Chapter 68: As The World Turns Wanda Is The Center Of It
The glow of the holographic interface bathed Talia's lab in a cool blue light as the Extremis Virus files flickered on the central display. Wanda Maximoff stood close, her arms crossed, her crimson aura faintly shimmering as she studied the intricate molecular diagrams. Natasha Romanoff leaned casually against a nearby console, her sharp green eyes darting between Talia and Wanda. The energy in the room was a blend of focus and tension, underscored by the hum of Stark Tower's advanced systems.
Talia Stark, ever confident, tapped at the holograms with ease. "Alright, the overheating issue is solved," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of pride and determination. "The Extremis Virus is moving into the next phase—testing and production."
Wanda tilted her head slightly. "You make it sound so simple."
"It is," Talia replied, her trademark smirk firmly in place. "Once you understand the science, it's just a matter of turning fiction into fact."
Wanda arched an eyebrow. "Turning people into living bombs doesn't seem like a simple problem to fix."
"It's not," Talia said, glancing over her shoulder at Wanda. "But I'm a Stark. We're good at fixing things."
Natasha couldn't resist a grin. "Modest, aren't you?"
Talia shrugged. "What's the point of being brilliant if you don't remind people every now and then?"
"Every now and then?" Wanda said dryly. "I've known you for less than a day, and it's already exhausting."
Talia laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You'll get used to it. People always do."
As the banter settled, Talia's expression grew more serious. "Jarvis, start compiling potential test parameters for the Extremis Virus. We'll need simulations before we move to live trials."
"Understood, Miss Stark," Jarvis replied smoothly. "Compiling now."
Natasha straightened, her arms crossed. "You've thought this through."
"Of course I have," Talia replied. "This isn't just about fixing Fracture's weaknesses or enhancing your abilities. It's about creating something that could change everything—healing, strength, longevity. Imagine what the Extremis Virus could do for humanity."
"Or what it could do in the wrong hands," Wanda said pointedly.
Talia's expression hardened, her confidence momentarily replaced by a flicker of unease. "Which is why I'm keeping this locked down. No one outside this room knows I'm working on this."
"Are you sure about that?" Wanda asked, her tone sharp. "Because I've seen your weapons in places they don't belong."
Talia's jaw tightened. "I told you, I didn't authorize that."
"And I believe you," Wanda said softly. "But that doesn't mean someone else isn't pulling strings behind your back."
Talia exhaled, her frustration evident. "If there's someone at Stark Enterprises rerouting weapons, they'd have to be in logistics or shipping. Someone with access to manifests and delivery routes."
Natasha, ever the spy, leaned forward slightly. "Do you have anyone in mind?"
Talia hesitated, her mind racing. "There's a manager in shipping—Franklin Moss. He's been with the company for years, handles a lot of the international freight. Nothing's ever seemed off about him, but... I'll admit, I haven't been watching him closely. That's Stane's department."
"Then it's worth looking into," Wanda said firmly.
Talia nodded. "I'll have Jarvis pull his records. But for now, we focus on Extremis."
"Agreed," Natasha said, though her sharp eyes lingered on Talia for a moment longer.
As Talia returned to her work, Natasha found her thoughts drifting. She couldn't shake the feeling that this project was just the beginning of something far bigger than any of them realized. And then there was Wanda—strong, determined, and utterly captivating. Natasha had always admired strength, but with Wanda, it was different.
How did this happen? Natasha thought, her gaze flicking to Wanda. I've spent my life looking for strength and loyalty in men, and now I'm falling for a woman who embodies everything I thought I wanted—and so much more.
The realization left Natasha momentarily breathless. She had always prided herself on control, on keeping her emotions in check. But with Wanda, it was different. There was a vulnerability in her feelings, a sense that she had found something she didn't even know she was searching for.
Wanda, seemingly unaware of Natasha's turmoil, was focused on the holograms, her crimson aura glowing faintly as she absorbed Talia's explanations. There was a calm intensity about her, a quiet power that drew people in. Natasha couldn't help but wonder if Wanda even realized how magnetic she was.
Meanwhile, Talia's thoughts were taking a similar turn. As she worked, she found herself glancing at Wanda, her mind grappling with an unfamiliar sense of admiration. Wanda wasn't just powerful—she was accomplished, independent, and unshakably determined. For someone younger than herself, Wanda had already achieved more than most people could dream of.
"She's impressive, isn't she?" Natasha's voice broke through Talia's thoughts, her tone light but edged with something unreadable.
Talia glanced at Natasha, her smirk returning. "You could say that. I don't usually meet people who can keep up with me."
Natasha arched an eyebrow. "And you think Wanda can?"
"Oh, absolutely," Talia said, her gaze flicking back to Wanda. "She's something else."
Wanda, catching the tail end of their conversation, looked up. "What are you two whispering about?"
"Just agreeing on how insufferable you are," Natasha said with a smirk.
Wanda rolled her eyes. "Of course you are."
Fracture, lounging nearby, decided to chime in. **"Don't worry, Wanda. I've got your back. These two are clearly just jealous."**
Natasha snorted. "Jealous? Of what?"
**"Of me,"** Fracture replied smoothly. **"I mean, who wouldn't want to be bonded to the most amazing symbiote in existence?"**
"Please," Talia said, rolling her eyes. "If you're so amazing, how come you still have weaknesses?"
Fracture tilted her head, her tendrils rippling with mock indignation. **"Maybe because I've been too busy saving Wanda's life to focus on self-improvement."**
"Touché," Talia muttered, though her grin betrayed her amusement.
The room fell into a comfortable rhythm as the three women continued their work. Talia outlined the next steps for moving Extremis into testing, Wanda offered insights based on her experiences with Fracture, and Natasha provided tactical feedback that only someone with her background could.
But beneath the surface, there was something else—a sense of connection that was growing stronger with every passing moment. Wanda's determination, Talia's brilliance, and Natasha's quiet strength formed a dynamic that none of them fully understood yet.
And as the lab buzzed with energy, they all knew one thing for certain: whatever came next, Wanda would be at the center of it. Just like she was growing to be the center of their world.
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