Ten minutes later.
On the large bed.
Reze and Perona lay back-to-back, looking like two salted fish competing on a cutting board. Each clung tightly to their respective edge of the bed, leaving a gap in the middle so wide that not only could one person sleep there, but with a little squeezing, four Su Modies could probably lie side-by-side.
Sigh... In the darkness, the two sighed simultaneously in a rare moment of unspoken agreement.
Back in that small apartment in Queens, although they were packed in like sardines in a tin, at least everyone could hold the soft main body, falling asleep with the pleasant fragrance of a young girl lingering around Su Modie's nose.
With Su Modie acting as a "buffer zone" in the middle, they even felt that each other's sour faces weren't quite so annoying.
But now... though the mansion was nice, it was empty behind them, and their hearts felt even colder.
"If only... there could be four Su Modies."
This ridiculous thought flashed through both of their minds almost at the same time.
If there were four Su Modies, they could each have one, no need to fight or grab... but in the next second, they rejected the thought themselves.
No.
Even if there really were four Su Modies.
By that time, the first thing they would want to do would definitely be to snatch all four Su Modies for themselves.
Claim every single one of them!
Greed, after all, is a virtue of wicked women.
On the other side, as the door lock clicked into place, the World seemed to be divided in half.
Unlike the low pressure in the other bedroom, the air in the Master bedroom was so thick it seemed as if it could be drawn into threads.
Only a dim yellow night light by the bed was on, casting an ambiguous glow over the deep gray silk sheets.
Makima was in no hurry to crawl under the covers.
She stepped barefoot onto the wool carpet, her back to Su Modie.
The black silk camisole nightgown slid down her smooth spine, bunching at her waist.
Revealing a large expanse of skin as white as jade, which shimmered with an ivory-like delicate luster under the light.
I'm licking.
"Master."
Makima turned around, her golden ringed eyes appearing exceptionally deep in the shadows. She looked at Su Modie, who was still wearing bear-patterned pajamas, and tilted her head slightly, her tone carrying a hint of casual seduction.
"Wearing these kinds of cotton pajamas, you won't sleep well."
"Eh?"
Su Modie had never heard such crooked logic from Makima and subconsciously pulled her collar tight.
"Wait... are you saying the re-reward actually includes this?"
Makima stepped closer slowly, her fingertips gently picking up a strand of Su Modie's damp hair and tucking it behind her ear.
Her fingertips were slightly cool, and when they touched Su Modie's burning earlobe, they triggered a series of fine shivers.
"It's only for Master to have a more comfortable sleep..."
Her voice was as gentle as if she were coaxing an ignorant child, yet also like the serpent in the Garden of Eden whispering: "In this room, between you and me, there is no need for any barriers. I want to feel Master's body temperature, heartbeat... and everything about Master."
The Serpent of Eden
Su Modie was slightly dazed.
She pursed her thin lips and remained silent for a moment, but in the end, like Eve unable to resist the forbidden fruit, she nodded.
"O-okay then."
After the sound of rustling.
Two warm bodies slid into the fluffy, soft down duvet.
The moment their skin touched, Su Modie's whole body tensed up, and her breathing hitched for half a beat.
The sensation was too vivid, too stimulating.
Then, she was pulled into an embrace that smelled of red wine.
Makima didn't do anything excessive; she just lay on her side, extending her long arms to circle Su Modie in her arms like a mother doting on her child.
Su Modie's cheek was pressed tightly against Makima's soft chest, and in her ear was the steady and powerful sound of her heartbeat.
Thump, thump, thump.
It was an incredibly reassuring rhythm, perfectly in sync with Su Modie's own frequency.
"My Master." Makima's chin rested gently on the top of Su Modie's head, one hand slowly stroking down Su Modie's snow-white back, over and over, with a certain intoxicating rhythm.
"Don't be nervous, please relax a little..."
"Mhm..."
Su Modie's voice was muffled, carrying a hint of bashfulness.
Makima gave a light laugh and tightened her arms, pulling the little person in her embrace a bit closer.
"The wind and rain outside... as long as I am by your side, you don't need to worry about anything."
"Mhm..."
Su Modie responded softly, feeling an unprecedented sense of peace.
Because she knew that Makima was doing exactly that.
Drowsiness gradually set in, and as Su Modie drifted off, Makima's cool red lips lightly pressed against her forehead.
"I will block everything for you... so, give your all, completely to me."
"..."
"Mhm..."
...
zzzzzz
The next day.
The first ray of morning sunlight passed through the floor-to-ceiling window, spilling onto the messy deep gray sheets.
Su Modie opened her eyes groggily, a faint cool fragrance still lingering at the tip of her nose.
The spot beside her was already empty; only a slight residual warmth proved that last night wasn't just a dream.
"Are you awake, Master?"
The bathroom door opened, and Makima had already changed into a sharp outfit.
Her signature white shirt was buttoned all the way to the top.
Black trousers accentuated her straight, long legs, and she wore a slim-fit long trench coat over them.
Even with such a simple professional outfit, she exuded an ascetic beauty that made people afraid to look directly at her.
She looks like a good woman at first glance.
Especially when thinking of the warm and soft sensation from last night... Su Modie's face turned red. Luckily she was a girl now, otherwise her phantom limb would probably have pitched a small tent.
"Breakfast has been prepared; it's strawberry jam toast and coffee. Additionally..."
Makima walked to the dressing table, picked up a small contact lens case, and turned to look at Su Modie with a hint of inquiry in her eyes: "According to the plan, I have to report to S.H.I.E.L.D. today."
"To avoid unnecessary trouble, do these eyes need to be covered?"
Makima pointed to her own eerie ringed eyes.
No matter how you looked at them, they didn't seem like a physiological structure a normal human could have.
Su Modie nodded and sat up while rubbing her still somewhat sore waist.
"Yes, put them on. The light green pair suits you better; it'll make you look like you're of mixed race."
...An hour later, a black Chevrolet Suburban drove steadily on the highway leading to Washington, D.C.
In the driver's seat was Agent Sitwell.
In the back seat, Makima was admiring the scenery flying past the window together with Su Modie back at the apartment.
At the same time, she was also calculating things regarding S.H.I.E.L.D.
Just before departing, Makima had Sitwell hand over a file marked "Top Secret" to S.H.I.E.L.D.
The contents of the file were simple.
The distribution of The Hand's strongholds in New York, and... the burial site of the Dragon Bone.
It sounded as if Su Modie had gone crazy, handing over hard-won intelligence and treasure to S.H.I.E.L.D. on a silver platter, but this was actually an open scheme... their plan to Drive the tiger to swallow the wolf.
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