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Dante was 99% sure the young man was Miles Morales. Miles stood there with a tray in his hands, looking quite awkward with that half-smile frozen on his face. Anyone would in his situation.
Gwen untangled herself from Dante and sat properly on the edge of the bed like she was the picture of innocence. Her cheeks were still flushed, but she played it cool. "Don't tell dad about it."
Miles stepped inside hesitantly and closed the door behind him with his elbow. He passed the tray over to Gwen, which was loaded with fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. "I didn't see him come through the front door. Did he—"
"You must've been zoned out." She set the tray down on the bed and slid it toward Dante with a nudge. "This is Dante. I met him, uh… through Felicia. You know, the whole... friend-of-a-friend situation."
Miles scratched his cheek, taking a second to process everything.
"Okay… cool." He extended a hand to Dante. "I'm Miles. Gwen's adopted brother… I guess. Nice to meet you, man."
Dante noticed Miles' nails were bitten down, possibly the product of stress. It made his smile look forced, like he was trying too hard to play the chill big brother. Losing his only parent must have been brutal.
Perhaps it was the prelude to his villain arc like Harry Osborn. Although he wanted to prevent it, he didn't feel right lecturing Miles, though. Gwen and him were the reason Norman had killed Miles' father.
Dante shook Miles' hand with a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you, Miles. Sorry for sneaking in. I had some… important business with Gwen."
"Business, huh?" Miles glanced at Gwen, giving her a knowing smile. "Yeah, alright. You two carry on with your 'business.' I'll head back and bake some extras for Uncle George. He's been on a sugar rush since he got out of the hospital."
Dante gave Miles a thumbs-up. "Don't worry about Gwen. I'll take good care of her."
Miles snorted, looking away from Gwen to hide his amused smile. "Shout my name if you need anything."
As soon as Miles left, Gwen pounced on him and pressed her fingers on his sides. "What the hell did you mean by 'business'? Now he'll give me funny looks for weeks."
She went for the tickle attack, but Dante was faster. He flipped the script on her and wrapped his arms around her from behind to launch a counterattack. His fingers danced along her ribs, hitting every sensitive spot until she was howling with laughter, squirming in his hold.
"Stop… god, please stop… I'm gonna die."
He eased up, still holding her close. "Why didn't you lock the door?"
"I've got nothing to hide here," Gwen said in a tiny voice. "My suit in Felicia's room. Everything else is generic science tools."
"The new suit looks good on you," he whispered. "You know, since we're like this, we might as well fuck."
"Miles will hear everything."
"I don't mind."
"You shameless freak. Get out of here!" She elbowed his ribs playfully, then she paused, glancing at the tray. "Wait, finish these cookies with me first."
***
One hour later, Dante came to the dining room of Silver Sable International and found Laura and Ava already there. Laura was quietly picking at a bowl of fruit while holding her phone, earphones plugged in both ears. Ava, on the other hand, sat with her eyes closed as though she was meditating or talking to the White Tiger God in her amulet.
One pure supporter and one pure hater of him sharing the table.
Laura took off her earphones and put her phone down on the table, then quietly patted the chair beside her.
Ava's chin went up the moment she spotted him. "Where is sis?"
"She is resting," he said, walking past her to take a seat. "She's been working hard lately, you know?"
Ava and Laura exchanged a look before both their faces flushed matching shades of red.
He didn't react, but inside he winced.
'They definitely heard everything.'
Soundproofing had limits when dealing with people like Laura and Ava. Both of them had enhanced senses.
The awkward silence stretched until the soft click of heels announced the maid's arrival. She glided in with a serving cart and placed steaming plates in front of each of them. Grilled fish, roasted veggies, rice, garlic bread, and all sorts of meat delicacies that smelled like heaven.
Having full-time staff wasn't something Dante had ever asked for, but Silvija's schedule left little room for cooking. He sure as hell wasn't going to play chef when new enemies popped up left and right.
Surprisingly, Ava stabbed her fork in salmon without glancing at him. She hadn't said a single snarky word about him using her sister or told him to go off himself somewhere. Her grievances seemed to have mellowed out with tim, or she might be too embarrassed to say anything.
Still, he couldn't eat in peace. The maid ticked his senses over and over, prompting him to glance at her.
'Do I know her?'
Her face was completely ordinary, forgettable even. But he knew he had never met her before.
'Probably an eccentric person.'
Like anyone Silvija hired could be trouble-free. Nobody around him was "normal".
He did his best to ignore her and quickly finished his meal. "I'm heading out for a bit."
Laura pushed her chair back without hesitation and followed him out.
"Where are we going?" she asked curiously. "Late night shopping date?"
"Do you want something?"
"No, I want to walk around the town with you." She reached out and held his wrist. "Like this."
He stepped into the elevator and pressed the lobby button. "How is it going with Logan?"
Laura's expression became complicated. "Haven't seen him since that night."
Logan had strangely left after saying he would join the Wild Pack. Nobody knew about his current status.
"Maybe he is tying up loose ends."
Logan did care for Laura. That much was obvious. He had no idea why Logan wouldn't stick to Laura.
Laura stared at the descending floor numbers. "I was doing fine without a father."
"Don't say that."
She shook her head, unwilling to talk about it. "Where are we going?"
"You'll know soon."
The elevator doors opened with a chime. He saw Anna on the receptionist desk. The building had officially closed an hour ago, but she was still there.
"My Angel."
She looked up. Her eyes were instantly drawn to where Laura's hand was still wrapped around his wrist. Seeing her boss's boyfriend casually holding hands with another woman had to be the weirdest thing in her life, especially when said boss had monarchy over a country.
"Don't stay too late. Boss will worry."
Dante nodded with a smile and passed by her desk.
"Horny little brat."
He paused and looked back at Anna. "Did you say something?"
Her eyes flickered in response before the calm, receptionist mask returned. She gave him a sweet smile. "Just muttering names from this spreadsheet."
"Oh." He tilted his head. "I could've sworn I heard 'horny little pervert.' Must've been my imagination."
The voice had been rougher and more confident without any resemblance to Anna. That didn't sound like Anna.
"Probably your imagination," Anna replied, turning back to her computer. "Go now. Let me work."
He narrowed his eyes. Something felt off about Anna.
"Death, keep an eye on her." He sent a thought to his always-watching cosmic lover. "I don't want her trying anything funny behind my back."
"I shall," she said in an amused voice. "The Nexus of another universe has become the center of this reality. The laws of the multiverse can be surprising, even for me."
'I don't care.'
Laura tugged at his hand and pulled him toward the exit. "Why the long face? Is she bothering you?"
"What if she is?"
She brought up her left hand and clenched it. The adamantium claws popped out. "Then Silver Sable will need a receptionist tomorrow."
He could only shake his head. Laura was, in fact, still Logan's daughter, still a weapon and an assassin raised by two different organizations. Nothing would erase that fact.
His appearance changed the moment he stepped outside. Black long coat and skull mask brought upon by his own sorcery. The illusion wasn't as strong as Death's own, but it would suffice for most things.
Without a word, he scooped Laura up in bridal-carry style and flew up. She didn't protest at all and happily wrapped her arms around his neck.
The worst thing about a world aware of superheroes and aliens—people had learned to look up. Phones came out the moment he was spotted and flashes filled the streets.
"Use your symbiote suit if you're cold."
He still remembered the last time the winter's chill had left her shivering in Massachusetts. Buying her clothes was his first positive impact on Laura.
She leaned in and affectionately nuzzled his neck. "I'll always be warm with my blazing sun."
"Don't tell me you're reading romance stories on your phone."
"Why? They are fun."
He could only shake his head. No wonder she had become unhinged and started to openly seduce him. Unrestricted internet was perhaps too much power for someone whose entire life had been controlled.
Accelerating to leave the onlookers behind, he flew over the city and the bridge. The island soon came into view, surrounded by water from all sides. He landed in the middle of what used to be Norman's research facility. The exact spot where he had first fought Laura, back when she had been here to take Logan away on SHIELD's orders.
The island was devoid of any life now.
"You don't hate me for what I did?"
"I can never." He set her down gently. "Don't disturb me."
What he was about to do might be dangerous in a populated area. Now that Silvija had moved her people away, Oscorp Island was the closest isolated area, where nobody would be in danger. Well, except for wild life.
"Hmm?" She tilted her head. "You want me to stay quiet?"
"Yes. Tell me if someone shows up."
She nodded seriously. "Got it."
"Use your phone if you're bored."
"Okay."
He sat down cross-legged on the ground and closed his eyes. The night sounds faded until there was only the slow rhythm of his own breathing. The sorcery spells from Doctor Strange's Resonance experience were still fresh on his mind. He had to focus on only a few spells tonight.
Perhaps tonight would be the night Piotr finally reunited with his sister.
***
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