Send soldiers. Send armies. Send them all.

"I heard that. You may tell them what you please. I give no care to their opinions." The Black Marvel held eye contact. "To extinguish such beauty would be regrettable but I would be able to forgive myself." 

       Chuckling, the blonde raked her fingers through her hair, “Well, let’s hope it won’t have to come to that.”

"Whether it comes to that or not is based entirely on how little you aggravate him. You haven't helped your cause thus far." 

"Careful, girl. Just because I took pity on you doesn’t mean I’m above teaching you humility."

Bile clotted her throat like smoke. "I’m beyond your shambling pity, old man! Just try to show my otherwise. I’ll shove rubble down your ugly mouth by the fistfuls.” 

"Spare me your tantrums, Mary. Even with a portion of my power you're an amateur and woefully outmatched. I could snap your neck and recall the gift I bestowed at any moment. You would do well to show me respect." 

"Careful, girl. Just because I took pity on you doesn't mean I'm above teaching you humility."

"Do you presume there to be echoes now?" Adam’s scowl deepened. "Yes. Any man with half a brain can see you are possessed of great radiance. The difference lies in it being unable to protect you should you incur my wrath." 

     “Oh man, wait until I tell the JLA about this one,” she muttered under her breath with a chuckle. “Now, come on Adam,” she spoke up, “would you really ever want to hurt this face?”

"I heard that. You may tell them what you please. I give no care to their opinions." The Black Marvel held eye contact. "To extinguish such beauty would be regrettable but I would be able to forgive myself." 

"And you should understand your place in the company of your betters. Do not think because you are beautiful that I will not hesitate to teach you humility.” 

     “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” she held up her hands like two stop signs, “now just hold up a minute.” She cracked a sassy smile then, “You think I’m beautiful?”

"Do you presume there to be echoes now?" Adam's scowl deepened. "Yes. Any man with half a brain can see you are possessed of great radiance. The difference lies in it being unable to protect you should you incur my wrath." 

"I have done far more to people who have done far less to me." Adam growled with folded arms. "The fact that I deem you worthy enough to breathe in my presence is a gift that shouldn’t be squandered." 

"And you should understand your place in the company of your betters. Do not think because you are beautiful that I will not hesitate to teach you humility." 

The Black Marvel narrowed his eyes. “It isn’t wise to laugh at your superiors, woman. I could snap your neck and think nothing of it. But I won’t out of respect for our time fighting beside each other.” 

"I have done far more to people who have done far less to me." Adam growled with folded arms. "The fact that I deem you worthy enough to breathe in my presence is a gift that shouldn't be squandered." 

"That would be in your best interest." 

The Black Marvel narrowed his eyes. "It isn't wise to laugh at your superiors, woman. I could snap your neck and think nothing of it. But I won't out of respect for our time fighting beside each other." 

"You flatter yourself by assuming I would care if you did or you did not. I couldn’t care less."

"That would be in your best interest."