With Gwen around, there was no way that "reward" was ever going to happen.
Honestly, at times like this, he'd rather hole up alone in the lab solving differential equations than get tangled up with a house full of women.
The real problem? Gwen wasn't his—not yet, anyway. And until she was, there were too many lines he couldn't cross… or dared not cross.
He still didn't know where her boundaries lay. One wrong move, and winning her over might become impossible.
So, better safe than sorry. No reckless bets tonight.
Besides, 2B had only been joking. Beneath her combat-ready exterior, she was a general-purpose android who'd awakened to self-awareness—and she'd never do anything to endanger Loren, her creator.
And Gwen's offer to stay overnight? Just playful banter with Loren, exactly as Loren herself had clarified earlier.
Her father had never allowed her to sleep over at a friend's house—let alone at a boy's. If she didn't come home tonight, he'd show up at the door. Not with a knife. With a gun. And that was a scene she absolutely did not want to see.
Watching Loren nearly crawl into the lab to hide, Gwen couldn't help but smirk. She muttered under her breath, "Coward," then turned to leave.
But just then, Tifa gently caught her wrist and handed her a sleek metal box—about the size of a shoebox.
"…Huh?" Gwen blinked.
"Miss Gwen," Tifa said with a soft smile, "this is a nanosuit our boss specially designed for you. He asked me to give it to you."
She added, "He said—even if you're going to be a hero, you've got to protect yourself first. Don't be reckless. And… he promised he'll always be there to back you up."
Hearing Loren's concern wrapped in Tifa's words, Gwen's chest warmed like she'd swallowed a spoonful of honey.
But outwardly, she crossed her arms and pouted. "If he was right here, why not just hand it to me himself? Why all this roundabout nonsense? So annoying!"
"Miss Gwen," Tifa chuckled, "you know how proud our boss is. There's no way he could say those things face-to-face!"
"He'd be embarrassed? Please. Surrounded by gorgeous women like you every day, he should be immune by now."
"Oh, he is immune—to most women," Tifa said, eyes twinkling. "But not to you, Miss Gwen. Sometimes… he even calls your name in his sleep."
"W-What?!" Gwen's cheeks instantly burned crimson—but inside, her heart did a little flip. "You're joking, right?"
"I'm not. We share quarters with the boss and take night watch in shifts. I've heard it myself."
"R-Really? Then… besides my name… what else did he say?"
Tifa leaned in with mock seriousness. "Oh, all kinds of things. 'Don't go.' 'I like you.' 'I love you.' 'I'm starting now—'"
"STOP!" Gwen clapped both hands over her ears, face now scarlet down to her neck. "Don't say another word!"
The moment those phrases left Tifa's mouth, Gwen's imagination conjured a very vivid image of Loren murmuring those words in his sleep—and the more she pictured it, the redder she got, until she looked like a ripe apple.
She didn't know the actual dream, but judging by those phrases? Yeah. Not a PG-rated one.
"Miss Gwen," Tifa teased, "do you really not want to hear the rest? He's used so many variations…"
"Fine, fine! I give up!" Gwen waved her hands frantically. "Just—just tell me how to use this nanosuit before I explode!"
She was half-joking—but genuinely terrified Tifa might drop something even more mortifying.
"Alright," Tifa relented. "This is the boss's latest prototype—built with cutting-edge nanotech. All you have to do is open the box and press your finger inside."
"…Just stick my finger in?"
Gwen lifted the lid. Inside lay a pool of sleek, obsidian-black granules—like liquid shadow given form.
Curious, she touched it. Instantly, the nanites surged across her skin like living ink, crawling up her arm, enveloping her in seconds.
In the blink of an eye, she stood clad in a form-fitting, high-tech black nanosuit—sleek, responsive, and undeniably hers.
She gasped, running her hands over the smooth surface. Though she'd long suspected Loren knew she was Spider-Woman, she never expected this—a custom battle suit, built just for her.
To be seen, remembered, and cared for—not with words, but action—it moved her deeply.
If Loren were standing here right now… she might actually kiss him. First kiss and all.
Annoying womanizer or not… the guy knew how to make a girl feel special.
"The suit's woven with adaptive nano-steel," Tifa explained. "It'll deflect bullets and absorb moderate energy impacts. Though," she added with a smirk, "with your reflexes, Miss Gwen, you'd probably dodge them anyway. Consider this armor a safety net."
"But the real upgrades are here," Tifa said, tapping Gwen's chest plate.
Immediately, a holographic interface flickered to life—projecting a full tutorial. And the instructor in the demo video?
None other than Loren himself.
Watching him calmly walk through suit functions—voice warm, eyes focused—Gwen's expression softened. Of course he'd record it himself. Thoughtful to the core.
No wonder his inner circle of stunning, capable women adored him so fiercely. He didn't just charm them—he saw them, equipped them, stood by them.
(If Loren had known what she was thinking, he might've chuckled quietly. After all, most of those "devoted beauties" weren't won over—they were his creations. The only one he'd actually chased? That was Gwen.)
Excited beyond words, Gwen barely skimmed the rest of the manual before bouncing on her toes. "I'm gonna test it out right now!"
But before dashing off, she grabbed Tifa's arm and lowered her voice. "Wait—real quick. What was that 'reward' 2B mentioned earlier?"
Tifa hesitated, studying Gwen's eager face. "…You sure you want to know?"
"Yes! I really want to!"
"Alright…" Tifa leaned in and whispered into her ear.
Gwen froze. Her eyes flew wide. T
hen, cheeks aflame once more, she hissed, "You scoundrel… I never pegged him for that kind of guy!"
Visit patreon.com/ShiroTL to gain access to 40+ chapters