Jessica's image faded from the fighting field, and Su Zhan let himself drift into a deep, restorative sleep. When morning arrived, he woke refreshed and immediately teleported to Skye's room. She was still asleep, her hair tousled across the pillow. Without hesitation, Su Zhan slipped under the covers beside her, wrapping an arm gently around her waist.
Feeling the warmth, Skye stirred, her eyes fluttering open in confusion. "Mmm…?" she murmured, only half awake.
"Don't think too much. Go back to sleep. We'll talk when you wake up," Su Zhan whispered with a soft chuckle, pulling her closer.
Skye smiled sleepily and nestled into his chest, comforted by his familiar presence. Within moments, she had drifted back into a peaceful slumber, her breathing slow and steady.
An hour later, Skye woke again, this time fully alert. She blinked at Su Zhan, a playful glint in her eyes. "You just show up out of nowhere now? Is that a new power?"
He grinned, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "It is. I've mastered a new ability—control over time and space. It's pretty impressive, if I do say so myself."
Skye laughed, but before she could tease him further, Su Zhan's hands wandered, and soon enough, the two were tangled together in a different kind of morning exercise. When they finally finished, Skye lay beside him, catching her breath and remembering the questions she had wanted to ask.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a hesitant knock sounded at the door. Simmons' voice came through, uncertain but insistent. "Skye, are you awake? If you are, come out. There's a mission. Um… is Su Zhan with you? If so, come out together. This one's a bit tricky…"
Skye's face turned bright red. She glanced at Su Zhan, mortified. "She must have heard us…"
"If she did, she did," Su Zhan replied with a relaxed smile, clearly unconcerned.
Skye gave him a gentle shove, then hurried to find clothes for both of them. They dressed quickly, and Su Zhan squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I know you have questions. Let's wait until after the mission, alright?"
She nodded, still a little embarrassed, and opened the door.
Outside, Simmons stood awkwardly, her cheeks flushed. She looked as though she wanted to say something to Su Zhan, but when she saw Skye emerge behind him, she hesitated and fell silent.
"I'll go see what the mission is," Skye said with a smile, sensing that Simmons wanted a moment alone with Su Zhan. She slipped away, leaving the two in the hallway.
For a moment, Simmons struggled to find her words. Su Zhan broke the silence with a gentle smile. "I haven't been back long. I got a new ability and just teleported in."
Simmons huffed, her tone half teasing, half exasperated. "How did you know what I was going to ask?"
He tapped his temple, grinning. "Mind reading. It's a very practical power. Not only do I know what you were about to say, but I know what you're thinking right now…"
"Don't—don't say it!" Simmons blurted, reaching out to cover his mouth, her embarrassment clear. She knew exactly what thoughts he meant.
Su Zhan caught her hand and gently lowered it. "I won't say it, but you don't have to be so nervous. I know what you're feeling. I always thought something might happen between us, but let's let things develop naturally. For now, let's focus on the mission."
He turned to leave, but Simmons hurried after him. "Wait—who is Lorelei?"
Su Zhan paused just as they reached Coulson and the others. Simmons' question caught Coulson's attention, and he looked at Su Zhan with curiosity. "You already know who our target is?"
Su Zhan nodded. "Lorelei is from Asgard. Like most women of the royal palace, she has triple the body density of a human, superhuman strength and endurance, a long lifespan, and immunity to disease. But what makes her truly dangerous is her unique ability: with just her voice, she can control almost any man, god, or mortal, bending them to her will. She also knows some basic magic. She's not someone to take lightly."
He glanced at the team, his tone serious. "Lorelei's power is overwhelming. No man can resist her, no matter how strong their will. She's caused chaos in the past, even toppling entire nations before she was finally imprisoned in Asgard. During the dark elf invasion, the prison was destroyed, and she escaped to Earth."
Simmons and Coulson exchanged uneasy glances. "Is her power really that strong?" Coulson asked, skeptical.
Su Zhan nodded firmly. "It's not about willpower. If you're a man, you're vulnerable. That's why I recommend you don't participate in this mission. If she gets control of you, it'll be a disaster."
"What about you?" Skye asked, stepping up beside him.
He smiled, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Honestly, I'm not sure I can resist her either. I'll see how it goes. If it looks bad, I'll pull out of the mission."
Melinda May shrugged, rolling her wrist. "Men. You really can't help yourselves."
The group shared a tense laugh, but the gravity of the mission was clear. Lorelei would not be an easy foe, and the risk she posed was unlike anything they had faced before.
With the team assembled, Su Zhan led the way, his mind already working through strategies. He was determined to protect his friends—and to see for himself just how powerful Lorelei truly was.