Black Widow's voice carried a mix of curiosity and caution. Her gaze lingered on the strange object in Zenkichi's hand. The token radiated an otherworldly aura, drawing her in with an almost irresistible pull. For a moment, she had the urge to snatch it and claim it for herself — but she forced the feeling down. She wasn't an ordinary civilian who could be swayed so easily.
"This," Zenkichi said, holding the token out toward her, "is a protection charm. Keep it on you and, if your life is in danger, it will shield you. When it activates, I'll know immediately, and I'll come to you. Considering what happened earlier had something to do with me… think of this as my compensation." Orıginal content can be found at 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱
Black Widow stared at it for a moment, then gave a small nod. "That works for me."
She wasn't the type to hesitate when it came to her own survival. Without another word, she reached out and took the token, feeling the faint hum of power in her palm.
"Let's move," Zenkichi said.
Without further discussion, he grabbed her and launched into the air. They streaked across the cityscape, the rush of wind cutting through the moment. Black Widow's stomach churned violently, her body struggling to endure the sudden burst of speed. By the time they landed at the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, she staggered to the side and nearly collapsed.
She doubled over, retching. "That… was not… pleasant…"
Zenkichi looked at her flatly. "You should work on your conditioning."
She didn't bother replying, too focused on keeping her breakfast where it belonged.
The word was soft, but the power behind it was immediate. Zenkichi extended a finger toward her, releasing a controlled stream of energy. It flowed into her body, warm and tingling, spreading from head to toe.
Black Widow straightened slightly, her eyes widening. "Ah—" A soft gasp escaped her lips as the nausea evaporated, replaced by a soothing comfort that almost made her shiver.
"What… did you just do?" she asked, still taken aback. "Not only is my nausea gone, but—" She stopped herself, hesitating. The truth was, she could feel old injuries — the kind she'd long since adapted to — fading away. Even the faintest aches from years of fieldwork were gone.
"Just some healing," Zenkichi said casually, as if it were nothing worth mentioning.
"You're a miracle worker," she said, still in awe.
"I've heard that before," Zenkichi replied with a faint smirk. "Not that I'm interested in the title."
"Who told you that?" she asked curiously.
Her lips curved into a faint smile. "That makes sense. Come on, they're probably waiting for us."
Now free from the earlier discomfort, she fell into step beside him. The two entered the sleek halls of S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, their footsteps echoing in unison.
Inside a large conference room, an impressive gathering of agents and figures had assembled. But what caught Zenkichi's attention immediately was the towering figure standing quietly in the corner.
It was almost surreal seeing the green behemoth here — calm, composed, and not tearing the place apart. The fact that S.H.I.E.L.D. had managed to bring him in was… remarkable.
From across the room, Nick Fury's voice cut through the air. "Be gentle next time. Those cars you crushed aren't cheap."