Chapter 38: Scandal with a Superhero! The Crossbones Incident!
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"Mr. George, I have to go home too," Lorien said, glancing at his watch. He stood up and added, "It's been a pleasure chatting with you. You're a wonderful father. Gwen is such an outstanding person, and that must be because of your influence."
George smiled, albeit a bit awkwardly, the corners of his mouth twitching into a grin. "I've just tried to do my duty as a father."
"You're doing great," Lorien reassured him. "Gwen is lucky to have a father like you."
"And she's lucky to have a friend like you," George replied, his voice filled with genuine warmth. "You're quite impressive, Mr. Lorien."
With those words, the mutual respect between the two men solidified. They shook hands firmly, sealing a new understanding and camaraderie.
As Lorien walked away, George stood there for a moment, reflecting on their conversation. The realization that Lorien, who his daughter Gwen had mentioned casually, was none other than the distinguished Dr. Lorien, left him both astonished and proud. He replayed their talk in his mind, marveling at how casually Lorien had mentioned his association with top surgeon Dr. Stephen Strange and his own status as a renowned psychologist.
George felt a mixture of relief and embarrassment. Relief, because Gwen had chosen her friends wisely, and embarrassment, because he hadn't pieced it together sooner. It was like discovering your child had struck gold while you weren't paying attention. How could he have known that the "lorien" his daughter occasionally spoke of was actually Dr. Lorien ?
As Lorien turned the corner, George smiled broadly, even though the reality of the situation was a bit overwhelming. Being a police chief in New York was no small feat, but in the U.S., the prestige of a top doctor often eclipsed that of many other professions. And this doctor had a close bond with his daughter!
The implications were huge. Lorien's status, combined with his connection to Gwen, created an overlapping of roles and influences that George had never anticipated. He wasn't sure how to proceed in their conversations moving forward. How do you chat casually with someone who holds such stature, both professionally and personally?
Despite his newfound respect for Lorien, George realized he had to head home as well. But just parting ways abruptly after such a significant revelation didn't feel right. This left him in a bit of a quandary, pondering what to say or do next.
Fortunately, Lorien sensed George's internal struggle. He decided to make things easier. "Mr. George, thank you for the evening. Let's keep in touch," he said warmly before turning to leave.
George nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "Yes, absolutely. Have a good night, Lorien."
As they parted ways, Lorien walked briskly, eager to return to his apartment on the top floor of the North Building. It had been a long, eventful day, and all he wanted was to relax.
Back home, as he stepped into his apartment, he kicked off his shoes and collapsed onto his wide, soft bed. He let out a long, contented sigh. "Huh~~~"
Reflecting on the day, Lorien felt a mix of satisfaction and fatigue. It had been a fantastic day, albeit a bit exhausting. Perhaps it was the mental strain of navigating social interactions and the unexpected developments. But no matter the tiredness, the day's events were undoubtedly rewarding.
As he lay there, his thoughts drifted to the future. Tomorrow was another day, full of possibilities and hope.
The next day, Lorien's routine of leisurely slacking off at work continued until the end of his shift. He knew that Wanda was off on a mission in the countryside, dealing with the Crossbones terrorist group. Meanwhile, the previous night's events had thrust Wanda and Gwen into the spotlight, elevating their status in society but also attracting some unwelcome attention.
The internet was buzzing with news and gossip:
"Scarlet Witch battles mutant Lizardman again! The goddess defeats the villain! Lizardman escapes into the sea!"
"Mutant Lizardman sighting: Does Iron Man's involvement indicate a tech company's secret project?"
"Spider-Woman rescues children! Lifts a car with bare hands on the bridge! A true superhero!"
"Who is he? The mysterious figure seen twice with Scarlet Witch and Spider-Woman!"
"Scarlet Witch and Spider-Woman's shared boyfriend? Two superheroes linked to the same man! So scandalous...or just rumors?"
The headlines were all over the place, but the focus remained on Wanda and Gwen. Lorien's own involvement was more of a side note, albeit with some bizarre and entertaining speculations about his relationship with the two heroes. The gossip about sharing a boyfriend was particularly absurd, but Lorien took it in stride. After all, it was just tabloid fodder and didn't bother him too much.
However, Gwen seemed to be dealing with something more significant. She had been moving around New York a lot lately, investigating and looking for something. Lorien could sense her determination but chose not to interfere unless she asked for help. He trusted that Gwen would come to him if she needed assistance.
As for his friend Stephen Strange, he was buried in a hectic schedule of surgeries. Stephen had recently called Lorien to vent about his exhaustion. Although the work was lucrative, it was draining him physically and mentally. He even mentioned wanting to take a break soon and invited Lorien to join him for some racing and drifting to unwind.
Lorien, always up for new experiences and with plenty of free time, readily agreed. So, in the meantime, he continued his laid-back approach to life, spending his days lounging and multitasking with TV, computer games, and his phone.
Around four o'clock in the afternoon, while lazily flipping through channels, Lorien's attention was caught by a news broadcast:
"At 2:19 pm today, the Avengers successfully dismantled the international arms trafficking group, Crossbones. All members of the organization have been arrested."
"Scarlet Witch, descending like a goddess during the mission, used her magic to single-handedly neutralize the organization's most formidable forces."
"Civilians from various countries, including Wakanda, were rescued during the operation."
"This incident has been designated as the 'Lagos Incident.'"