Su Yi watched Natasha Romanoff exit the underground lab, a faint, satisfied smirk on his face after their sudden, passionate kiss. He knew that declaration was a major turning point, an immediate professional surrender driven by her desperation to save her sister, Yelena. He now had the world's greatest spy on his side—or at least, seriously considering his offer.
He waited for Tony Stark to finish fabricating the specialized equipment needed to sweep his villa for surveillance gear. Su Yi didn't want his private life—especially his rapidly developing romantic life with Gwen and Mary Jane—to become a S.H.I.E.L.D. or HYDRA live feed.
While Stark was preoccupied, Su Yi headed upstairs. He found Pepper Potts deep in paperwork, her brow furrowed in concentration.
Su Yi teleported, appearing instantly beside her desk. "That's it."
Pepper shrieked, jumping in her seat. She nearly knocked over her monitor and spilled a large cup of coffee, but Su Yi's quick reflexes caught the equipment and stabilized her.
"Oh, Su! Please, you can't do that!" Pepper gasped, clutching her chest. "It is genuinely terrifying! You can't just materialize next to people!"
Su Yi leaned close, his voice a low, teasing whisper. "It won't happen again. But consider it a small punishment for leaking classified information about me to the secret agent."
Pepper blushed fiercely. The proximity of the handsome young man made her heart race, blurring the line between fear and excitement. Su Yi, having achieved the desired effect, straightened up, deciding not to press the flirtation further just yet.
"I have to leave now," Natasha announced, striding into the living area, her face already set in a determined expression. She gave Su Yi a nod that held a hundred unspoken promises. "I have a lot of work to do."
"Goodbye, Natasha," Pepper murmured, still flustered.
Natasha left the villa, accelerating back toward S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters to deliver her shocking report.
Left alone with Pepper, Su Yi realized the time was perfect for the next step in his corporate-romantic strategy.
"Su, why haven't you left yet?" Pepper asked, trying to regain her professional composure as she tidyed her desk.
"Stark is finishing up some tech for me, so I have to wait a little. Miss Potts, could you fetch me a juice?"
"Of course." Pepper moved to the bar, and Su Yi watched her. Pepper, in her smart, tailored business attire, exuded a unique blend of competence and contained beauty that Stark foolishly overlooked.
Taking the juice, Su Yi casually dropped the critical question. "Pepper, does Stark Industries have any major public events coming up soon?"
"There is," Pepper confirmed. "Mr. Stane is hosting the annual Stark Industries Charity Gala next week. It's a huge event."
Su Yi's eyes lit up. This was the perfect setting. "Of course, I'd like to attend. I'm a major shareholder now, after all. But I need a date. Would you do me the honor of being my female companion, Pepper?"
Pepper's eyes widened. "Me? But I'm just an assistant."
"You are a one-of-a-kind, beautiful assistant, Pepper. And a crucial part of the company. Are you telling me that I, the newest major shareholder, am not handsome enough for you to attend a party with?"
"No! No, you're incredibly handsome," Pepper stammered, flattered and confused. Su Yi's forwardness was disarming. "I... I agree. I'd be happy to be your date, Su."
"It's settled then," Su Yi declared, victory secured. "I'll come pick you up."
The walls around Miss Potts are crumbling, Su Yi thought triumphantly. The charity gala would be his perfect chance to secure his third romantic partner and, likely, deal with Obadiah Stane's impending betrayal.
Their conversation was interrupted by Tony's voice booming up from the lab. "Su! What you wanted is finished. Get down here and retrieve it!"
"It seems I have to go," Su Yi said to Pepper with a final, charming smile. "Goodbye, Pepper. I'll see you at the gala."
"Goodbye, Su."
Su Yi quickly teleported down to the workshop. "Tony, you're a genius."
Stark, holding the finished surveillance-sweeping device, made a face. "I know. And just to be clear, I am not your employee, or your friend."
Su Yi clapped him on the shoulder, ignoring the complaint. "We're friends, Tony. And friends help friends with inconvenient security sweeps. Thanks."
"Just take the damn device and leave!" Stark groaned. He suddenly stopped Su Yi as the teenager was about to teleport away. "Wait a minute."
"What is it?"
"Next time," Tony pleaded, "could you please not teleport directly into my private lab? It's genuinely disturbing."
Su Yi grinned mischievously. "You know, walking all the way around to the front door, passing security, and taking the elevator is a lot of trouble when I'm in a hurry."
Stark threw his hands up in defeat. "Damn superpowers! Does having them mean you can just do whatever you want?"
"Obviously not," Su Yi said, hefting the device. "But it does mean you can count on me for help anytime. I'm out!"
Su Yi vanished.
Tony sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Jarvis, run a full diagnostic. Do I have any feasible technological countermeasures to stop that bastard from teleporting into my studio?"
"Sir, based on current terrestrial technology and known physics, no such technology exists," J.A.R.V.I.S. reported instantly.
"Right," Tony muttered, his genius already whirring. "Then I'll create it. But first, the Mark II has to fly." He decided to table the "Su Yi Problem" for now and focus on his armor.
Su Yi reappeared in his bedroom and immediately began sweeping his villa with the Stark device. After a thorough search, he confirmed all S.H.I.E.L.D. bugs were gone.
However, he still sensed a residual presence outside. He went to the window, peering through the heavy curtains.
Damn. Nick Fury kept his word about the listening devices, but he stationed agents nearby for "normal surveillance." The Egg is playing hardball.
Su Yi was annoyed but understood the move. Fury wouldn't be Fury without paranoia. He pulled the curtains tightly shut. "System, today's massive spoilers should have earned me rewards. Inventory status?"
[The impact is ongoing and accelerating! Tony Stark's realization of HYDRA's infiltration and Natasha Romanoff's immediate operational shift are generating high-level change. A full inventory will be conducted shortly!]
At that moment, in S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Natasha was delivering a private, sealed report to Nick Fury.
Fury, the recording of Su Yi's voice detailing HYDRA's infiltration and the Winter Soldier's true identity still echoing in the room, was profoundly shaken.
"He knew about HYDRA's infiltration and Project Insight," Fury stated, his voice tight. "He knew about the Winter Soldier."
Then came the killer blow: "He knew about the existence of the Red Room, Dreykov's survival, and Yelena Belova. Only you and Barton knew that secret, Romanoff."
"The most shocking thing," Fury continued, leaning forward, "is that he spoke of mages, of gods descending upon this world. He knew about the Kree incident—about Carol Danvers."
Fury slammed his hand down. "His knowledge is comprehensive. He is either the world's greatest threat, or the key to fighting the next phase of threats. We cannot treat him as an enemy."
"He also gave me the only known lead to fully destroying the Red Room: Melina Vostokoff," Natasha added, maintaining her focus.
Fury nodded, making his final, calculated decision. "He wants to fight the threats, and he needs reliable people. He listed the trustworthy agents: me, you, Barton, and Coulson. He's trying to recruit us."
"Natasha," Fury ordered, his single eye intense. "Your primary mission is now to get closer to him. Gain his full confidence. Win him over entirely. And in exchange, we will dedicate S.H.I.E.L.D. resources to finding the Red Room and the Winter Soldier. You have your revenge, and we get a powerful ally."
"Yes, Director," Natasha agreed instantly, her eyes alight with purpose. "However, my cooperation requires S.H.I.E.L.D. to immediately begin investigating all clues concerning Melina Vostokoff and the airborne Red Room."
The next stage of the story is set: Su Yi is going on a date with Pepper Potts, and Natasha Romanoff has been ordered to completely win his trust and become his intimate partner.