After reading the data Friday had compiled, Tony Stark found himself even more curious about Lorien Su.
Someone this connected to the Avengers? And on top of that, a close friend of Banner's?
No—judging by how effective Banner's treatment had been, Banner probably thought of him as a brother.
Resting his chin in one hand, Tony considered it for a moment, then nodded to himself.
"Maybe I should meet the most skilled psychologist in the country."
"Would you like me to make an appointment, sir?" Friday asked. "Though you may need to visit in person first, as Dr. Lorien Su doesn't accept any form of telephone or online bookings."
"...?" Tony arched a brow, finding Lorien oddly intriguing.
"So there's actually someone in America with more style than me?"
"Fine. I'll make time to meet him."
...
About twenty minutes later, Lorien's Ferrari finally reached their destination—a seaside coffee and dessert shop tucked behind a stretch of forest.
Being a considerate person, Lorien parked farther out from the café. The Ferrari's engine sounded incredible, but it was also loud, and pulling up right at the entrance would feel disrespectful to the quiet atmosphere.
Wanda noticed this, quietly adding another mark to her mental list of impressions: "Knows how to respect others."
Still, once she stepped out of the car and followed Lorien inside, a flicker of regret crept in.
After leading her to a secluded seaside corner, Lorien ordered two coffees and a selection of desserts.
Wanda leaned in close to his ear and murmured, "Coming out dressed like this was my worst decision today."
She wasn't wrong. Jeans and a gray hoodie weren't exactly café chic in the U.S.
Fortunately, the country was fairly laid-back—no one was going to judge her for it. And this café, being both secluded and upscale, drew a more refined crowd.
Lorien, however, offered her a practical suggestion.
"Your magic should be able to alter the structure of matter, which means you could change the clothes you're wearing directly."
"It can do that?" Wanda thought for a moment before shaking her head. "I can't do that yet."
"That's fine. I believe you'll be able to someday."
Lorien smiled, then gave more examples.
"This world stopped being purely scientific a long time ago. I've even heard that the sorcerers at Kamar-Taj can alter how people perceive themselves. That way, even if you ran into someone you knew, they might not recognize you. I'm not sure whether that's mental magic or cognitive magic, though. Maybe you should give it a try, Miss Witch."
He went on to list a few ideas for everyday magic—cleaning up trash, making clothes look brand new, repairing broken furniture, and more.
Some of these Lorien knew for sure were possible; others he'd never seen, but he shared them all with her anyway.
Wanda's eyes lit up as she listened.
His words gave her a completely new perspective on magic.
Magic didn't have to be about destruction. It could change your outfit, tidy your home... even make everyday life easier.
Magic was incredible.
In that instant, her mind filled with ideas and experiments she wanted to try. She resolved to start testing them out that very night.
…
At the same time, some distance away, Natasha was watching Lorien and Wanda through a pair of binoculars. She used a lip-reading device to pick up and translate their conversation.
This kind of—well, "observation"—was something Natasha had done more times than she could count. She was an expert at it.
But after watching Lorien and Wanda talk for a while, her wariness toward him began to fade. She could tell—he wasn't just having casual afternoon tea with Wanda. Through small, everyday gestures, he was subtly guiding and supporting her mentally.
Magic, laughter, afternoon tea… from all the little details, and especially from the smile on Wanda's face, Natasha could see it clearly. Wanda's state of mind was improving—and fast.
After a few more moments of watching, Natasha gave a small nod of approval.
"The best psychologist in the United States… not bad~"
Of course, Lorien was on a level far beyond what she'd initially thought.
...
In the café, after their order was served, Lorien let his gaze wander around the room while chatting with Wanda. His eyes drifted—seemingly casually—right across Natasha's position, almost as if their gazes met for an instant. Then, just as quickly, it seemed to pass by.
From her vantage point, Natasha felt a sudden jolt—like the feeling of sneaking into a women's bathhouse only to realize someone's staring right at you.
Of course, in reality, she couldn't sneak in. And there was no such bathhouse here. But the sensation was the same.
"Coincidence?"
She peered at Lorien through the binoculars, studying him closely. At this distance, there was no way he should have spotted her.
Then she saw Wanda laugh brightly at something he said, and her tension eased.
"Just a coincidence."
But in truth, it wasn't. Lorien simply had no intention of revealing his abilities to the superheroes so soon—at least not until he had won over either Gwen or Wanda.
Ahem… and no, that didn't count as kidnapping.