Ryuuto frowned the moment his hand brushed against something soft—too soft.
Wait a damn second.
That's… not Susan.
He blinked and quickly turned the sleeping figure over. Scarlet hair spilled across the pillow.
Natasha Romanoff.
Her cheeks were flushed deep red, breath warm with the scent of vodka. Clearly drunk out of her mind.
Ryuuto sighed. "Seriously? How does she end up like this?"
It wasn't that he minded waking up next to a gorgeous spy, but something felt off. Susan was supposed to be here.
His mind sharpened. Natasha being drunk was weird—but Susan disappearing was worse.
He stood, adjusted his shirt, and left quietly.
The hallway was silent. Ryuuto checked Natasha's room first—empty.
Then, Guy's.
He nudged the door open to see Katie Dee sitting on her bed, assembling a gun piece by piece with surprising precision.
Ryuuto raised an eyebrow. "You planning to shoot someone, or just bored?"
Katie looked up, startled, then relaxed. "Brother! You're back!"
"Don't tell me you armed up because you heard noises next door."
Katie shook her head. "Nah. Natasha taught me to disassemble and reassemble a 867 in under ten seconds. Said if I can do it blindfolded, I'm 'pro-level.'"
Ryuuto chuckled. "She's a bad influence."
He leaned on the doorframe. "Anyway, where's Susan?"
"In your room," Katie replied matter-of-factly.
"My room?"
"She said she couldn't sleep in hers. Missed your smell or something." Katie shrugged. "So Natasha took her bed. They were drinking together earlier. Susan was sad 'cause you left for university."
"…I leave for one day and she hosts a pity party with the world's deadliest spy. Classic."
He turned to leave, but Katie's voice called him back.
"Wait, can you promise me one thing?"
"What's that?"
Katie cleared her throat, voice dropping to a whisper. "When you and Susan… y'know… do stuff, can you be quieter?"
Ryuuto froze mid-step. "...Excuse me?"
Katie blushed so hard she nearly combusted. "I live next door! She's loud! I can hear everything through the wall!"
Ryuuto sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Noted. You've officially grown up."
"You made me say it!" she protested, pulling the blanket over her face.
"Yeah, yeah. Go to sleep, gun gremlin."
Ryuuto chuckled under his breath as he closed the door behind him.
Back in his room, the soft moonlight framed Susan's silhouette on the bed. She was curled up, asleep, hair falling across her face.
He sat on the edge quietly, just watching for a moment. After everything, she still looked peaceful.
"Idiot," he murmured fondly, brushing a strand from her cheek.
He laid beside her, arms wrapping around her gently. She stirred, murmured something incoherent, and relaxed into his chest.
That was enough. No words needed.
Morning came slow and golden. Ryuuto woke to sunlight and Susan's sleepy smile.
They shared breakfast with Natasha and Katie—like nothing had happened.
Normalcy was a rare luxury, and Ryuuto took it.
By nine, he was standing outside Oxford University.
He glanced at his watch. Gwen should've been here ten minutes ago.
He waited. No sign. No messages—he didn't even have her number. Great.
Just as he was about to ask Nick Fury to dig it up, Gwen sprinted up the path, breathless and flushed.
"S-Sorry! Subway was delayed!" she gasped.
Ryuuto smiled faintly. "Relax. I just got here."
"Oh thank god," she sighed, hands on her knees. "I thought I left you waiting. Come on, I'll take you to the bus."
He smirked. "Bus? Nah. I've got a ride."
He pointed toward a gleaming black Rolls-Royce parked nearby.
Gwen froze. "Wait—that's yours?"
"Yup. I don't do public transport," he said with a shrug. "Too slow."
"Wow, must be nice being loaded."
"Want to continue your project research? I'll fund it. Consider it a sponsor deal," he teased.
She blinked, half-flustered. "Let's… talk about that later. For now, let's go."
They arrived at the exhibition hall, a mix of cutting-edge tech and sterile white lighting.
A middle-aged man greeted them—short hair, sharp features, and only one arm.
Dr. Curt Connors.
Ryuuto's gaze flickered. He knew that name. The man who'd once turned himself into a monster—the Lizard.
Not yet, though.
"Gwen, you made it," Connors said warmly, then eyed Ryuuto. "And you are?"
"Ryuuto," he replied, shaking the professor's hand. "Her classmate. I'm into biology, figured I'd tag along."
"Good," Connors smiled proudly. "This entire exhibit? My work."
Ryuuto's eyes narrowed slightly, scanning the regenerative tech on display. Something told him this wouldn't end as cleanly as it looked.