5 Meeting Natasha

"You're absolutely stunning; how could I possibly say no to that! But, uh, could you maybe get me some clothes first?" Christopher blurted out, still bundled up in his trusty green fabric.

"No problem at all," Natasha replied, flashing a warm smile.

Natasha, with her ample wealth, whisked Christopher away to a prestigious clothing store.

With no need to worry about footing the bill, Christopher selected a sharp suit, complemented by a pair of sleek leather shoes, a matching belt, and a stylish watch. Emerging from the fitting room, he exuded an air of transformation, appearing entirely different and undeniably aristocratic.

With his bold features—thick brows, piercing eyes, a prominent nose, and a sharp chin, combined with a towering height of 1.8 meters and a robust physique adorned with muscles that seemed to pulse with energy, Christopher already possessed a striking presence.

"Wow, that's a keeper," the nearby girls gasped. 

"Whoa, he's impressive! He must be a personal trainer or something," another girl remarked, her admiration evident in her voice.

"If I had a boyfriend like this, I'd be the happiest woman in the world," sighed the waitress in the clothing store, completely captivated by Christopher. She reassured herself, thinking that if Natasha wasn't around, her colleagues would have swarmed up to knock down Christopher.

Natasha, with a confident stride, wrapped her arms around Christopher's.

Christopher responded with a subtle smile, not taking the attention too seriously. Having watched his fair share of Marvel movies, he understood Natasha well. She was a relationship expert, fending off numerous superheroes who were enamored by her, but none could successfully win her over.

"Christopher, let's go have a drink," Natasha cooed.

Christopher reached out, firmly embracing Natasha's waist, and together they exited the store. Natasha didn't resist; she let Christopher hold her like a delicate bird.

Guided by Natasha, Christopher arrived at a vibrant bar and stepped into a lavishly decorated private room, heightened by the ambiance of music and lighting.

Natasha summoned a waiter, requested a bottle of whiskey, and skillfully poured two glasses. She handed one to Christopher, who accepted it gracefully.

"Cheers to our meeting," Natasha proposed ambiguously.

"Cheers," Christopher and Natasha clinked their glasses.

Bang.

Christopher, with boldness, raised his head and finished his drink in one gulp. Natasha, with grace, took a sip and then smiled at Christopher. "It's a shame to have wine but no story. Can Mr. Christopher share a tale about himself?"

"My name is Christopher Ashborn. I seek strength, so I came here," Christopher began and promptly concluded, leaving Natasha in disbelief.

"Is that it?" she asked, bemused.

"Yes, that's all," Christopher replied.

"Besides pursuing power, do you have any other purpose?" Natasha inquired.

"I can transform into a Titan as you know, Miss Natasha," Christopher smiled.

"Oh?" Natasha queried, intrigued.

Christopher nodded, confirming, "That's right."

"How did you change back? The gene of Abomination usually doesn't allow a return to humanity," Natasha continued to probe.

"Let it remain a mystery," Christopher said with a smirk.

"There are two kinds of strong people on earth. One is called a superhero, who is loved by all mankind, and the other is called a supervillain, who is the public enemy of all mankind. Of these two kinds of strong people, which one do you want to be?" Natasha asked sharply, her eyes probing.

"Of course, a superhero!" Christopher replied instantly, thinking to himself; only a fool would say that he wants to be a supervillain in front of Natasha.

"Have you heard of SHIELD?" Natasha asked, intrigued. Although unsure of Christopher's intentions, for now, he seemed like a suitable candidate for SHIELD.

"Not only have I heard about S.H.I.E.L.D., I also know that your director is named Fury, who is one-eyed, and that your nickname, Natasha, is Black Widow," Christopher said, feigning mystery.

Natasha was taken aback. Although SHIELD was powerful, it usually operated discreetly, so not many people were aware of its existence, let alone its director Fury.

"How do you know this?" Natasha asked in surprise.

Christopher took a sip of wine, his demeanor calm. "I won't tell you," he said cryptically, understanding the importance of maintaining an air of power to prevent SHIELD from underestimating him.

"Okay! Let me tell you straight, our Director Fury wants to invite you to join SHIELD, please consider it," Natasha said earnestly.

"I can join, but I have conditions," Christopher stated firmly.

"Say," Natasha prompted.

"First, help me obtain an ID."

"Second, I want to maintain my freedom. Unless my assistance is required for special events, I will manage my own time."

"Third, introduce me to Iron Man Tony. I wish to collaborate with him," Christopher outlined his demands.

"No problem, but if you prioritize freedom, you'll only be considered an external staff member of SHIELD, with limited authority," Natasha clarified.

"That's acceptable," Christopher replied nonchalantly, knowing that some of SHIELD's most effective members were external staff like Hulk, Iron Man, and Ant-Man.

Natasha stood up, extending her right hand warmly. "On behalf of SHIELD, I welcome you to join."

Christopher rose to his feet, shaking Natasha's hand firmly. "It's an honor," he said with a genuine smile.

As they settled back into their seats, Natasha asked curiously, "Christopher, why do you seek to collaborate with Tony?"

"Technology," Christopher replied succinctly.

In the Marvel universe, wealth often translates to power, and Iron Man epitomizes this concept.

"Technology for what?" Natasha inquired, intrigued.

"Do you want to find out?" Christopher teased.

Natasha nodded eagerly, "Yes."

"What will I get in return," Christopher said playfully, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Oh, what do you desire," Natasha asked.

"You will know when the time comes," Christopher started with a predatory grin.