In a mansion near downtown Manhattan, a massive truck was unloading boxes and furniture at high speed.
"So this is where you're living now?" Gwen asked, eyeing the modern, sleek façade.
"Yeah, I've got a lot of money" Leonardo replied matter-of-factly.
Gwen looked at him in silence, as if waiting for him to elaborate.
"I've become pretty popular, you know? My work sells for tens of millions."
Gwen's eyes widened in surprise.
"You sell them?"
"Of course I do. That's how I make a living" Leonardo said with a carefree smile.
They spent the afternoon among boxes and furniture, getting everything in place. Gwen, thanks to her strength, carried most of it effortlessly. When they were done, they collapsed onto the sofa in the main living room, in front of a massive TV broadcasting the news.
Images flashed by at dizzying speed. People were slowly starting to return to their homes in Manhattan, and the news praised the Avengers as the heroes of the moment.
Even though the city was still nearly empty, footage of the battle had been leaked. Leonardo suspected the government itself was behind it. Showing the world that your nation had powerful superheroes could be a valuable geopolitical tool—especially now that several countries were demanding explanations about what had happened.
There was talk that the United States couldn't protect its citizens, that its defenses were vulnerable… theories likely fueled by foreign interests. In that light, the move to showcase power wasn't just propaganda—it was preventive defense.
But the footage revealed more than intended. HYDRA agents were identified collaborating with the alien invaders. The scandal was so great that the president himself had to hold a press conference.
He claimed they were agents under mind control, and that S.H.I.E.L.D. had already acted. Thus, the government officially acknowledged the organization's existence. After eliminating HYDRA, the World Security Council was forced to relent: S.H.I.E.L.D. became an independent entity, free from political restrictions.
Thanks largely to Wanda's influence, S.H.I.E.L.D. was now a kind of country without borders.
Uncomfortable with that autonomy, the government tried to limit its power by making them public, hoping global opinion would act as a form of pressure. But S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't seem to care. Now that they had freedom and power, they would only face problems if they made serious mistakes. Something they didn't plan to do—at least for now.
Meanwhile, Wanda became a public figure. The media recognized her as an Avenger, something she hadn't expected—but she didn't reject it either.
The internet was flooded with theories about what would happen to Cull Obsidian's body. Some claimed they'd try to create super soldiers with his blood, others speculated about contacting more aliens. But since there was no evidence or concrete progress, the topic faded as quickly as it had appeared.
The first contact with alien life changed the collective mindset. Many felt fear upon realizing the world wasn't as predictable as they'd believed. But admiration for the heroes also grew. Some even dreamed of becoming one.
The superhero culture exploded—movies, comics, toys… everything became even more popular. It was no longer just fantasy; it was aspiration.
Leonardo was silently reflecting when Gwen, watching him from the corner of her eye, broke the moment.
"What are you thinking about?"
"About how everything changed… and how it will keep changing" he replied, eyes fixed on the screen.
"Will things like that happen again?" Gwen asked, a little uneasy.
"Yes" Leonardo admitted. "But more heroes will rise to face them."
The smile that accompanied his words managed to calm her. Gwen leaned closer and nestled against him.
Later, as she was about to leave, Leonardo offered to give her a tour of the house. Gwen accepted with a smile. The tour ended in his bedroom.
---
~ S.H.I.E.L.D. Base ~
In a temporary S.H.I.E.L.D. base, Nick Fury sat behind a makeshift desk. Used to his place aboard the Helicarrier, this improvised corner felt uncomfortable—but he tolerated it while a new base was being built. A task that would take months, even with their technology.
"So far, 78,000 new members have joined S.H.I.E.L.D." Hill reported. "All former HYDRA agents. They revealed full information before joining."
Fury didn't respond immediately. He remembered what Natasha had told him: Wanda had made all remaining HYDRA operatives switch allegiance. Every single one of them.
Even a member of the World Council, once opposed to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s return, turned out to be part of HYDRA. His position wasn't especially strategic—but it was revealing.
It didn't matter whether they were grunts or key figures—Wanda had reached them all.
That kind of power was hard to fathom. Even with the help of the scepter, doing it required skill, precision, and unwavering will.
When they asked Loki if such a feat was possible for him, he said yes. But Fury, an expert in reading people, knew instantly he was lying.
Power like that demanded oversight. But when they proposed watching Wanda, Natasha refused outright. She said she'd take care of her herself. Even when offered a position at S.H.I.E.L.D., Natasha declined, saying she'd respect Wanda's decision.
"That means the rest of HYDRA's agents will probably join in the coming days" Hill concluded.
"Are you sure it'll be all of them?" Fury asked.
Even if the odds were high, he never ignored the margin of uncertainty.
"Yes" Hill said firmly. "Unless we're talking about an AI or someone without a mind, the chances of anyone being left out are minimal."
"I see… And what about the cube and the scepter? Any news?"
"Nothing. Not only do they not know what happened—they have no leads. It's as if everything just vanished from their memory."
"Mental interference" Fury muttered, frowning. "Who could pull off something like that…?"
But no matter how hard he thought, he found no answer.
---
~ Natasha's House ~
Pietro paced back and forth, complaining to his sister.
"How is this possible? You said you were going out for a bit and suddenly you're an Avenger."
Wanda smiled mischievously.
"It's not my fault. It was my destiny."
Pietro eyed her with suspicion.
"So it was that Laplace guy… Did he give you powers? Can he do the same for me?"
Though his words sounded jealous, he was really just worried. When he saw Wanda fighting on TV, he didn't feel envy—he felt fear for her. Learning she had joined the Avengers only heightened his anxiety.
He tried to convince her to walk away, but she simply said it was necessary to help others.
Unable to dissuade her, he at least wanted to join her. But without powers, he was helpless.
Wanda knew that. So, she tried to reassure him.
"It's okay. We can ask Laplace next time. Maybe he can give you powers."
Pietro lit up instantly.
Still, deep down, Wanda hoped it wouldn't happen. She didn't want her brother dragged into such a dangerous world.
They both shared the same fear: losing each other.
"What are you two talking about?" a voice interrupted behind them.
They both turned around.
"Sister! You're back."
"Was the job tough?" they asked in unison.
"Nothing too crazy. Just answered a few questions. Technically, I'm still on vacation" Natasha replied with a smile.
In the past few months, she'd grown to appreciate the company of the Maximoff twins. To her, they were family.
When Fury proposed placing Wanda under surveillance, Natasha opposed it without hesitation. In her mind, she had already made a decision: if they insisted, she would leave S.H.I.E.L.D.
She thought back to the first time she'd asked Leonardo for help… and realized it had all been part of his plan. But she didn't resent him for it. He'd helped her find a family.
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+20 chapters in advance on Patreon.
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(just delete the hyphen)
80 power stones = 1 extra chapter (cumulative)