Chapter 113: If You Want To Hang Out With Me, You Must Be My Woman:

The two had rekindled a familiar feeling.

After a long separation, their reunion was intense, even more profound than a new love.

Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, gasped, her breath shallow. Her mind felt light, like she was starved of oxygen.

"Your physical fitness isn't enough," Ethan Hayes said in a commanding tone. "When you're back at Osborn, ask Raven to inject you with the super soldier serum."

Natasha nodded shyly, glancing at him.

"Well, Ms. Natasha Romanoff, our real battle begins now." Ethan's smile was bright, confident, the smile of a hunter about to claim his prize. The beauty in his arms, however, seemed more like a small, cautious rabbit, showing just a hint of nervousness.

In the next moment, the Sling Ring opened a portal, and they stepped through.

As they disappeared, a figure emerged from where they had just been—a bald woman in yellow monk robes. She observed the empty space, her expression thoughtful.

"His magical ability is truly remarkable," she murmured. "He detected the magic mark I left on the Sling Ring and used his own water magic to trace the channel." The Ancient One's eyes held a glimmer of admiration.

With centuries of experience, she recognized what kind of man Ethan was: decisive, merciless when necessary, and never hesitant. She knew HYDRA's history all too well—an ancient organization, rooted long before World War II, with a legacy of rebirth and ideology as unyielding as spring itself.

She sighed, thinking about her decision. "Giving the Sling Ring to him was a risk, a way to extend friendship and perhaps secure good karma for the lineage of the Sorcerer Supreme." She knew that, if pushed to fight him, the clash would devastate New York. Forming a positive relationship with him seemed a better path for Kamar-Taj's future.

"But he's bound by one thing," she added with a sigh, "his affection for women." She smiled slightly. At least, it kept him from becoming a cold-blooded monster.

In his Long Island villa, Natasha looked out over the Atlantic Ocean with a smile, the view offering her a rare sense of peace.

"New York's air feels fresher," she murmured, her voice soft. "Siberia was torture for me." She didn't hide her past, her voice carrying a note of humor and relief.

Ethan walked up behind her, his gaze on her silhouette. "I almost thought about settling things with your former employer, given how interested you were in HYDRA's genetic lab."

"You mean the Red Room?" Natasha turned, her face serious. "I'm with S.H.I.E.L.D. now. The Red Room won't bother me for now, and honestly, I don't want anything to do with them."

"Your past has shaped you, made you exceptional. Joining S.H.I.E.L.D. was your best decision," Ethan replied, his tone gentle.

Natasha wrapped her arms around his neck, her lips curling into a smile. "Don't pretend to be soft, Ethan. It doesn't suit you."

Ethan chuckled. "Then how should I be?"

"Be the man who won my respect—the one with strength beyond compare, who brings a sense of security I've never felt before," she whispered, her eyes glinting with a familiar fire.

In her time away, Natasha had thought about him often. The incident in the Vatican hadn't driven her away; rather, she had found herself drawn to him, conflicted between admiration and something deeper. She was falling for him, and the realization left her vulnerable.

She knew that Ethan's heart was with Gwen, the one woman who occupied his thoughts, yet during her time in Siberia, it wasn't S.H.I.E.L.D. she thought of but Ethan. She had hoped he would keep his promise and free her from that frozen prison.

Ethan's eyes glinted with warmth. "Ms. Romanoff, I believe you're my loyal fan," he teased.

"Oh, I am," she replied, her smile turning coy. "So, are you going to bring me into one of your stories?"

"For a princess, how could her knight refuse?" he replied, his smile broadening. He would indulge her, but he knew his conquest wasn't over. Among the women he had conquered, only Agent Hill was truly his, with Raven close behind. Natasha, however, remained just beyond his grasp, and that challenge intrigued him.

Meanwhile, Baron Sitriker stood before the ruins of HYDRA's genetic base, his face twisted with fury.

"An underground fortress, hundreds of meters deep, utterly destroyed," he seethed, clenching his fists. Alexander Eugene stood beside him, cigar in hand, his icy gaze fixed on the devastation.

"We stored vital data here," Eugene muttered. "The intruder must have had technology capable of jamming even our emergency signal."

Baron Sitriker's expression darkened. "It's Parker's doing. He led the Ice Demon straight to us, destroying decades of work and our genetic legion. But HYDRA's resilience is unmatched. We'll rebuild, better than before."

Back in Long Island, Ethan glanced at Natasha's relaxed form, a satisfied smile on his face. He knew he had to maintain control over himself; indulgence led to vulnerability. He left her sleeping, placing the garage keys nearby.

Later, at Osborn, Psylocke confronted Raven. "Raven, I joined Osborn because of the Ice Demon. If I can't see him, there's no point in staying."

Raven's eyes were cold. "Elizabeth, our organization values you, but know this: the mutants in Osborn's security aren't just employees—they belong to Ethan. Are you ready to accept that?"

Psylocke met Raven's gaze, her voice steady. "If he can defeat me, I'll accept him as my leader. I only submit to the strong."

Ethan leaned back, a slight smile playing on his lips as he awaited Psylocke in his office, ready to test the strength of her resolve.

READ 30 CHAPTERS AHEAD OF EVERYONE FOR ONLY $7!

LINK: patr eon.com/SenatusPopulus

ALSO CHECK MY OTHER PROJECTS!

Naruto: Masters of Strategy?