Real Power

Thundershock was a man who usually welcomed his guests in the underworld, hiding himself away from the world until it was time for them to see him. Normally he would find himself at the Crimson Dragon Inn, or within his own mansions garden to welcome his guests. Today was different... today, Ishtar had summoned him to her instead, with the promise of a fulfilled duty.

Last Thunder had spoken to her, she had been close to acquiring the M.A.R.I.N.E, and from the plutocracy themselves none the less. It was impressive if truth was to be told... if she had been honest with him, she hated them just as much as he did. Yet still, she had been able to do what he had asked of her. Allegedly. While she seemed honest enough, he knew better than to fully trust her. At least not yet.

As the cars drove up to the high rise, the driver was very quick in getting out of the car, opening the door for the Yakuza boss and acting as a shield against any would be onlookers. Not that there would be much space for anyone to see what was going on anyways, it was a very well hidden area. And for good reason.

Thundershock walked into the building, and immediately noticed the tensions around him rise. People grew stiff as he walked out, soon joined by two of his own men. Taichi, his eldest son emerged from a secondary car, and from a third, a red headed man that Ishtar had yet to meet. Julen, his second in command. It was quite the imposing gathering if you knew who the tag alongs were. Taichi was dressed in a fine black suit, buttoned up from head to toe. There were no indications on his person that he was anything more than a bodyguard. He even kept sunglasses over his eyes to keep them hidden, and his hair tied back into a low, spikey ponytail. Julen on the other hand was dressed in shades of Crimson and black. a hood covered his face, casting a dark shadow over it to obscure it from onlookers. As for Thundershock... well, little changed when it came to the mans attire. Proper suit pants held together with a dark belt. A silk looking deep purple shirt remained undone by just enough to reveal the muscular neck underneath. On his shoulders rested a fur lined coat that made the man appear even bigger than he already was.

They made their way up the elevator, passed the guards who just couldn't seem to stop bowing when they appeared, and into the room where Sonya awaited.

Unlike what he expected to find in the room, he found that Sonya was dressed quite... casually for the occasion. He raised his right hand, making a quick motion that indicated both Julen and Taichi should wait for him outside. They both looked at each other with a nod before turning to leave the room once more... though not before Taichi made a bit of a hand motion towards Sonya as greeting. Whenever they were finally left alone, Sonya would speak, and Thundershock would approach her.

"I will admit I didn't think you would actually be able to do it."
He started, walking over to the case and waiting for Sonya to remove her hand. When she did, he would pop it open to have a look at it's contents. If everything was in order, his eyes would light up a bit, a smirk appearing on his lips as he turned to face the gorgeously dressed woman.

"I admit I underestimated your ability to accomplish this. For that I apologize. As you saw I haven't been very well put together as of late... with this though, things will be changing, and quickly."
He stated, his hands tracing the vials with much more elegance than seemed possible for someone like him. His attention once more returned to Sonya, and before he could prevent himself from turning back to his previously promiscuous ways, he spoke.

"Might I add you look beautiful, Lady Ishtar~ I..."
'Shut up Thunder'
He had to remind himself, biting his tongue as to not let himself get out of hand. He couldn't let himself succumb to the wiles of a female ally so powerful, as much as he wanted to just whisk her away.

Thundershock smirked, a sort of amused huff leaving his lips as she placed her hand on his chest. She easily caught onto the fact that he intended to flirt with her, and nailed him in his coffin right there. She shot him down, though not without leaving a trail of hope. Damn this woman was good... beautiful, powerful and with the ability to wrap him around her little finger without putting him down. He wanted her... even if she might just be a conquest to him now, her personality drove him crazy, and it took him everything to keep himself in check.

His eyes moved along with the woman's body, watching her every move, and listening to every word escape her lips. What she wanted was a true partnership... no, a true friendship even? They were to rely on one another, no secret plots to overthrow the other... only to work together to achieve a common goal. The large man licked his lips once as he thought her words over carefully. What she was asking of him was not something he was particularly good at. Ever since he became the head of the clan there was nothing but secret schemes, alternate intentions and cruelty. The last true friendship he had was with Takeo... but could he really rely on what he knew of that friendship to advance with Ishtar?

His heart was pumping furiously in his chest as his mind wandered, lingering on her words and trying to peer through then for an ulterior motive... yet he couldn't truly sense any? He sucked in a deep breath before turning to her fully, extending his hand towards the woman so that the two could shake hands if she allowed it.

"You've completed the task I gave you, have given me no reason to doubt your words or intentions. You seem to take pleasure in guiding my leash, and I admit I enjoy being pulled by a woman of such beauty and brains. I'll admit that it's been a long time since I've had anyone I could truly call a friend, normally the people I associate with are pawns to be used to a greater goal. Not you. You're, different. So, Ishtar, or rather, Sonya Chernova. Allow me to properly introduce myself as well. Takumi Kobayashi, a name I have not used since my last true friendship. Take that as a token of my agreement. Don't disappoint me."
He stated his words seriously, though the earlier smirk still played his lips as he waited to take her hand into his. This had definitely been a strange encounter, one that would no doubt change the man, and the Kobayashi clan in the future. Whether that was for the best, or the worst was yet to be decided.

The name sent chills up the big mans spine... honestly if he hadn't just agreed to a friendship with this woman, he might have rung her neck. The name was sensitive, and only 3 others in his circle knew it. Even his children didn't know his true name, beyond Taichi of course. Fora long time he had tried to erase Takumi Kobayashi from his being and fully turn himself into nothing other than Thundershock. Lately, however, that name had clung to his mind with the re-emergence of Takeo, his childhood friend. It had brought back memories during his madness and he wasn't quite sure what path he should be taking right now...

Thundershock couldn't help but roll his eyes though as Sonya made a jab at him about truly meeting for the first time. He just waved his hand in front of his face dismissively before taking his seat at the table as Sonya had offered, having taken the case of MARINE and setting it down next to him.

"Honestly, you could have dressed down to meet me, I never mind the eyeful I get from someone as beautiful as you."
He noted with a smirk re-emerging on his face. He leaned forward to rest his chin in his hands that were now perched on the table.

"I must admit that you look absolutely enticing, I was barely able to contain myself from my indulgence. You know, there is such a thing as friends with benefits~"
The Yakuza would half tease. If Sonya agreed to that, of course he would jump on it. If she dismissed it as a joke, then he would continue to treat it as such for the time being. He simply chuckled as he leaned back in his chair when the waiter came out to take their orders. He was curious to see what kind of meals Sonya might be able to offer him, and so looked through the menu carefully before ordering the largest plate of meat he could possibly find. Honestly, he was famished... he often let out too much energy in the form of lightning and found himself in this precarious situation. With his wallop of food, he would order some sake before looking up towards Sonya again when asked about his son.

"You're going to learn to be more specific. I have four. Though seeing as Taichi is the only one you've met... he is doing well. He's been taking his role as my heir much more serious as of late, and I can only imagine that your influence is to thank for that?"

"How could I not when you present yourself to me in a skin tight outfit like that?"
Thundershock defended himself as Sonya seemed to laugh at the fact that he had lusted after her. This woman was hot, no other way of describing he... no matter how she chose to dress or act, it was a sure thing that Thunder would want her for himself. The bonus to his desire for her was that he literally couldn't have her. Not only did she herself want women (which wasn't an issue if he was pushy), she would literally kill him through simple skin contact. As strong as he was, even he couldn't withstand her radiation. It was sad, but it didn't stop him from chasing her. There had to be a way. There was always a counter to ones quirk and he just had to find it.

"Good thing I don't treat my partners delicately, then. So you're telling me you're going to be a real challenge, then?"
He teased her as he could only smirk as he watched her eat, and even laughed when she stated that she under ordered. Honestly, this was her own home right? Damn she should of just eaten what she wanted.

"It's your home, eat as if I'm not here. I've shared a table with much worse gluttons. Though, none even half as appealing as you."
Thunder continued on as his own plate arrived. Unlike Sonya it wasn't a large assortment of meats, a single balanced plate of meats, vegetables and rice. His quirk did require him to burn a lot of energy, so he too usually ate more than a single plate of food to make up for that energy loss. Lately though he hadn't had to use his quirk much beyond some basic training, so his appetite had gone down to what would be considered normal for a man of his size.

As they ate, the topic would then turn to Taichi and how he was doing as his heir, as well as his upcoming role of politician. Thunder bit into one of the vegetable, letting it sit in his mouth for a moment as he thought of the situation his son was in and couldn't help but smile gently.

'The boy's so hopeless in that department, i should leave Sonya to him. They're closer in age anyways'
He thought to himself before finishing his bite, swallowing before looking up at Sonya across the table.

"Well then, thank you. There hasn't been anyone who's been able to set him straight. He's a child born of... circumstance, and was fully aware of all the privilege he has. He likes to train, but otherwise has been pretty lazy choosing to live with his mother in recent years. Honestly Velocity's been begging me to take him back to force him to do more for the clan. Haha. This seems to be a happy compromise.

You know, many years ago... I considered it. To be the villain in the spotlight, to run in an election and take down Japan from within the deepest parts of the government. I had... someone, helping me with the whole social aspect but when they died there really wasn't a point to it anymore and I let my desire push me to where I am now. Hopefully, we can do better with Taichi."
Thundershock reminisced, taking another bite of his meal and a sip to help it all down. He wasn't aware of how deep into his past his mind had wandered, and how much he was saying aloud to Sonya.