39

'.....'= Thoughts 

"....."= Conversations 

____________________________________________________________________________________

John deactivated his Observation Haki and began planning what to do first: rescue the Flerken or destroy the bases of the RED.

After contemplating for a while, John made a firm decision: he would prioritize rescuing the Flerken. This task was not only assigned by the system, but also a strategic move. If he could gain the Flerken's trust and harness its abilities, it would become a valuable asset in his battle against the RED. For instance, if he discovered anything useful while demolishing their bases, he could use the Flerken to store all valuable items.

But before doing that, he had to make sure that no one was following him. He had to do it covertly so that neither Natasha, Hawkeye, nor Wanda could know his goal and what he was up to. Therefore, the most preferable time to complete this task was at night. Moreover, the laboratory was not very far from here. He could reach it by running for almost an hour, calculating the distance towards the laboratory location shown on the map.

John knew that the laboratory belonged to a different organization or individual since it was not included in the list of bases to be destroyed by RED.

He had no doubt that SHIELD and HYDRA were using him to destroy this organization, using the revenge against his parents as leverage. But he still had not figured out the motive behind their actions.

As John pondered the motives behind SHIELD and HYDRA's actions, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease. There were too many unanswered questions, and the shadowy nature of these organizations only added to his suspicion. But he was determined to not let these guys have their way.

After finishing his meal and deciding what to do next, John resolved to leave the restaurant. Just as he was about to stand up, the entire building started shaking.

Tiles fell from the ceiling and the sound of glass shattering filled the air. People screamed and rushed towards the exit as panic spread throughout the restaurant.

'Earthquake,' John looked at the panicking people and dodged the falling tiles. He was not perturbed like the people in the restaurant.

'Hm?' John looked at the person who had not rushed towards the restaurant exit throughout the earthquake. However, instead of fleeing, this person had huddled under the table.

'Wanda?' John looked at the trembling girl, noticing the blood flowing from a gash on her forehead. The injury seemed to have been caused by a falling tile while she attempted to seek refuge beneath the table.

Wanda quickly clutched her head and buried her face in her knees. Trembling with fear, she emitted gentle sobs that John could hear over the noise of breaking tiles and shattering glass. Despite the chaos around her, she remained in her position, unmoving.

Without hesitation, John hurried over to Wanda. Ironically, he was about to save the person who had been spying on him for quite some time. However, John understood that Wanda was not inherently malicious; the circumstances had driven her to this point. Losing loved ones could have such an effect on anyone.

Additionally, John had developed a crush on her ever since he had seen her in the Marvel movies. This was his chance to make a positive impression on her, and he wasn't going to let it slip away.

"Hey, are you alright?" John gently called out, hoping to catch Wanda's attention and provide reassurance.

Startled, she flinched, but eventually lifted her face and met John's gaze.

John noticed that Wanda's body was trembling, and her hands were shaking uncontrollably. He knew that it was not just due to the earthquake; there was something more to it. Perhaps it had triggered some painful memories from her past when her parents were killed, and Wanda, along with her brother, had been trapped in their own homes, thinking that they would die anytime.

John said softly, reaching out his hand towards her. "I'm here to help."

Wanda rubbed her tear filled eyes, and after calming down a bit, she finally reached out for his arm and came out from under the table.

"We need to get out of here," John said, his voice firm but reassuring. "Can you stand?"

Wanda nodded, her breath ragged. John helped her to her feet, keeping a steady grip around her arm to support her. However, her legs seemed to have lost their strength, and she was unable to move forward.

John blocked the falling debris and punched the falling tiles away from them.

'I only thought that the restaurant looked antique and had old designs. Seems like it was built in the antique ages too,' John criticized the poor construction of the restaurant in his mind.

John looked at Wanda and made a quick decision. He picked her up.

"Hang on," John told her and ran towards the window, whose glass was shattered, and jumped out of it while carrying Wanda.

They landed on the street outside, John shielding Wanda from any debris that may have been flying around. He quickly assessed their surroundings and noticed that the street was crowded with other people who had also evacuated from nearby buildings.

"Are you okay?" he asked Wanda, after taking a quick scan of the surroundings.

Wanda nodded weakly, still in shock from the earthquake. She held onto John tightly, grateful for his help.

"We need to find a safe place to take cover," John said, scanning the area for any signs of danger.

Just as he was about to lead Wanda towards a nearby open space, another violent tremor rocked the ground, causing them both to stumble.

"We need to keep moving," John said firmly, determined to get both of them to safety.

John navigated through the chaos of the street, avoiding falling debris and cracks in the pavement. He spotted a sturdy-looking building that appeared to have weathered the earthquake relatively well and while carrying Wanda, he rushed towards it.

They reached the building and took shelter inside, finding a corner away from any windows or potential hazards. John helped Wanda sit down, making sure she was as comfortable as possible given the circumstances.

"We'll be safe here," he assured her, his voice filled with determination. He looked around for any emergency supplies, finding a first aid kit and some water bottles nearby.

He tended to Wanda's minor injuries, applying antiseptic to any cuts and grazes. Wanda watched him with gratitude, unsure of how she would have managed without his help. Though the situation had turned complicated for Wanda as John had helped her, while she was paying him back by spying on him.

______________________________________________________________________________________________ 

For 5+ advance chapters visit my patreon. 

patreon.com/StoryTeller229