in the gown and veil, she’d been given a bouquet by some elderly man, who introduced himself as Boris. He had explained that the exquisite flowers came from Castle Doom’s garden. “They only grow on Latverian soil and just during this season. My master requested you carry them.”
Boris also served as their witness. Despite all the pomp associated with Doom, the wedding was a hastily arranged affair conducted in Doom’s throne room.
Doom had given her an ornate ring with his ‘D’ sigil, sliding it surprisingly on her right finger rather than her left. “In Latveria, that is the custom.”
Of course, he had given her no ring to give back to him, reminding her she was becoming essentially his property, some sort of trophy rather than the beloved wife to a besotted groom. The whole affair had been a perversion of everything she desired. A beautiful wedding with a man she wanted nothing to do with.
She snapped back to the current situation as Doom addressed her team members…former team members now. Sue didn’t imagine Doom would want her traipsing with the enemy.
“The hour grows late. Boris here will see to your leave as my wife and I retire.”
Doom placed one armored arm around Sue’s waist and escorted her out of the hall.
Johnny’s stomach sank as his sister looked over at her shoulder, her blue eyes unsure.
”Doom — !”
The three were stopped from following Doom as a legion of armed Doombots appeared.
”Reed, what are we going to do?”
”We have to stay positive, Johnny. Sue is a smart girl. She’ll figure something out.”
”Yeah, maybe she’ll cut out ol’ Tinhead’s heart out while he sleeps!” Ben ranted.
Johnny and Reed shuddered as they considered Doom and Sue sharing a bed. The Doombots focused their attentions and weapons on Ben.
”You threaten our master?”
“Yeah, I’ll —“
Ben went to ambush the bots before Reed stretched an arm out to restrain him.
”We can’t use violence here, Ben. We have to figure something out.”
”Right. This has to be some human rights’ violation.” Johnny nodded, ignoring the Doombots forcing the three out of the castle as Boris and Zargo followed them silently. “Doesn’t matter that Doom thinks he runs the world.”
“How could you marry them?” Reed asked, focusing on the priest.
”It is not my place to question the lord of Latveria.”
Reed arched a brow. “You don’t truly believe that.”
The priest’s eyes briefly flashed before he relaxed his features. “I believe…in fate, Mr. Richards. It is not our place to question it.”
”Well, I’m a man of science, Zargo, and don’t understand how you could —“
”Easy, Stretcho. Now ain’t the time for theological debate. We need time to figure this thing out.”
”Reminder you are on Latverian land and subject to the lord of Latveria,” one Doombot droned.
”Yeah, yeah,” Ben grumbled. “Ol’ Fishface wasn’t this bad.”
Reed couldn’t believe he had let Sue down like this. He knew Namor had been a rival for Sue’s affections. If only he had…
Once alone in the privacy of Doom’s personal wings he turned to her. She blinked as he removed the titanium glove on his right hand. For the first time, she saw bits of his actual being other than his amber eyes.
“We shall have a wedding for the masses at another time. Expediency outweighed ceremony, I fear. In the mean time…”
He produced another wedding band and handed it to her.
“I could not risk doing such with others around, doing so would weaken my armor’s defenses.”
He held his right hand to her, waiting for her to slide the band on. His dark eyes focused on her face as she hesitated.