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"Copy that."
Pietro adjusted his goggles.
"Plan A, showtime!"
Then his World went silent; the cars, pedestrians, and birds on the street all became a near-motionless backdrop.
A silver streak shot vertically up the glass curtain wall.
In an instant he reached the ninetieth-floor window ledge.
He pulled out a micro high-frequency cutter and carved a man-sized circle.
"Entry acquired."
Pietro steadied his breathing and touched the golden collar tucked inside his jacket.
"Let the show begin."
He flickered through the window and into the hall.
A dense wave of perfume hit him.
He paid it no mind.
He spotted Lorelei in the center of the hall.
The woman stood with her back to him, apparently speaking with Tony Stark.
In this dimension where time was almost frozen, everything moved so slowly.
"Easy!"
Pietro's lips curled; the golden collar was already raised.
He turned into a silver thread, diving straight for the nape of Lorelei's neck.
Twenty meters.
Ten meters.
Five meters.
In just 0.1 seconds he could snap the collar around her throat and, like a triumphant hero, accept the applause.
Suddenly—
The instant he crossed into the five-meter radius around Lorelei—
"Bzzzz—!!!"
An invisible ripple tore through his "space-time bubble" without warning.
It was the psychic field Tony Stark had crafted for his queen!
A charm field powered by Lorelei's own bewitching magic.
The World that had been frozen in Pietro's eyes cracked.
The stretched timeline snapped.
"Wh—"
His thoughts blanked for a heartbeat.
Then a voice echoed beside his ear.
"You've been running so long—aren't you tired?"
"Rest a while, child."
The voice was as gentle as a mother's murmur, a lover's whisper.
Pietro's steps halted.
The adrenaline of speed faded, replaced by boundless warmth.
It was a happiness he had never known.
Like returning to the womb, to primordial warmth.
"Stop."
"Your beloved is here…"
Two meters from Lorelei,
Thud.
His knees buckled and he sank into the thick carpet.
The golden collar clattered to the floor, rolling to Lorelei's feet.
Lorelei showed no alarm at the sudden assault.
She rose slowly, reached out, and gently stroked Pietro's cheek.
"Did you come to bring me a gift?"
Pietro's hand trembled.
"I… I…"
He stared at the woman.
So beautiful… so regal, so perfect.
How could he harm her? How could he sully her with that ugly collar?
"Yes…"
His voice turned dreamy.
"I came… to offer my loyalty."
"Pietro! What are you doing?!"
Natasha's furious roar burst through the earpiece. "Move! Don't listen to her!"
But to Pietro now the voice was harsh, grating.
"Shut up…"
He tore the earpiece out, crushed it underfoot.
Then, on one knee, he lowered his head and kissed Lorelei's toe.
"My queen."
…Hidden in the corner, Shabby was dumbstruck.
"What the f—"
His worldview collapsed.
This was the cocky guy who bragged speed was invincible—Quicksilver?
One second? No, 0.1 seconds and he's kneeling?
"You really are fast—at running and at surrendering!" he ranted silently.
"Shabby! Get out of there!"
Natasha's voice cracked across the channel. "Pietro's compromised! He'll sell you out!"
"What?!"
Before Shabby could react,
the kneeling Pietro raised an arm and pointed straight at his hiding spot.
"My queen…" he simpered, "…there's another mouse. Spying on you over there."
"Pietro—watch out, Limar!!!"
Shabby cursed and bolted without hesitation.
"Seize him."
Lorelei waved languidly.
"A mouse should not escape."
"Friday," Tony Stark said icily, "activate maximum internal security. Lock every exit. Let's play hide-and-seek."
"Yes, boss."
A calm female voice echoed through the building.
"All gates sealed. Infrared and sonar online. Iron Legion deployed."
Clack-clack-clack—
Wall panels slid open.
Dozens of Iron Legion drones flew out, blue eyes sweeping the room.
"fuck! fuck! fuck!"
Shabby hunched low, invisible, hugging the floor as he sprinted.
They couldn't see him, infrared was useless, but sonar boxed him in.
"Whoosh—!"
A palm-cannon blast skimmed his scalp and shattered a vase.
"Shit—nearly headless!"
Cold sweat poured off him.
"Left, Shabby! East corridor!" Natasha barked. "Blind spot there!"
He tumbled into the corridor.
Meanwhile, in the hall,
Lorelei dismissed the stray mouse.
A turtle in a jar.
She turned her attention to the new arrival.
She lifted Pietro's chin, studying the young, handsome face.
"Such a pretty face."
Her fingers brushed his silver hair.
"Dear… what's your name? You seem very fast?"
Pietro looked up, eyes blazing. "Pietro, my queen. Pietro Maximoff."
"I'm the fastest man alive. I can do anything for you before you blink."
"Anything?"
Lorelei smiled, slow and knowing.
The mature allure left the rookie Pietro breathless.
"I do enjoy… a fast pace."
She turned toward the inner chambers—once Tony's bedroom.
"Come along, little one."
She glanced back, gaze smoldering.
"Let me see… just how fast you really are."
Like a puppet on strings, Pietro jumped up and hurried after her.
"Tony, don't be idle."
Lorelei paused at the door.
"Keep tuning the machine. When I return, I want to hear the World cheer."
"As you command, my queen." Tony bowed and returned to work.