CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 051: SEASIDE CAFÉ! NATASHA’S INVESTIGATION!

Natasha was visibly annoyed.

Lorien smiled, still looking at Wanda.

"Since it’s raining, what do you suggest we do?"

He took a moment to size her up. She was still in a trench coat, but this one was thicker, a brownish-red shade for the rainy weather. Her outfit below had changed too—black knee-high boots paired with blue jeans. The look made her legs appear smooth and well-shaped from waist to toe. The snug denim gave those full, shapely legs a mature allure—just the right amount of softness, without a hint of excess.

And then there was Wanda’s delicate face. Well, that went without saying—she was stunning.

Wanda thought over Lorien’s question. It was raining, and they had nowhere to go. Anywhere would do, as long as it wasn’t back. But she wasn’t familiar with New York, and that left her quietly frustrated.

Sensing her mood, Lorien reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

"How about I take you to a coffee shop that’s a bit more interesting? The coffee’s nothing special, but the place has a great atmosphere."

Wanda nodded without hesitation.

Natasha, seeing that, could only follow with a nod of her own.

...

Lorien and Wanda slid into the back seat of the Audi, leaving Natasha to drive.

Natasha glanced at them through the rearview mirror and sighed. On the battlefield, no one dared raise their voice at Wanda. Her Chaos Magic was something everyone respected—feared, even. Even Captain America, when giving her orders, would speak in a measured, even tone.

But with Lorien... it was different. She was obedient. She hesitated. Was this really the same Wanda they knew?

No, it wasn’t.

The Wanda the Avengers knew was just her surface self—a protective shell. The Wanda sitting here now had lowered her guard completely, returning to who she’d been right after leaving Sokovia.

The iceberg was just her camouflage.

The real Wanda loved a peaceful, happy life.

When Lorien saw Natasha glance at him through the rearview mirror, he met her eyes for a moment. Natasha quickly looked away and focused on driving, but her suspicion toward him only deepened. Her instincts as a secret agent told her Lorien was becoming far more complicated than he appeared.

What she didn’t know was that every one of her thoughts was already laid bare in Lorien’s mind.

It didn’t bother him. He simply let things take their natural course. Ever since he’d let Stephen witness his abilities, he knew it was only a matter of time before the truth came out.

"Turn left, then right, and pull in up ahead... Alright, we’re here."

...

Following Lorien’s directions, Natasha drove them to an area near a seaside park. The three got out under two umbrellas, and Lorien led them to a distinctive coffee shop by the water.

The shop faced the sea, with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides. Thanks to the rain, it was completely empty when they stepped inside—exactly how Lorien liked it. For him, this place was at its best during a rainy day.

They took a seat and ordered coffee.

Wanda gazed out through the glass, admiring the view.

"The land is right across the sea... and with the rain, it’s all hazy. It’s beautiful here. Why isn’t anyone else around?"

It wasn’t a hard question, and Lorien didn’t need to answer. Natasha responded with quiet insight.

"Because it’s rare for anyone to push through the heavy rain to get here."

She was right. Most people would stay home on a day like this, but the rain was what made the scenery perfect. That was something Natasha, with her years of fieldwork, understood well.

Before long, the coffee arrived, along with complimentary cookies from the staff. The three sipped their drinks and chatted.

"How was your mission abroad?" Lorien asked Wanda. "Go smoothly? Was the scenery nice?"

Wanda thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"It was all yellow dirt and dust. But the mission went fine. I just used that trick you taught me for crushing rats—and crushed them all."

Lorien: 0.0

Natasha: ...

Impressive.

Lorien glanced at Natasha for confirmation, and she gave a barely noticeable nod. Well, that settled it. Wanda’s inner strength had definitely grown... even if in a slightly twisted way. Still, it was a good thing overall.

The conversation went on. Curious about Natasha, Lorien asked,

"You’ve been taking on missions so often to win back public support, but the results are pretty clear. So if things hit the worst-case scenario, what would you want Wanda to do?"

At first, Wanda thought he was asking about the Avengers. But when she heard the second question, she realized—he was asking for her sake.

She set her coffee aside, eyes soft as she stared at Lorien.

Natasha’s hand paused briefly before she answered in a calm, even tone.

"Every superhero has the right and responsibility to make their own choices. Even if it comes to the worst, Wanda can decide for herself."

Lorien nodded, reassured. "That’s good."

Hearing this, Wanda felt so cared for she was ready to give her whole heart to him.

Natasha, watching her, decided she couldn’t wait any longer. She took a sip of coffee, then looked directly at Lorien with a steady, heroic gaze.

"I mean no harm," she said seriously, "but I have to ask—

That red Transformers... is it your Ferrari?"

...

(80 Chapters Ahead)

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