Sam drove them to a popular, busy restaurant inside a large shopping mall.
The place was packed with people. Plates were clinking, and hundreds of people were talking all at once.
It was the ultimate test for Jean.
As they sat at their table, Jean closed her eyes.
She took a slow breath and focused on the warm spark in her stomach.
She let the Qi flow up like a gentle river.
When she opened her eyes, she was smiling brightly.
"It works,"
Jean whispered, looking at Sam.
"The restaurant is loud, but my mind is completely quiet. The voices are just washing away."
Ororo was also doing wonderfully.
The crowded space would usually make her feel cramped, causing the air around her to grow heavy and humid.
But today, she sat gracefully, sipping her water.
Her emotions were completely calm, and the weather outside remained sunny and perfect.
They ordered food and had a wonderful lunch. They laughed, shared stories, and enjoyed the peace.
For Jean and Ororo, it felt like taking off a heavy backpack they had carried for their entire lives.
After they finished eating, Sam wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"You both did great,"
Sam said.
"When we get back to the mansion, I will teach you how to move the Qi into your hands. But first... we should talk about the people watching us."
Jean and Ororo stopped smiling.
They looked around the restaurant.
With his Golden Core, Sam didn't even need to look. His spiritual senses covered the entire mall.
He could feel two men sitting in a parked car outside the window, and another man sitting at a table near the exit.
They were pretending to read newspapers and menus, but their eyes were locked entirely on Jean and Ororo.
"They are government agents,"
Sam said calmly, taking a sip of his tea.
"They aren't looking at me. They are observing you two."
Sam understood why they were there.
In this society, mutants were still a secret to many, but a terrifying threat to those in power.
People were scared of things they didn't understand.
A girl who could read minds, or a woman who could summon hurricanes—to normal people, they were ticking time bombs.
The government wanted to monitor them to prevent any dangerous incidents.
Ororo just sighed and picked up her fork again. She didn't look scared or angry. She just looked tired.
"We know,"
Ororo said softly.
"The Professor warned us. They follow us sometimes when we leave the school. We just pretend not to notice. We don't care anymore."
Jean nodded, her face calm. With her mind quiet, the agents' nervous thoughts didn't bother her at all.
"Let them watch,"
Jean said simply.
Sam looked at the two beautiful, strong women. They had been treated like outcasts and dangerous weapons for so long.
Sam leaned forward slightly. His deep, calm eyes held a serious, knowing light.
He thought about the Destroyer armor. He thought about Loki, and the vast, dark universe he had seen from Asgard.
"Right now, they watch you because they are afraid of what you can do,"
Sam said, his voice soft but carrying a heavy truth.
"They think humans are the top of the food chain, and you are a threat to their normal lives."
He gave them a small, reassuring smile.
"But let them be,"
Sam continued.
"The universe is much bigger than they know, and it is full of real monsters. When the sky finally opens and the true enemies arrive... everything will change."
Ororo and Jean listened closely, captivated by the absolute certainty in his voice.
"Soon,"
Sam promised them gently,
"These same people hiding in the corners won't be watching you with fear. They will be looking up at the sky, praying to God that there are more mutants on Earth to save them."
A deep silence fell over their table.
Ororo and Jean felt a powerful warmth in their chests.
Sam didn't just give them a way to control their powers; he gave them a purpose and a reason to be proud of who they were.
Sam drove the car back to his quiet mansion.
When they walked inside, Natasha was sitting at the large kitchen island.
She had a secure laptop open and a stack of S.H.I.E.L.D. files next to her.
She looked up, gave them a friendly, welcoming smile, and then went back to her typing. She was very busy keeping the world safe in her own way.
Sam led Jean and Ororo back to the training room. He kept his promise and taught them the next step.
"Now that the Qi is awake, you must guide it,"
Sam instructed. He showed them how to slowly move the warm energy from their stomachs, through their arms, and into their hands.
It took practice, but both women were incredibly talented.
By the time they successfully formed a faint, warm glow over their palms, the room had grown dark. Night had come quickly.
Jean looked out the window at the stars. Her shoulders slumped a little.
She really didn't want to go back to the loud, crowded mutant school.
"Tomorrow is the weekend,"
Jean said quietly, looking at Ororo.
"We don't have any classes."
Ororo understood how Jean felt.
She also felt a deep reluctance to leave this peaceful place.
Her own mind was calmer than it had been in years.
"I have no work left at the school for tomorrow, either,"
Ororo said gently.
"But it is late. We have taken up enough of his time today, Jean. We should not intrude on his home."
Before Sam could speak, the door opened.
Natasha walked in, holding two glasses of water. She handed them to Jean and Ororo.
"You are not intruding at all,"
Natasha said. Her voice was smooth and inviting.
"This mansion is huge, and it has too many empty guest rooms. You both should stay the night."
Jean's green eyes lit up with hope.
"Are you sure? We don't want to bother you."
"I am completely sure,"
Natasha smiled, sitting down on a cushion near them.
"I just finished reading boring reports all day. I actually want some company. I want to know more about the two beautiful women my boyfriend has been training all afternoon."
Ororo looked at Natasha. She could sense that Natasha was not just being polite.
Her invitation was genuine, but there was a sharp, intelligent light in her eyes.
"We would love to stay,"
Ororo agreed, returning the smile.
"Thank you, Natasha."
Sam stood quietly near the door, watching the three women talk.
He looked at Natasha's calm, confident face, and suddenly, he understood perfectly.
Natasha was a master spy. She never did anything without a reason.
Sam's Golden Core was a massive sun of pure Yang energy.
It was heavy and powerful, and it would keep growing.
If he didn't balance it with enough cool Yin energy, the fire would eventually hurt him.
Natasha knew she couldn't cool that fire alone.
'She is planning ahead,'
Sam thought to himself, a feeling of deep appreciation warming his chest.
Natasha wasn't just being a good host. She was evaluating them.
She wanted to talk to Jean and Ororo, to understand their hearts and their minds.
She was actively trying to help him find the right partners.
She was making sure that if they were going to be his future Dao companions, they would be strong, loyal, and worthy of sharing his immortal path.
"I will go prepare the guest rooms,"
Sam said softly, leaving the girls to talk.
As he walked down the hallway, he could hear the sound of Natasha making Jean and Ororo laugh.
His home was full of life, and his future was looking brighter than ever.
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