Spring was giving way to early summer, and New York was hitting that perfect temperature where the city felt alive without being unbearably hot.
It had been two weeks since the gala, and life had settled into a new normal. A better normal.
Natalie and I were officially together now, which meant more frequent dates, more texts throughout the day, and the occasional evening spent at my apartment watching movies and just existing in each other's space. She still hadn't invited me to her place—wherever that was—but I didn't push. She'd share when she was ready.
═══════════════════════════════════════
RELATIONSHIP STATUS
Natalie Rushman
Affection : 97/100 [Serious Girlfriend - Deeply In Love]
Trust Level : 55 → 62/100
Status : Strong, healthy relationship
Recent Activities:
6 dates in past two weeks
Daily communication
Increased physical intimacy (kissing, cuddling)
She's meeting you halfway on vulnerability
Still guarded about certain aspects of her life
Mood: Happy, content, falling deeper
Progress Notes:
Approaching maximum affection for current relationship stage
Trust barrier remains (her occupation requires secrecy)
She's balancing her feelings with her professional obligations
You're being patient and understanding—this is working
Next Threshold: 100/100 requires a significant moment of trust or vulnerability from her side
═══════════════════════════════════════
My training with Chen continued to progress. I was solidly at Level 5 now, with noticeably improved physical stats from consistent daily quest completion.
═══════════════════════════════════════
STATUS
═══════════════════════════════════════
Name : Alex Carter
Age : 25
Level : 5
Title : Boyfriend of a Spy
Harem Size : 0 Girlfriends (1 Serious Relationship)
EXP : 2,100/8,000
CORE ATTRIBUTES:
STR (Strength) : 24/100
AGI (Agility) : 27/100
END (Endurance) : 26/100
INT (Intelligence) : 29/100
CHA (Charisma) : 42/100
LCK (Luck) : 26/100
CHARM : 48/100
SPECIAL STATS:
Sexual Stamina : 20/100
Emotional Intelligence : 31/100
Combat Prowess : 42/100
Magical Affinity : 0/100 [LOCKED]
Cosmic Awareness : 0/100 [LOCKED]
RESOURCE POOLS:
HP : 800/800
MP : 0/0 [LOCKED]
CP : 2,000/2,000
SP : 8,147
═══════════════════════════════════════
I'd also expanded my social circle slightly. Jade remained a good friend, and through her I'd met a few other regulars at The Grindhouse—a writer named Marcus who was always working on "the next great American novel," and a grad student named Sarah who studied urban development.
None of them registered as potential romantic interests on the system, which was fine. I was happy with Natalie, and having normal friends who weren't spies or superheroes was actually refreshing.
But the relative peace couldn't last forever.
It was a Wednesday afternoon in late May when everything changed.
I was at The Grindhouse, laptop open, supposedly working on investment research but actually watching news feeds. Tony Stark had been suspiciously quiet lately, and I knew what was coming. The Mark III suit had to be nearly complete. Any day now, he'd test it and end up in Afghanistan, fighting the Ten Rings with his own weapons.
Jade brought me my coffee. "You've got that look again."
"What look?"
"The one where you're thinking really hard about something you can't talk about. You get this little crease right here." She pointed at my forehead. "Marcus says you're either a day trader or planning a heist."
"Neither, I promise."
"Sure, mysterious coffee guy." She grinned. "Your girlfriend coming by today?"
"Later, yeah. She had a work thing this morning."
"I still can't believe you're dating her. She's so... intense. And you're so..."
"So what?"
"I dunno. Chill? Like, she seems like she could kill someone with a pencil, and you seem like you'd apologize if someone bumped into you."
I laughed. "That's actually pretty accurate."
"Opposites attract, I guess. Plus, the way she looks at you? Girl is gone." Jade shook her head with a smile. "It's actually really cute."
After she left, I went back to monitoring news feeds. Still nothing major from Stark. Just the usual paparazzi photos of him entering and leaving his mansion workshop, looking increasingly sleep-deprived and focused.
Around 3 PM, my phone buzzed with a text from Natalie.
Natalie: Change of plans. Something came up at work. Rain check on coffee?
Alex: Everything okay?
Natalie: Fine. Just busy. I'll call you tonight?
Alex: Sounds good. Be safe.
Natalie: Always am.
I frowned at my phone. She'd been getting more frequent "work things" lately. I tried not to think too hard about what that might mean—whether SHIELD was ramping up for something, or if her cover was requiring more attention.
The not knowing was probably the hardest part of dating someone with a secret identity.
I spent the rest of the afternoon doing actual work—reviewing my portfolio, researching some new investment opportunities, and planning my next moves. My assets were approaching $200,000 now, which was substantial but not yet "set for life" money.
I needed to think bigger, take calculated risks on the major events I knew were coming.
Around 6 PM, as I was packing up to head home, every phone in the coffee shop started buzzing simultaneously. People pulled out their devices, and I heard a collective gasp.
I checked my phone and saw the news alert:
BREAKING: Unidentified Flying Object Engages Fighter Jets Over US Airspace
My heart rate spiked. This was it.
I clicked through to a live news feed. Grainy footage showed a red and gold figure flying at impossible speeds, easily outmaneuvering F-22 fighters. Even in the low-quality video, the suit was unmistakable.
Iron Man had just made his public debut.
"Holy shit," someone said behind me. "Is that a robot?"
"It's a person," someone else corrected. "Some kind of powered armor."
"Who the hell builds something like that?"
I already knew the answer, but I kept it to myself as I watched Tony Stark—though the news hadn't identified him yet—fly circles around the Air Force's best jets.
═══════════════════════════════════════
MAJOR EVENT DETECTED
Iron Man Public Debut
Timeline Status: On track with expected sequence
Implications:
Public awareness of advanced technology
Government attention on powered individuals
Beginning of "Superhero Age"
Stark Industries stock will fluctuate wildly
Recommended Actions:
Monitor situation closely
Prepare for market volatility
Expect increased SHIELD activity
Natalie may be busier (if she's SHIELD, she'll be involved in response)
Note: The world you knew from movies is now fully in motion. Position yourself carefully.
═══════════════════════════════════════
The news coverage continued for hours. Eventually, a reporter got lucky and caught footage of the armored figure landing at Stark's Malibu mansion. Still no official confirmation, but everyone was putting the pieces together.
My phone rang around 9 PM. Natalie.
"Hey," I answered. "You seeing this news?"
"I am. And I'm going to be even busier for the next few days. Work is going crazy."
"I bet. Flying robot man will do that."
She laughed, though it sounded tired. "Flying robot man. That's one way to put it."
"You okay?"
"Yeah, just... it's going to be a lot. I might not be able to see you as much this week."
"I understand. Do what you need to do. I'll be here when you have time."
"Thanks, Alex. That means a lot." She paused. "I miss you already."
"Miss you too. Text me when you can?"
"I will. And hey?"
"Yeah?"
"Be careful, okay? The world just got a lot weirder. Stay away from anything that looks dangerous."
"I promise. You too."
After we hung up, I sat in my apartment watching the news coverage. They were showing the fighter jet footage on loop, analysts speculating wildly about what it could be. Military weapon? Corporate prototype? Alien technology?
None of them were guessing "genius billionaire in a homemade suit," which was kind of funny.
I knew what came next. Tony would hold his press conference tomorrow, probably try to come up with some cover story, and then Pepper or Rhodey would intervene and he'd end up admitting he was Iron Man in typical Tony Stark fashion.
The question was: how did I want to position myself for this new reality?
The next morning, I was proven right.
Tony Stark held a press conference, supposedly to address the "training exercise" from the previous day. I watched it live on my laptop from The Grindhouse, along with half of New York City.
Tony looked rough—bandaged up, clearly exhausted, reading from prepared remarks that you could tell he hated every word of. Rhodey was hovering anxiously nearby, and Agent Coulson was visible in the background, watching carefully.
Then Tony reached the end of his notes, paused, and said the three words that would change everything:
"I am Iron Man."
The room erupted. Reporters shouted questions, cameras flashed, and Tony just stood there with that trademark smirk.
The coffee shop around me went absolutely insane.
"Did he just—"
"Holy shit, he actually admitted it!"
"Tony Stark is Iron Man?!"
Jade appeared at my table, eyes wide. "Did you see that?"
"Kind of hard to miss."
"This is insane. What kind of person just admits they're a superhero on live television?"
"Tony Stark, apparently."
She shook her head in disbelief. "The world just got so much weirder."
"You have no idea," I muttered.
My phone was already showing market alerts. Stark Industries stock was going absolutely crazy—up, down, up again as traders tried to figure out what this meant. Was this good for the company? Bad? Revolutionary? Reckless?
I'd already positioned myself for volatility, but I needed to make some moves quickly.
I spent the next two hours trading, riding the waves of panic and excitement in the market. By the time things settled into a new normal—Stark Industries up 15% overall—I'd made another thirty thousand dollars.
═══════════════════════════════════════
Financial Update:
Total Portfolio Value : $234,680
24-hour gain : $31,420 (+15.4%)
Achievement Unlocked: Market Savant
Successfully profited from major world event
Demonstrated excellent timing and risk management
Rewards:
+300 SP
Financial Acumen skill increased
New investment opportunities unlocked in system shop
═══════════════════════════════════════
Natalie texted me around noon:
Natalie: I assume you're watching the news?
Alex: Hard not to. Tony Stark is Iron Man. Did not see that coming. 🙄
Natalie: Liar. You totally called it.
Alex: Okay fine. It was pretty obvious. Flying robot suit + Tony Stark's mansion = not hard to figure out.
Natalie: Still going to be slammed at work. This changes everything.
Alex: I understand. Just let me know when you come up for air. I'll be around.
Natalie: You're the best. Miss you.
Alex: Miss you too.
The next few days were chaotic.
The media couldn't stop talking about Iron Man. Congressional hearings were scheduled. Defense contractors were panicking. Tech companies were scrambling to figure out how Stark had miniaturized arc reactor technology.
I kept a low profile, completed my daily quests, trained with Chen, and waited for Natalie to have time for me again.
We texted regularly, but she was clearly swamped. Whatever her job actually entailed, Iron Man's debut had created a lot of work for her.
It wasn't until Saturday afternoon that she finally called.
"Hey," she said, and I could hear the exhaustion in her voice. "I have tomorrow off. Want to do something? Anything that doesn't involve work or news coverage?"
"Absolutely. What do you want to do?"
"Honestly? I just want to spend time with you somewhere quiet. Maybe we could go to that park you mentioned? The one where you do tai chi in the mornings?"
"That sounds perfect. There's a nice spot by the lake. We could bring food, make a day of it."
"A picnic? When did you become so romantic?"
"I've always been romantic. You're just noticing now."
She laughed—genuine, warm. "Tomorrow then. Pick me up at 11?"
"Pick you up? From where?"
There was a pause. Then: "I'll text you my address. It's time you knew where I actually live."
That was significant. Really significant.
"Okay. 11 AM. I'll be there."
After we hung up, her address came through. It was an apartment in a nicer part of town—nothing ostentatious, but definitely more upscale than my Hell's Kitchen walk-up.
═══════════════════════════════════════
RELATIONSHIP MILESTONE
Natalie Rushman - Trust Advancement
Trust Level : 62 → 70/100
Significance:
She's sharing her actual address (major trust indicator)
Inviting you into her personal space
Breaking down barriers between personal and professional
Note: This is huge for someone with her background. She's choosing to be vulnerable with you.
Possible Milestone Tomorrow: If the date goes well, she may reach 100/100 affection.
═══════════════════════════════════════
I spent Sunday morning preparing. I made sandwiches using my Cooking Mastery skill, packed fruit and snacks, grabbed a blanket, and put together what I hoped would be a perfect low-key picnic.
At 10:55, I arrived at Natalie's building. It was a modern apartment complex with a doorman and everything. I gave my name, and he called up to confirm before letting me through.
Her apartment was on the fifth floor. I knocked at exactly 11 AM.
Natalie opened the door, and I was struck by how different she looked. She was in casual clothes—jeans and a simple t-shirt—with her hair down and no makeup. She looked younger, softer, more... real.
"Hey," she said with a smile. "Come in for a second?"
Her apartment was neat but not sterile. There were books on the shelves—mostly thrillers and history, I noticed. A few pieces of art on the walls. A well-used kitchen. It felt like a real home, not just a place she crashed between jobs.
"Nice place," I said.
"Thanks. It's not much, but it's mine." She grabbed a light jacket. "Ready to go?"
"Ready."
We took the subway to Central Park—her idea, saying she wanted "a normal New York experience." We found a quiet spot by the lake, away from the crowds, and I spread out the blanket.
For a while, we just sat and ate, watching ducks paddle across the water and enjoying the warm sunshine.
"This is nice," Natalie said eventually. "Just... normal. Peaceful."
"You've had a crazy week."
"You have no idea." She leaned back on her hands, tilting her face toward the sun. "Sometimes I forget what this feels like. Just existing without having to be on guard all the time."
"You don't have to be on guard with me."
"I know. That's why I like this. Like us." She turned to look at me. "Alex, there's something I need to tell you."
My heart rate picked up. This was it—she was going to tell me about SHIELD, or about being a spy, or something significant.
"Okay."
"I haven't been completely honest with you. About my work."
"Natalie, you don't have to—"
"I want to." She took a breath. "My job is complicated. More complicated than 'security consulting' makes it sound. And there are things I can't tell you, things I'll never be able to tell you, because of the nature of what I do."
"I understand."
"But I want you to know that everything else—everything about us—that's real. How I feel about you is real. This," she gestured between us, "this is the one part of my life that isn't complicated or full of secrets. And I need you to know how much that means to me."
I reached for her hand. "I know you have secrets. I've known since the day we met that you were more than you seemed. And I don't need to know everything, Nat. I just need to know that what we have is real."
"It is. God, Alex, it so is." Her eyes were bright, emotional. "I'm falling in love with you. And that terrifies me because my life is dangerous and complicated and I don't know if I can give you normal—"
I kissed her.
It wasn't planned, wasn't calculated. I just needed her to stop worrying and understand that I wasn't going anywhere.
When we pulled apart, she was smiling through tears.
"I love you too," I said. "Secrets and all. Dangerous job and all. Whatever complications come, we'll figure it out."
"You're sure?"
"I've never been more sure of anything."
She kissed me again, deeper this time, and when we finally broke apart, we were both a little breathless.
"I don't deserve you," she whispered.
"Yes, you do. You deserve someone who sees all of you—the parts you show the world and the parts you keep hidden—and loves all of it. And that's me."
═══════════════════════════════════════
MAJOR MILESTONE REACHED!
Maximum Affection Achieved
Natalie Rushman
Affection : 97 → 100/100 [Maximum - True Love]
Trust Level : 70 → 75/100
Status : Deeply in love, fully committed
MILESTONE REWARDS:
System Points : +2,500 SP
Level Up : 5 → 6
New Title : "First Love" (+10 CHA, +5 all stats when with significant other)
Relationship Skills : All enhanced by 25%
SPECIAL REWARD UNLOCKED:
[Love's Bond]
Permanent connection with Natalie Rushman
Emotional state awareness (always know if she's in danger/distress)
+50% effectiveness when protecting or supporting her
Shared growth (her achievements slightly benefit you, yours benefit her)
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: True Love's First Light
NEW FEATURE UNLOCKED: Relationship Evolution system available Deep bond enables future skill sharing and combined abilities
═══════════════════════════════════════
CONGRATULATIONS!
You have achieved 100/100 affection with your first serious partner. This is a significant accomplishment. The bond you've built is genuine, strong, and will serve as a foundation for everything that comes next.
Note: She's yours, and you're hers. This is real.
Warning: With deep love comes deep vulnerability. Her enemies may become your enemies. Her danger may become your danger. Protect what you've built.
═══════════════════════════════════════
We spent the rest of the afternoon in the park, talking about everything and nothing. She told me about her childhood—vague details, carefully edited, but more than she'd shared before. I told her about my own past, creative editing around the whole "different universe" thing.
As the sun started to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, she leaned against me, my arm around her shoulders.
"Alex?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. For being patient with me. For understanding that I can't tell you everything. For loving me anyway."
"Always."
We sat there as the park slowly emptied, the city lights beginning to twinkle in the distance, and I felt a profound sense of peace.
I was in the Marvel Universe, dating a woman who was probably Natasha Romanoff, with a system that gave me dating superpowers. It was insane. It was impossible.
But in this moment, with her head on my shoulder and her hand in mine, it was also perfect.
That night, after I'd walked her home and we'd said goodnight with a long kiss at her door, I checked my updated status.
═══════════════════════════════════════
STATUS
═══════════════════════════════════════
Name : Alex Carter
Age : 25
Level : 6
Title : First Love
Harem Size : 0 Girlfriends (1 True Love)
EXP : 0/12,000
CORE ATTRIBUTES:
STR (Strength) : 29/100
AGI (Agility) : 32/100
END (Endurance) : 31/100
INT (Intelligence) : 34/100
CHA (Charisma) : 52/100
LCK (Luck) : 31/100
CHARM : 58/100
═══════════════════════════════════════
ACTIVE RELATIONSHIPS:
Natalie Rushman : 100/100 [TRUE LOVE] ♥
═══════════════════════════════════════
I stared at that last line for a long moment, then smiled.
True Love.
I'd only been in this universe for two months, and I'd found something real. Something worth protecting.
Whatever came next—superhero battles, alien invasions, cosmic threats—I'd face it. Because now I had something to fight for beyond just survival.
I had someone I loved, and who loved me back.
And that made all the difference.