At the top of the northern building in Manhattan, two people faced each other through the glass.
Because Lorien lived here, the top-floor windows had been specially remodeled. Normally, they were floor-to-ceiling panes, but made from three sections of reinforced glass stacked vertically. The middle section could be opened and slid to the side.
Looking at Gwen’s face and her flowing blonde hair, Lorien reached out and pushed open the glass before him.
A gust of wind swept into the room. Gwen, still hanging upside down in midair, was pushed toward Lorien by the rush of air.
The two drifted closer and closer, until they could feel each other’s breath.
With the wind’s final push, the last bit of distance vanished. Gwen closed her eyes.
She pressed against Lorien. First, it was just that—a soft press. Then, their lips met. Gwen was upside down, Lorien standing upright, and the two were kissing in a way no ordinary human would ever imagine.
And it was happening hundreds of meters above the ground—an unprecedented feat in human history, one likely never to be repeated.
But that didn’t matter now.
They kissed for as long as the wind blew. And when the breeze finally eased, they slowly parted.
Gwen’s face was flushed, her eyes shimmering like water.
Lorien conjured another cup of milk tea from thin air and smiled.
"Come in for a drink?"
Gwen eagerly took the milk tea, twisted her waist, and flipped inside.
As Lorien closed the window, still marveling at her figure from just moments ago, Gwen had already made her way to the wine rack, eyes alight with anticipation, and declared firmly...
"Don’t be ridiculous." Lorien sat down in a chair, set out some snacks and desserts, and said, "You can drink when you’re an adult."
Gwen browsed the wine rack, deliberately picking out the strongest bottle she could find and hugging it to her chest. She grabbed two large wine glasses, winked at Lorien, and said, "I turned eighteen just last month."
So she really could drink now. Google seaʀᴄh Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
He thought about it—Gwen was in her final year of high school, only half a semester away from graduation and college. At that age... she was legally an adult. She wasn’t lying.
But Lorien also caught the unspoken meaning behind her words.
I’m an adult now. Legally, I can drink... and legally, I can also...
He watched as Gwen eagerly set the two glasses on the table, uncorked the six-figure bottle without hesitation, and began pouring.
It didn’t matter—Lorien never cared about money anyway.
Still... his gaze drifted over her Spider-Gwen suit.
"You planning to keep wearing that?" he asked.
"Of course." Gwen set the bottle aside, took her seat, and explained, "I came here right after stopping the Lizard’s genetic modification plan. I didn’t even go home!"
"So I don’t exactly have a change of clothes. This’ll have to do."
Without asking anything further, she lifted her glass toward him.
Lorien sighed, picking up his own glass. But he still made sure to warn her.
"You sure about this? That’s the strongest drink on my shelf. Don’t go turning into a drunk spider."
Gwen gave him a knowing look, then pretended to check the bottle. "No label."
"No label means no alcohol content!"
Their glasses clinked, and Lorien took a steady gulp—nearly half the glass in one go.
When he looked up, Gwen had downed almost all of hers in one massive swallow.
Any true wine lover would have cried at the sight. But to Lorien and Gwen, it was just a prop. The price didn’t matter.
"Ha~~~" Gwen set her glass down with a sharp clack, then stuck out her tongue at him, fanning her mouth from the burn.
Lorien couldn’t help but laugh.
Gwen glanced at his glass. "Why are you drinking so little? Don’t you feel the burn?"
"You get used to it," Lorien replied, taking another slow sip. "Wine’s meant to be enjoyed slowly, in small sips. Only beer is for big gulps."
Gwen ignored the advice, refilled her own glass, then topped off his.
"Then next time, let’s try beer."
And so, they drank and chatted, both a little tipsy.
"Lorien, what’s that mech? I’m curious~" Gwen asked, her breath warm with the scent of wine.
"Transformers," Lorien answered, the alcohol giving his voice a faint looseness. "I’ll introduce you next time. They have life and souls, and can switch between supercars and Transformers."
"Wow~" Gwen’s eyes sparkled.
She slid her chair closer, wine glass in hand, and continued, "Lorien, you’re not an ordinary person, are you? Everything you’ve taught me—you’ve actually lived it yourself."
"I get it now. I’ll be like you—a free superhero. Life is my main job, and being a superhero is just a side job!"
Lorien looked at her flushed face and raised glass but didn’t bother correcting her.
"That’s right," he said simply.
And in that drunken haze, the air between them grew warmer and warmer...
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