The Indian Ocean shimmered beneath the morning sun, endless blue stretching in every direction. High above, a fighter jet sliced through the clouds, its engines roaring as it carried its precious cargo toward the unfolding crisis below. Inside the aircraft, Rumlow, captain of the special warfare squad, briefed his team and the legendary Captain America, Steve Rogers.
"The Lemurian Star, a S.H.I.E.L.D. warship equipped with a mobile satellite launch platform, has been hijacked by pirates," Rumlow explained, his tone grave. "They're demanding a ransom of one and a half billion dollars. There are twenty-five pirates in total, led by George Batroc, the world's most wanted mercenary. He's infamous for his ferocity and cruelty."
Steve nodded, his eyes sharp. "Hostages?"
"Most are technicians. There's an officer, Jasper Sitwell, and they've locked everyone in the kitchen."
Steve's mind was already working through the plan. "I'll take Batroc. Natasha, you—"
Before he could finish, a new voice interrupted, smooth and unmistakably familiar. "Natasha doesn't need you to tell her what to do."
The sudden intrusion startled Rumlow and his team. Instinctively, they drew their weapons, turning to face the newcomer who had appeared silently behind them.
Natasha Romanoff stepped forward, a smile tugging at her lips. "You're here? I thought you weren't coming."
"How could I not?" Su Zhan replied, his eyes warm as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. He turned to Rumlow and the others, his tone light but edged with warning. "You'd better put those guns away. I'm not particularly fond of having weapons pointed at me."
Steve quickly signaled for everyone to lower their weapons. He turned to Su Zhan, relief and gratitude in his expression. "Are you here to help?"
Su Zhan nodded. "Of course."
"That's great," Steve said, his confidence bolstered by Su Zhan's presence. He knew Su Zhan was here for Natasha, but with his help, the mission would be much easier. "Natasha and I will shut down the ship's power system. I'll leave the rest to you."
Steve picked up his shield and moved to the hatch, preparing to jump straight into action. But Su Zhan stopped him with a wave. "Wait, let me introduce you to someone."
Steve looked over in confusion as Su Zhan gestured toward the open sky. A figure appeared, wings spread wide as he soared effortlessly through the air. Steve's eyes widened in recognition.
"Is that… Sam?" Steve asked, astonished.
Su Zhan grinned. "He's the Falcon now."
Sam swooped closer, calling out, "Captain, let me give you a lift!" Steve nodded, leaping from the hatch. Sam caught him mid-air, and together they sped toward the Lemurian Star.
Natasha watched them go, then turned to Su Zhan with a smile. "It looks like you've found a good helper."
Su Zhan shook his head, his eyes twinkling. "No, it's two good helpers. And you—after this mission, will you join the War Alliance?"
Natasha's smile faded, and she shook her head. "You know I want to be by your side, but if I suddenly leave S.H.I.E.L.D., it will draw too much attention. Besides, S.H.I.E.L.D. is Fury's domain. There are things even he can't control."
Su Zhan's expression softened. "It's alright. It won't be long before you're wearing the War Alliance insignia."
As if to prove his point, his battle suit materialized around him, and in the blink of an eye, he and Natasha vanished from the jet. The next instant, they reappeared in the control room of the Lemurian Star.
Natasha stood in stunned silence, her mind struggling to catch up with the sudden shift. Su Zhan's voice pulled her back to reality. "Do you know what I'm thinking?" he asked, his tone playful.
Natasha shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. "What are you thinking?"
Su Zhan looked around, his eyes glinting with mischief. "This ship is impressive. It's S.H.I.E.L.D.'s pride, after all. I bet there are some very luxurious rooms on board."
Natasha rolled her eyes, but her lips curved in amusement. "As tempting as that sounds, let me finish the mission first, alright?"
"Of course," Su Zhan replied, though his gaze lingered on her, admiration clear in his eyes.
Natasha quickly shut down the ship's power source, and the Lemurian Star slowed to a halt. She pulled out a device and began copying crucial data, her focus unwavering. Su Zhan wandered the control room, glancing around with mild interest, but his attention kept drifting back to Natasha.
Her figure was striking, the curve of her back accentuated by the tight battle suit she wore. Su Zhan could not resist reaching out, his hand resting lightly on her waist. Natasha glanced back, giving him a warning look, but she did not pull away.
Emboldened by her acceptance, Su Zhan let his hand linger. Natasha shook her head, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "Oh, don't… Don't start. Can't you wait?" she whispered, her voice a mixture of exasperation and affection.
"I can't help it. You're too beautiful," Su Zhan replied, his tone sincere.
Natasha snorted, but she could not hide the smile in her eyes. She leaned in and kissed him, then returned to her work.
"Are you done?" Su Zhan asked after a moment.
Natasha nodded. "Yes. Now you can do whatever you want."
Su Zhan looked around, then shook his head. "Actually, I don't think here is the right place. There's not enough time, and I'd rather not rush."
With a smile, he wrapped his arms around Natasha, and in the next instant, they appeared in her apartment. Natasha gasped in surprise, but before she could say a word, Su Zhan swept her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. There, he let his passion take over, and Natasha surrendered to the moment, all thoughts of the mission forgotten.
Meanwhile, on the Lemurian Star, Steve Rogers delivered a powerful punch, sending George Batroc sprawling to the deck. Falcon, Sam Wilson, joined him, and together they made their way to the kitchen, where the special warfare squad had already rescued the hostages.
Steve glanced around, searching for Natasha and Su Zhan, but found no sign of them. He smiled knowingly, turning to Sam. "Looks like they've already left. I guess Su Zhan really did come to pick up his girl."
Sam grinned, his wings unfolding as he prepared to take off. "The mission's over. Time to head back."
Steve called after him, "Where are you going? Want to join S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
Sam shook his head, a proud smile on his face. "I've already joined the War Alliance!" With that, he soared into the sky, leaving Steve to watch with admiration.