Chapter 17: Natasha's Reflection and A Night to Remember

Natasha Romanoff sat in her luxurious suite at the hotel, staring out the window at the foreign skyline of Xandar. She rested her head against the plush chair, her mind racing. Even with her training, the events of the past few days felt surreal. Here she was, not just on another planet, but in the middle of intergalactic diplomacy, traveling with Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, and Max Stark—a young man who, despite his age, seemed to know far more than he let on.

It all started so simply. A cover as Tony Stark's assistant. Monitor his behavior, report back to Nick Fury on whether Stark was fit for the Avengers Initiative. The mission should've been routine, except for the unexpected twists—alien technologies, hyperspace travel, and now, a potential threat that Fury hadn't even briefed her on: Max Stark.

Natasha frowned, her fingers running along the arm of the chair. Who is Max, really? She had witnessed enough to know he wasn't just Tony's biological son. His technology was beyond anything Earth had yet to achieve, yet he wielded it like it was second nature. His casual mention of Ancient ships and hybrid technology during their earlier conversations had been unsettling. As someone who had operated on the fringes of classified intelligence, Natasha knew when someone was hiding something. Max Stark was hiding a lot.

And now, here she was, on Xandar, part of a casual group traveling through the stars as if it were just a trip to the Hamptons. She almost laughed at the thought—how did this become her life?

She leaned forward, burying her face in her hands, overwhelmed by the strangeness of it all. She'd faced enemies, infiltrated governments... but this? This was something else.

A knock on the door snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked up and saw the time on the wall display. It was already evening. Dinner.

Straightening herself, Natasha stood and smoothed out her clothing, checking her reflection in the mirror. It was time to meet the others at the hotel restaurant, and she had a job to do—stay close, gather intel, and maintain her cover, even as everything around her shifted.

Downstairs in the hotel's elegant restaurant, Tony, Pepper, Max, and Natasha met for dinner. The atmosphere was relaxed, the lighting soft and intimate, a stark contrast to the bustling marketplace they had explored earlier. As they sat down, Pepper was the first to speak.

"So," she began, adjusting her napkin in her lap. "What now? We've registered, exchanged currency, and bought the Jump Point tech. Are there any more objectives, or should we start thinking about heading back home?"

Max leaned back in his chair, glancing at the others. "I wouldn't mind browsing a bit more in the tech market. I didn't get to see everything I wanted to. I'm particularly interested in seeing if I can find some nanotechnology samples."

Tony perked up at that. "Nanotech? You think there's something here worth looking at?"

Max nodded. "Definitely. I mean, I think you could probably develop it on your own, given time. But why reinvent the wheel when you can pick up a reference model to speed up the process?"

Tony raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Okay, but if you've got all this advanced tech from your 'Humor Hawk,' why do we need to buy anything from these markets? What I saw on your ship seems... well, way ahead of whatever they're selling here."

Max smiled, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "What you saw on the ship, Tony, is Ancient technology. It's from a civilization that, as far as the galaxy is concerned, is long gone. The tech here on Xandar is the current intergalactic standard. I can't go around flaunting ships like the Humor Hawk without attracting attention. Too many questions. I'd rather build something more... hybridized. Something that blends their tech with my."

Tony nodded slowly, rubbing his chin. "Makes sense. Don't want to look like the kid with the brand-new toy no one else has."

"Exactly," Max replied. "And besides, there's a lot to be learned from what's standard out here. It's not all about having the most advanced stuff. Sometimes, having the practical, everyday tools is just as valuable."

Across the table, Natasha listened intently, absorbing Max's words. It was unsettling, hearing him casually admit that his technology was beyond what Xandar—the most advanced civilization she had ever encountered—could offer. Her mind raced. How much does he really know? How much is he hiding?

Pepper, who had been following the conversation in thoughtful silence, finally chimed in. "Well, I suppose that means I'll be making the call on when we head back, since I'm the only one with a real job." She shot Tony a teasing glance.

The table erupted in laughter. Tony shook his head with a grin. "Hey, I work! I just happen to do it in style."

Pepper smiled warmly, thinking for a moment. "Alright, then. Let's say we head back tomorrow afternoon. That gives us some time to enjoy the city a bit more."

Max nodded, satisfied with the decision. "Sounds good. I'll finish up my shopping in the morning, and we'll be out of here by mid-afternoon."

The next day, the group met for breakfast at the hotel. As they settled in and began their meal, Max's eyes were drawn to a small but significant detail on Pepper's left hand.

"Pepper," he began, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the ring on her finger. "Is that...?"

Pepper looked down at the ring, her smile widening. "Yes. Tony proposed last night."

Tony leaned back in his chair, a rare, genuine smile on his face. "I figured it was about time. We were on the terrace of the honeymoon suite... Xandar's skyline lit up the sky, and it just seemed like the right moment."

Max blinked, then grinned. "That's... amazing. Congratulations!"

Tony looked down at the table, a rare moment of vulnerability crossing his features. "You know, I bought the ring right after I got back from Afghanistan. Never really had the right moment, though. Until last night."

Pepper reached across the table and squeezed his hand, her expression soft and full of affection. "He was so nervous," she teased lightly. "I think he nearly dropped the ring."

Tony laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, well, I wanted it to be perfect."

The table buzzed with excitement and congratulations, and Max leaned back in his chair, his mind momentarily drifting. He couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the life he'd lived before—back when he was just a normal kid, watching movies about Tony and Pepper. Now, here he was, celebrating their engagement, on an alien planet no less.

"We should celebrate," Max said, breaking the warm silence. "How about we spend the day out? Maybe hit a park, visit a few more shops, and then cap it off with dinner at a high-class restaurant."

Pepper smiled brightly. "That sounds perfect."

The day passed in a blur of laughter and sightseeing. The group visited one of Xandar's largest parks, a sprawling, futuristic oasis filled with alien flora and fauna. They wandered through the twisting paths, admiring the strange beauty of Xandar's natural wonders. Tony and Max even stopped by a few more shops, picking up small pieces of tech that caught their interest.

As the sun began to set, they found themselves at one of Xandar's finest restaurants, a gleaming tower with an open-air rooftop dining area that overlooked the city's skyline. The table was lavishly decorated with candles and exotic flowers, the scent of Xandarian cuisine wafting through the air.

"This place is amazing," Tony commented, his arm casually draped over the back of Pepper's chair. "Definitely the best way to celebrate."

Max raised his glass, smiling warmly. "To Tony and Pepper. Congratulations, you two."

The group clinked their glasses together, laughter filling the air as the night continued. Natasha, as always, remained observant, her mind drifting between the conversation at the table and the growing number of questions she had about Max.

The next afternoon, the group returned to the Humor Hawk and prepared for their journey back to Earth. Max took the controls once more, piloting the ship toward the designated Jump Point. As they reached the edge of the Xandar system, Max initiated the jump out of the system, the stars blurring momentarily before the ship re-emerged in a neighboring star system. From there, they docked with the smaller Puddle Jumper and re-entered the Stargate for the final leg of their journey home.

The familiar sight of Earth's sky greeted them as they descended toward Tony's Malibu villa. The landing was smooth, and Max shut down the ship's systems as they touched down on the villa's expansive lawn.

As the group disembarked, Tony clapped Max on the shoulder. "That was... one hell of a trip. Thanks for bringing us along."

Max smiled. "Anytime."

Pepper hugged Max, her voice soft. "Thank you, Max. Really. I think Tony and I needed this."

"Glad I could help," Max replied, feeling a rare warmth in his chest. For all the complexities of his current life, moments like these made it worthwhile.

As Natasha left the villa, she gave Max one last look, her face unreadable. He nodded to her, knowing she had much to report.

Later that evening, Tony, Pepper, and Max sat on the villa's terrace, enjoying the cool breeze as they toasted once more to Tony and Pepper's engagement. The stars above sparkled like diamonds in the sky, a quiet reminder of the vastness of the universe beyond them.

But for tonight, the universe could wait. This was their moment.

Across town, Natasha sat in her temporary apartment, her fingers poised above the keyboard of her laptop. She had been staring at the blank report screen for what felt like hours. So much had happened in the last two days—so much that didn't fit into any of her usual categories.

How was she supposed to explain Max Stark? His knowledge, his technology, his calm, almost omniscient approach to everything. And then there was the Xandar trip. She was on another planet, for God's sake. How did she even begin to report this?

Her fingers hovered over the keys, her mind swirling with fragmented thoughts. Eventually, she leaned back, closing her eyes. Tomorrow, she would go to Fury's office in person. There were some things that couldn't be put into a standard SHIELD report.

Tomorrow, Fury would hear everything.