The first rays of morning sunlight spilled through the hotel window, painting the room in a warm, golden hue. Su Zhan stirred, blinking as his senses returned to him, the distant hum of the city below mingling with the memories of the night before. For a while, he simply lay there, letting the reality of what had happened sink in. The wildness, the passion, the way reason had been swept away by emotion—it all came rushing back, vivid and almost surreal.
Turning his head, Su Zhan found Natasha still asleep beside him. In sleep, her face had lost its usual guarded composure; the hard edges and practiced indifference were gone, replaced by a softness that was rarely seen. The contrast was striking. The fierce, almost reckless woman from last night was now vulnerable, her breathing even, her lips parted ever so slightly. Even now, a faint trace of blood lingered at the corner of her mouth—a small, stark reminder of the intensity they had shared.
He sat up slowly, careful not to disturb her, and that was when he noticed a blush staining the sheets. For a moment, he froze, realization dawning. "No way…" he whispered to himself. He had never expected that, for all her confidence and worldly experience, Natasha had still been untouched in this way. Was it a stroke of luck, or had he simply been swept up into something deeper than he'd realized?
A wry smile tugged at his lips. Last night's madness, the way they had lost themselves in each other, was still fresh in his mind. He could not help but feel a sense of triumph, but also a strange tenderness. Had he conquered the Black Widow, or had she conquered him? Perhaps it was both.
He carefully disentangled himself from Natasha's embrace and slipped out of bed. The air was cool against his skin as he padded quietly to the bathroom. The shower washed away the sweat and heat of the night, but not the memory. By the time he returned, Natasha was awake, sitting by the window with her knees drawn up, gazing out at the city as sunlight danced across her hair.
"Good morning," Su Zhan greeted her softly. "Are you hungry, or do you want to rest a bit longer?"
Natasha turned to look at him, her eyes clear and steady. "That's your first question?" she replied, a faint smile curving her lips.
He chuckled, a little embarrassed. "What else should I ask? How did you feel last night?"
She was silent for a moment, then said, "Yesterday was… complicated. I'm not sure how to describe it. But I know it's something I'll never forget."
Su Zhan nodded, understanding. "Fear really is a powerful thing. Even someone as strong as you can be swept away by it."
Natasha shrugged, not denying it. "I'm not angry about what happened. Maybe, deep down, I always sensed there would be a day like this. From the moment I met you, I had a feeling things would get… interesting."
"That's more like it," Su Zhan said, relieved. He had worried she might regret what happened or try to brush it off as nothing. Her openness, even if tinged with uncertainty, put him at ease.
He moved closer, his tone gentle. "You don't have to worry about anything today. Your only job is to rest—physically and mentally. You need it."
Natasha hesitated, then nodded. "I suppose you're right. I do feel… drained."
He watched her for a moment, then asked, "What are you thinking about?"
She smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Nothing in particular. Just… realizing what it feels like to have someone care about me. It's nice."
"You'll get used to it," Su Zhan promised. "Because I plan to be by your side from now on."
Natasha laughed softly, a sound that was both new and familiar. "I didn't expect my joke last night to come true. It really was an unforgettable night. Maybe I have a knack for predicting the future."
Su Zhan laughed with her, the sound quiet but genuine. For a while, they simply enjoyed the peace, the tension of the previous night replaced by a comfortable intimacy.
Then, with a mischievous glint in her eye, Natasha asked, "So what about Skye?"
Su Zhan met her gaze without flinching. "What do you think?"
She shook her head, feigning exasperation. "Men… never satisfied."
He grinned. "Skye is my girlfriend. I care about her deeply. But you… now you're my woman, too. I'm fascinated by you, Natasha. I can't give up either of you, so the only solution is to be honest about it. There's room in my life for more than one person. I have the power, the means, and the will to make it work. As long as you're willing to accept it, that's all that matters."
Natasha raised an eyebrow, her gaze challenging. "And if I said I wanted someone else?"
His expression turned serious, his eyes unwavering. "Whoever he is, I'll kill him."
She studied him for a long moment, then shrugged. "You win. I'm not looking for anyone else. One of you is more than enough."
He smiled, relief and affection mingling in his eyes. "Good. But you still deserve to know what's going on. The staff from last night—it's called the Berserker Staff. It's an artifact from Asgard, capable of inducing fear and anger and granting immense strength. What you saw last night was only a third of its full power. I intend to find the other two pieces."
Natasha's curiosity was piqued. "And then? Will you keep it for yourself?"
Su Zhan nodded. "Yes. Because I might be the only one who can wield it without being consumed by its power."
She accepted this without argument, surprising him with her trust. "Just promise me you won't lose yourself to it."
He reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "I promise."
They sat together in silence for a while, the morning sun warming the room. Natasha leaned her head on his shoulder, and for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to simply be—no masks, no walls, just herself.
For Su Zhan, the moment was a revelation. He realized that strength was not only in power or victory, but in vulnerability, in letting someone close enough to see the truth beneath the surface. He knew the road ahead would not be easy. There would be challenges, dangers, and difficult choices. But in this quiet morning, with Natasha by his side and the memory of an unforgettable night between them, he felt ready for whatever would come next.
He pressed a kiss to her hair, and she closed her eyes, leaning into him. The city outside was waking up, but in this room, time seemed to slow. They had found something rare—peace, trust, and the beginning of something neither of them had expected.