After Natasha noticed something was off about Watson, she quickly pulled back, lowered her head to kiss him, then carefully studied his eyes. "My dear is fine, but… something was wrong with you just now."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Your eyes changed a little, but now it's gone. Maybe I was mistaken~" Natasha shrugged, then stood up and took the bag of lingerie upstairs. "Alright, wake them up. The neutralizing agent is on the outer shelf. Let me try these on~ Honey, don't make the house too bloody~"
Wasp stood up, exuding a dangerous aura. "Relax~ It definitely won't be too cruel~"
She walked into the repair lobby, shut all the doors, and directly released Scott.
Since the place was no longer in business, it was perfectly fine for what was about to happen.
Wasp injected the neutralizing agent into the two unconscious captives. As they slowly began waking up, she flashed a 'not cruel' smile…
---
Inside a dark bunker.
Baron Strucker swirled the red wine in his glass while looking at Pierce on the other side of the screen.
Pierce, visibly frustrated, snapped, "Strucker, why are you contacting me? Do you realize how dangerous this is for me?"
Strucker replied directly, "In Brooklyn, New York, the trash can at the second junction of Third Road won't be moved until tomorrow night. If you're satisfied with what you find there, I want all the intel you have on that man—the so-called Flame Knight."
Pierce lowered his head, thinking for a moment before responding, "Fine. Wait for my message. And don't contact me privately! Also, your people got captured again—move your base before it's too late!"
"You don't have to worry about that, Minister Pierce," Strucker replied calmly. "This place was always meant to be bait anyway."
With that, he cut off the video feed, muttering to himself, "A waste of resources that couldn't even be studied… Better to focus all efforts on that armor. Let's see if Pierce can uncover something useful."
Scott opened his massive jaws, revealing rows of sharp teeth, as the two bound captives were dangled in front of him.
Wasp knelt beside them as they regained consciousness and said, "It's simple. I ask, you answer. Whoever cooperates gets pulled out. Watch carefully—this is not a toy."
"Who sent you?"
"S.H.I.E.L.D.! Nick Fury!" the two men shouted at the same time.
"…Really now."
Watson pulled the man on the left out of Scott's mouth slightly, leaving only his feet inside. Then he turned to Scott and said, "Swallow."
"AHHHH!!! What we said was the truth!!!"
As the second man disappeared down Scott's throat, the beast let out a disappointed grunt, saliva dripping from his fangs.
"Yeah, I know," Watson said casually. "Memory implantation. I forgot. My bad."
"Pfft—" Natasha, who had just walked down in a trench coat with a cup of coffee, couldn't hold back her laughter upon hearing that.
"Knock them out again, Scott."
Smack! Smack!
"Honey~ Your interrogation methods are quite… unique."
"Well, my dear Natasha, any clues on your end?" Watson asked, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around her waist.
"There is a lead… but something feels off."
"Off how?" Watson lifted Natasha onto his lap as he sat on the sofa.
"Clint left a few loose ends on purpose while clearing out the enemies near the house. When they ran, we let them go—but we'd already planted trackers on them. We followed them to an underground bunker. But something about it isn't right."
Watson raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with it?"
Natasha adjusted her posture and met his gaze. "It feels like a trap. Last time, when you helped Coulson repel those forces trying to steal Kull, some of their soldiers chose suicide over capture. But this time? They ran away. It's too… convenient."
Watson considered this for a moment. "Where is this place?"
Natasha narrowed her eyes. "Honey… you're not thinking of going, are you?"
"Of course I am."
Natasha's expression hardened. "That might be a trap! And it's underground! Fury and the others are already preparing for a large-scale raid. All you need to do is wait for the results. If they have a self-destruction mechanism—"
"I don't care. They're underground. I'm not afraid of anything~" Watson grinned, pinching her chin playfully.
Natasha stared at him for a long moment. "Then I'm going with you! You're not leaving me behind. And I'll call Fury for backup."
"The fewer people, the better—"
"Then take me with you!"
Hearing her firm tone, Watson sighed. "Fine. But you stay by my side at all times. Not because I doubt your skills, baby~ but if anything happens this time… I'll make sure they understand what the devil truly looks like. If things escalate, I don't want you getting caught in the crossfire. Stay close to me."
Natasha nodded seriously. "I promise." Then, wrapping her arms around his neck, she murmured, "One more thing. I've already spoken to Fury—Coulson will be handling all direct communication with you starting three days from now."
Watson looked at her with confusion. She leaned closer, resting against his chest. "He'll handle everything—deals, surveillance, intel transfers. But I don't want any of that between us. It makes me feel awkward. Really awkward. I just want to come home every day after work and spend time with you. And I promise, if there's anything I can't handle, I'll call my knight to protect me~ Okay?"
Watson thought about it for a moment. The idea of Natasha walking into the house and immediately discussing transaction amounts did feel… off.
"Fine. But you have to come home after work."
"Of course~ My knight~"
"As compensation, let me see which one you're wearing first?"
Natasha smirked at his request and slowly removed the coat she was wearing.
Watson's eyes flicked to the faint scar on her abdomen. He already knew what it was from.
He said nothing, waiting for her to speak first.
---
Downstairs, Scott tilted his head in confusion, hearing strange noises from above.
Then, the sound of furniture moving…
"…Hmm?"
SMACK!