Tony Stark's line at the press conference—"I am Iron Man"—was like a boulder thrown into a still lake, setting off monstrous waves across the globe. The age of superheroes had begun, in an extremely high-profile and fiercely individualistic way. Tsuda Takao knew what that meant: countless opportunities and crises alike. All the monsters and demons lurking in the world's shadows would follow the sound of that horn and step onto the stage one after another.
Life at Tony Stark's Malibu Beach villa, after the Obadiah Stane incident, seemed to return to "normal"—if you ignored the occasional moments where Tony would mutter at the newly developed Mark IV armor, "I have to strengthen the defense against heavy chopping strikes."
Not long after, the villa gained a new member. With her workload surging, Pepper Potts hired a highly capable, impeccably mannered new assistant—Miss Natalie Rushman, who was in fact S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top-tier agent, the "Black Widow," Natasha Romanoff.
With her professional competence and captivating charm, Natalie quickly blended into the rhythm of Stark Industries. And because of work, she frequently came and went from Tony's villa. She also seemed to show an unusually strong interest in Skadi.
Skadi's inhuman strength, her near-obsessive loyalty to Tsuda Takao, and that pure simplicity—out of step with modern society (or, rather, a kind of blankness)—all made Natalie curious. It was undeniably a key target for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s evaluation.
So she began to draw closer to Skadi, deliberately and casually, looking for chances to talk. The topics started with work and the weather, then gradually extended into more feminine and more private territory: skincare, clothing, and even simple emotional subjects.
Of course, Tsuda Takao understood Natalie's true identity and purpose. But he didn't expose it—if anything, he was glad to see it. Skadi's world contained almost nothing but him. That was reassuring, sure, but it was also far too singular, too closed off. Letting this veteran female agent—even if she had ulterior motives—teach Skadi some "ordinary person" common sense and ways of thinking might not be a bad thing. He trusted that Skadi's purity and strength weren't something that could be shaken so easily.
Under Natalie's patient, skillful guidance, Skadi remained silent most of the time, but she truly did begin—little by little—to lower her guard toward this red-haired woman who always wore a friendly smile and knew so much "strange" knowledge. She would listen quietly as Natalie described which district in New York had the best afternoon tea, watch with curiosity as Natalie demonstrated how to use different cosmetics, and even start trying to understand those complicated human social rules.
But what truly made Skadi open her heart to Natalie was a confusion inside her—one that kept swelling, yet remained beyond her understanding.
One day, on the balcony with only the two of them, watching surfers on the distant sea, Skadi spoke first for once, her voice carrying a faint bewilderment.
"Natalie."
"Hm? What is it, Skadi?" Natalie took an elegant sip of coffee.
Skadi's crimson eyes stared into empty space, as if arranging her words. After a long pause, she finally said in a low voice, "Toward Tsuda Takao… I have a feeling. It's strange. It's not the same as with a 'companion.'"
A flash of understanding—and the faintest hint of a smile—passed through Natalie's eyes, though on the surface she pretended curiosity. "Oh? What kind of feeling? Can you tell me?"
Skadi tried to describe it. "Wanting to always be together—not just staying by his side. My heartbeat speeds up. Here." She pointed to her chest. "It feels… full, and also a little empty. When I see him talking to other people, I feel uncomfortable. I want… to touch more." She recalled the tremor of their dance at the gala, and the quiet, different kind of craving that had grown night after night as she held him while falling asleep—something unlike anything before.
Natalie set down her coffee cup. A gentle, encouraging smile appeared on her face, as if she were teaching a foolish little sister who'd just begun to understand romance. She lightly held Skadi's hand and said with certainty:
"Skadi, that feeling is called 'love.'"
"Love?" Skadi repeated the unfamiliar word, her crimson eyes brimming with the desire to understand.
"Yes. Love." Natalie explained patiently. "You love Tsuda Takao—not the cherishing and reliance you have for a companion, but a woman's love for a man. You want to become the one and only existence in his life, not merely a companion, right?"
Skadi didn't fully understand, but the words "one and only" struck her deeply. She nodded hard.
Seeing that pure, earnest gaze, something soft deep inside Natalie seemed to stir—even though an agent's code warned her not to invest personal emotion. She let out a light laugh, and began her "Teacher Natalie crash course in feelings."
"If you love him, you have to learn how to express it—how to make him love you even more." Natalie started teaching techniques. "First, dates. Create romantic one-on-one time that belongs only to the two of you. For example: a candlelit dinner, a walk on the beach, or going to a movie…"
She explained the details of dating—how to pick locations, how to set the mood.
"Second, appearance. Men are visual creatures. Change your hairstyle once in a while, put on a dress that brings out your charm. Of course, you have to make sure it doesn't affect how fast you can draw your sword. And a little light makeup will make him feel like he's seeing you anew."
She also taught Skadi some harmless little "tricks," like how to convey meaning with her eyes, how to "accidentally" create physical contact, and how to maintain just enough mystery and attraction.
"Most important, you have to learn how to 'keep him in your grasp.'" Natalie blinked mischievously. "You can't obey him unconditionally all the time. Sometimes you need a little temper too—make him nervous about you. But you can't go too far. You have to know when to stop, and give him something sweet. It's like flying a kite: you hold the string in your own hand, tightening and loosening with control."
Skadi listened with intense focus, her crimson eyes unblinking, as if she were memorizing the most complicated combat orders. For her, understanding and mastering these "emotional tactics" seemed even more challenging than cleaving a tank in half—but also… more important.
In her heart, she began silently planning how to apply this newly learned knowledge to her "companion"—no. To the Tsuda Takao she "loved."
And all of it was heard by Tsuda Takao, who was pretending to read a newspaper not far away. The corner of his mouth twitched, his feelings complicated. On one hand, he was happy about Skadi's emotional awakening. On the other, watching a world-class agent teach his humanoid natural-disaster girlfriend how to "keep him in her grasp"… the sensation was uniquely, unprecedentedly subtle.
It seemed that in the days ahead, besides dealing with the crises of the Marvel world, he would also have to beware the "sweet offensive" from Skadi—now enlightened—personally coached by "Teacher Natalie."
(End of Chapter)
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