September arrived with cooler weather and a false sense of normalcy.
The Harlem incident had faded from the daily news cycle, replaced by the usual political drama and celebrity gossip. People were still nervous—gun sales were up, self-defense classes were booked solid, and conspiracy theories flourished online—but New York had that unique ability to absorb trauma and keep moving forward.
Life went on.
My new apartment had truly become home. I'd furnished it properly, set up a small home gym in the second bedroom, and even bought a decent TV after Natalie made fun of me one too many times for watching movies on my laptop.
The routine was solid now:
Morning training (alternating between Chen and Sarah)
Midday investment management and daily quests
Afternoon open for social connections or personal projects
Evenings with Natalie when she was available
I'd hit Level 9, and my stats showed the consistent progress.
═══════════════════════════════════════
STATUS UPDATE
Name : Alex Carter
Age : 25
Level : 9
Title : First Love
EXP : 4,200/15,000
CORE ATTRIBUTES:
STR (Strength) : 48/100
AGI (Agility) : 51/100
END (Endurance) : 49/100
INT (Intelligence) : 42/100
CHA (Charisma) : 56/100
LCK (Luck) : 38/100
CHARM : 64/100
SPECIAL STATS:
Combat Prowess : 72/100
Emotional Intelligence : 41/100
Sexual Stamina : 25/100
RESOURCE POOLS:
HP : 1,100/1,100
CP : 2,500/2,500
SP : 9,340
═══════════════════════════════════════
I was stronger, faster, and more capable than I'd ever been in my previous life. Not superhuman, but definitely beyond normal human baseline. Sarah had mentioned that I was now better than most of her students who'd been training for years.
"You've got a gift," she'd said after a particularly intense sparring session. "Natural aptitude combined with dedication. If you wanted to do this professionally, you could."
I didn't, of course. Fighting wasn't my calling. But being able to protect myself and others? That was worth the effort.
It was a Thursday afternoon when something interesting happened.
I was at The Grindhouse, as usual, when a woman walked in who immediately triggered my Enhanced Danger Sense.
Not danger in the "she's a threat" way. More like... "she's important, pay attention."
She was maybe late twenties, athletic build, with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail and an intensity that reminded me of Natalie. She wore workout clothes and had the kind of relaxed awareness that suggested combat training.
She ordered a black coffee—no sugar, no cream—and while waiting, her eyes scanned the room in that subtle way trained people do, cataloging exits and potential threats.
Our eyes met briefly, and I saw recognition flicker across her face. Not like she knew me personally, but like she knew of me.
She got her coffee and, to my surprise, walked over to my table.
"Alex Carter?" she asked.
"That's me. Do I know you?"
"Not yet. Mind if I sit?" She was already pulling out the chair before I could answer. "I'm Jessica. Jessica Drew."
The name meant nothing to me immediately, but the way she carried herself suggested she was either military, law enforcement, or something similar.
"Okay, Jessica Drew. What can I do for you?"
"I'm a friend of Natasha's."
I kept my expression neutral, but internally I was processing rapidly. Natasha. Not Natalie. That was significant.
"I think you have me confused with someone else. I know a Natalie, but—"
"Come on, Carter. We both know who she really is." Jessica's smile was knowing but not unkind. "Relax. I'm not here to cause problems. Natasha asked me to check in on you, actually. Make sure you're okay."
"She could just call me herself."
"She's in Berlin on assignment. Couldn't risk communication right now." Jessica sipped her coffee. "Look, I know this is weird. But Nat's worried about you. She's worried that dating her puts you in danger, worried that you don't fully understand what you're getting into. So she asked me to do a wellness check and maybe... give you some context."
"Context?"
"About who she is. What she does. Why her world is complicated."
I studied Jessica for a long moment. This could be a test, or it could be genuine. My Danger Sense wasn't screaming at me, which suggested she wasn't an immediate threat.
"And who are you, exactly? Beyond a friend of... Natasha's?"
"I work in similar circles. Let's leave it at that." She leaned back. "Here's the deal. Natasha is in deep with some heavy stuff. The organization she works for, the things she does—it's dangerous. And the fact that she's in a relationship with a civilian is making some people nervous. Not because they think you're a threat, but because they think you're a vulnerability."
"A vulnerability?"
"Someone who could be used against her. Kidnapped, threatened, whatever. Bad guys love leverage." Jessica's expression was serious now. "I'm telling you this because Natasha genuinely cares about you. Like, actually cares in a way I've never seen from her. And that means you need to understand the risks."
"I already know there are risks."
"Do you though? Because 'my girlfriend has a dangerous job' is different from 'my girlfriend is a world-class operative who's made enemies of terrorist organizations, hostile governments, and powered individuals.' The people who want her dead? They don't play fair. They'd have no problem going after you to get to her."
═══════════════════════════════════════
NEW CONTACT IDENTIFIED
Jessica Drew
Type : SHIELD Agent (confirmed)
Affection : 12/100 [Neutral Assessment]
Status : Evaluating you on behalf of Natasha
Potential : Ally, future team member
Notes:
She's testing you
Wants to see if you'll panic or handle information maturely
Has orders to check on you but also personal concern
Respects Natasha's judgment but wants confirmation
Recommended Response: Show you understand the risks but aren't intimidated. Demonstrate competence and commitment.
═══════════════════════════════════════
I took a sip of my coffee, considering my response carefully.
"You're right. I don't know all the specifics of what Natasha does or who she's made enemies of. She can't tell me, and I respect that. But I'm not naive, Jessica. I know the world is dangerous—I watched the Harlem incident on live TV. I know people with her skill set don't have safe, boring jobs. And I know that being with her means accepting certain risks."
"And you're okay with that?"
"I'm training in practical combat. I've taken self-defense seriously. I'm careful about my security and aware of my surroundings. I'm not trying to be a hero, but I'm also not a helpless civilian who needs constant protection." I met her eyes. "I love her. That means accepting the whole package, risks included. If that makes me a vulnerability, that's something we'll have to manage together."
Jessica studied me for a long moment, then smiled—genuinely this time. "Okay. I can see why she likes you. You're not panicking or trying to prove how tough you are. Just... realistic."
"Is this the part where you tell me to stay away from her for her own good?"
"God no. Natasha would kill me." She laughed. "No, this is the part where I tell you I'll keep an eye out. You seem like a good guy, and if someone does try to use you against her, I'll make sure they regret it. Professional courtesy."
"I appreciate that."
"Also, Natasha wanted me to give you something." Jessica pulled out a phone—a sleek, unfamiliar device. "Encrypted communicator. Direct line to her, can't be traced or intercepted. For emergencies or when she's on assignment and can't use normal phones."
I took the phone, feeling the weight of what it represented. Trust. Inclusion in her world, even if only at the edges.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Literally—this conversation didn't happen." Jessica stood. "Take care of yourself, Carter. And take care of her. She deserves someone who sees past the job to the person underneath."
"I do."
"Good." She headed for the door, then paused and looked back. "Oh, and Carter? Work on your left guard. Natasha mentioned you're training—your instructor probably already told you, but you drop your left when you get tired. Fix that."
Then she was gone, leaving me with an encrypted phone and about a dozen new questions.
═══════════════════════════════════════
RELATIONSHIP UPDATE - NEW CONTACT
Jessica Drew
Affection : 12 → 28/100 [Positive Assessment]
Status : Approves of you for Natasha
Type : Potential Ally
Trust Established: She'll watch your back
Note: You passed the test. Jessica is Spider-Woman in the comics, but her exact role in this universe is unclear. Regardless, you've gained an ally in SHIELD's circles.
═══════════════════════════════════════
That evening, I used the encrypted phone for the first time.
It rang twice before Natasha answered. "Alex?"
"Hey. Got a delivery from a friend of yours today."
"Jessica found you. Good." There was relief in her voice. "I'm sorry for the cloak and dagger stuff. I just... I needed you to understand what you're getting into. What being with me means."
"Nat, I already knew your job was dangerous. This doesn't change how I feel."
"Even knowing that people might target you because of me?"
"Even then. We'll be careful. I'll be careful. But I'm not walking away."
She was quiet for a moment. When she spoke again, her voice was thick with emotion. "I don't deserve you."
"We really need to work on your self-esteem."
That got a watery laugh. "I'm serious. I've done things, Alex. Bad things. In the name of good causes, but still—"
"Everyone has a past. What matters is who you are now, who you choose to be going forward. And the person I know? She's incredible. Whatever you've done before, it doesn't change that."
"You don't even know what—"
"And I don't need to. I know you. That's enough."
I heard her take a shaky breath. "I love you so much."
"I love you too. When are you back?"
"Two more days. And then I'm taking a week off. They owe me about three months of vacation time, and I'm cashing in. I want to spend it with you. No work emergencies, no assignments, just us."
"I'd like that. We could actually leave the city this time. Go somewhere quiet, maybe upstate again?"
"Perfect. I'll make arrangements when I get back." She paused. "Thank you, Alex. For understanding. For not running when you should probably be running."
"Where else would I go? You're stuck with me, Romanoff."
I heard her sharp intake of breath. "You know."
"I figured it out a while ago. Natalie Rushman, Natasha Romanoff—not exactly the world's best secret identity. Plus the Russian accent slips through sometimes when you're tired."
"And you didn't say anything?"
"You'd tell me when you were ready. I wasn't going to push."
"God, you really are something else." Her voice was warm, full of affection. "Okay. No more secrets. When I get back, I'll tell you everything I can. You deserve that."
"Only if you want to."
"I do. No more walls between us."
We talked for another hour—about nothing and everything, about her assignment (vague details), about my training progress, about plans for when she got back.
When we finally hung up, I felt lighter somehow. No more pretending not to know. No more careful dancing around the truth.
She was Natasha Romanoff, Black Widow, SHIELD agent. And I was Alex Carter, guy from another universe with a dating system.
We were quite the pair.
The next few days passed quietly. I continued my routine, completed daily quests, and prepared for Natasha's return.
I also started thinking more strategically about my future in this universe. I had combat skills now, financial resources, a relationship with someone deep in SHIELD, and knowledge of what was coming.
The question was: what did I want to do with all that?
I could stay on the sidelines, live a relatively normal life while the superheroes dealt with the big threats. That was the safe option. The smart option, probably.
But watching the news coverage of Harlem, seeing the destruction and chaos, I couldn't shake the feeling that staying completely uninvolved would be a waste. I had advantages—foreknowledge, a system that made me better than baseline human, connections to key players.
I wasn't going to put on a costume and fight aliens. That would be stupid. But maybe there were other ways to help. Information, resources, support for the people who were fighting on the front lines.
═══════════════════════════════════════
QUEST GENERATED
[Define Your Role]
Description : The world is changing rapidly. You have unique advantages and connections. Decide how you want to position yourself in the coming conflicts.
Options:
Civilian Support Role
Provide resources and information
Stay out of direct combat
Support heroes from the shadows
Low risk, moderate impact
Active Participant
Develop combat abilities further
Take more direct role in events
Higher risk, higher impact
Requires significant preparation
Mixed Approach
Selective involvement based on situation
Flexible positioning
Moderate risk, variable impact
Most adaptable strategy
Note: This choice isn't permanent. You can adjust as circumstances change. But having a general strategy will help guide your decisions.
Time Limit: None (but decision should be made before Thor arrives)
═══════════════════════════════════════
I stared at the quest notification, weighing my options.
Active participation was tempting but potentially suicidal. I wasn't Iron Man or Captain America. I was a guy with decent combat training and a system that made me good at dating.
Full civilian support was safer but felt like wasting my potential. I had knowledge that could help people, resources that could make a difference.
The mixed approach made the most sense. Be smart, be strategic, help when I could without being reckless. Use my advantages without pretending to be something I wasn't.
I mentally selected the mixed approach.
═══════════════════════════════════════
CHOICE CONFIRMED: Mixed Approach
Strategic Guidelines Established:
Provide information and resources when useful
Develop capabilities but recognize limitations
Support Natasha and other heroes
Intervene only when you have clear advantage
Prioritize survival and long-term impact over heroics
New Features Unlocked:
Strategic Planning System
Better analysis of situations
Risk/reward calculations for decisions
Long-term consequence modeling
Support Network Building
Enhanced ability to create useful connections
Better resource allocation
Coordination with allies
Rewards:
+500 SP
INT +2 (strategic thinking boost)
New skill category unlocked
═══════════════════════════════════════
It felt right. I wasn't going to charge into battle, but I also wasn't going to sit idle while people suffered.
I'd be strategic, careful, and useful in my own way.
Natasha returned on a rainy Saturday morning. I picked her up from the airport—she'd texted me her flight information, another sign of increasing trust—and found her waiting outside arrivals with a small duffel bag.
She looked tired but smiled when she saw me.
"Hey, stranger."
"Hey yourself." I pulled her into a hug, not caring about the rain. "Welcome home."
"Home. I like the sound of that." She kissed me, sweet and warm. "Take me to your place? I want a shower, real coffee, and about twelve hours of sleep."
"All three can be arranged."
We took a cab back to my apartment, and Natasha immediately made herself at home in a way she never had before. She knew where I kept the towels, helped herself to my coffee maker, and changed into comfortable clothes she'd apparently started keeping in my closet at some point.
It felt domestic. Normal. Good.
After her shower, we settled on the couch with coffee, and she turned to me with a serious expression.
"So. Questions. You must have questions."
"Some. But only if you want to answer them."
"I do. You deserve to know who you're with." She took a breath. "My real name is Natasha Romanoff. I was born in Russia, trained from childhood in a program called the Red Room. They made me into a weapon—spy, assassin, whatever they needed. I did terrible things for them before I escaped and eventually joined SHIELD."
"How long have you been with SHIELD?"
"About six years. They gave me a chance to use my skills for good instead of evil. To make up for some of what I've done." She looked down at her coffee. "I've killed people, Alex. A lot of people. Some deserved it, some... probably didn't. That's who I am. That's what I've been."
I took her hand. "And who are you now?"
"Trying to be better. Trying to do enough good to balance out the bad." She met my eyes. "But the past doesn't go away. My enemies don't forget. The Red Room might still be looking for me. The people I've wronged might want revenge. Being with me means accepting that danger."
"I know. Jessica was pretty clear about that."
"And you're still here."
"Still here."
She studied my face, looking for any sign of doubt or fear. "Why? Most people would run."
"Because I see you, Nat. Not just the assassin or the spy. I see the woman who worries about hurting people, who's trying to make up for her past, who falls asleep during bad movies and makes fun of my coffee snobbery. That's the person I love. The rest is just context."
Her eyes were suspiciously bright. "Damn it, Alex. You can't just say things like that."
"Why not?"
"Because it makes me want to keep you forever, and that's selfish when my life is so dangerous."
"Then be selfish. I'm choosing this, Nat. Choosing you. All of you."
She kissed me then, deep and fierce, like she was trying to pour every emotion into it. When we finally broke apart, she rested her forehead against mine.
"No more secrets," she whispered. "From here on out, we're partners. Real partners. You know who I am, and I trust you completely."
"Partners," I agreed. "In everything."
═══════════════════════════════════════
MAJOR RELATIONSHIP MILESTONE
Natasha Romanoff
Trust Level : 88 → 100/100 [MAXIMUM TRUST]
Complete Transparency Achieved
New Bond Status: True Partnership
Effects:
All secrets revealed (within security constraints)
Complete emotional intimacy
Shared decision-making
Mutual protection commitment
Rewards:
+3,000 SP
New Title: "Trusted by the Black Widow" (+10 CHA with SHIELD personnel) (+5 all stats in combat when protecting Natasha)
Relationship Evolution: Phase 2 Unlocked
SPECIAL ABILITY UNLOCKED:
[Bond of Trust]
Always know if Natasha is in critical danger
Enhanced coordination in combat/crisis
Ability to share certain skills temporarily
Emotional support provides actual stat buffs to each other
ACHIEVEMENT: Maximum Trust Achieved (First Relationship)
═══════════════════════════════════════
We spent the rest of the day together—talking, laughing, existing in that comfortable space couples create. She told me stories from her past, carefully edited for security but honest about the emotion behind them. I told her about my training, my investments, my plans to be useful without being reckless.
"You're training to protect yourself," she observed. "And probably to protect me."
"Can you blame me?"
"No. But Alex, you need to understand—if something happens, if I'm in danger, your job is to get yourself safe. Not to try to save me. I'm trained for this. You're not."
"I'm working on it."
"Not fast enough to handle the kind of threats I deal with." She touched my face gently. "Promise me. If things go really wrong, you run. You survive. Because I can't do my job if I'm worried about protecting you."
It was a hard promise to make, but I understood her point. "I promise I won't be reckless. That's the best I can offer."
"I'll take it." She sighed. "God, when did I become the person who worries about someone else's safety? The Red Room would be so disappointed in me."
"Good. Screw the Red Room."
She laughed. "Screw the Red Room indeed."
That evening, we ordered Thai food—my cooking skills were improving, but tonight was about relaxation, not effort—and watched a movie she actually enjoyed for once.
As the credits rolled, Natasha turned to me. "Next week. Let's actually do that trip upstate. Just you and me, away from the city, away from work. I need that. Need us."
"Already looking forward to it."
"Good." She settled against me, content. "Thank you, Alex. For being patient with me. For seeing past the assassin to the person underneath. For not running when you probably should have."
"Nowhere else I'd rather be."
And I meant it.
In a universe of superheroes and monsters, of cosmic threats and world-ending dangers, I'd found something real. Someone real.
Whatever came next—Thor's arrival, the Avengers Initiative, the Battle of New York—I'd face it knowing I had Natasha by my side.
And that made all the difference.