Morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting warm patches of light across the bedroom floor.
Xiao Han slowly opened his eyes. His golden pupils contracted slightly in the morning glow as he absorbed the comforting warmth.
Turning his head, he looked at the person beside him.
Wanda was still asleep. Her crimson hair was scattered across the pillow, her breathing steady and peaceful.
Their exploration of life's mysteries the previous night had exhausted much of her energy. It had been her first time embarking on such an adventure, and the experience had taken quite a toll on her.
Carefully, Xiao Han got out of bed without waking her. With a casual wave of his hand, a black silk robe floated onto his shoulders.
Barefoot, he walked out of the bedroom.
The living room was silent, save for the faint sound of waves rolling in from the sea beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Good morning, sir."
Turing's gentle voice echoed through the air.
"Mr. Stark has requested a communication. He has been waiting for three minutes."
Xiao Han raised an eyebrow as he headed toward the kitchen. The coffee machine automatically started brewing, and the rich aroma quickly filled the room.
"Tony? This early?"
"Yes. He appears to have something urgent to discuss," Turing replied.
"Would you like me to connect the call now?"
Xiao Han picked up his coffee, took a sip, and nodded.
"Put him through."
A holographic projection unfolded in the center of the living room.
Tony Stark's image appeared.
He looked exhausted. Dark circles lingered beneath his eyes, and although he was holding a cup of coffee as well, it looked more like a straight espresso than regular coffee.
Tony's weary, slightly hoarse voice came through the projection.
"Xiao... I should've killed that bastard last night."
Standing before the window as the morning light illuminated his figure, Xiao Han asked calmly,
"And then?"
"Coulson recognized him."
Tony's voice grew heavy.
"That damn Hydra agent... he used to be a member of the Howling Commandos. One of Captain America's closest friends."
Xiao Han lightly tapped the glass with his fingers, producing a crisp sound.
"So?"
"So?"
Tony suddenly raised his voice before quickly forcing himself to calm down.
"Coulson showed me the files. That guy disappeared after falling off a cliff back in 1944."
"Hydra found him... brainwashed him... turned him into a killing machine."
The sound of a glass being set down echoed from Tony's side.
He took another drink of coffee before continuing.
"JARVIS recovered a file."
"It was the surveillance footage of my parents' murder."
Xiao Han sensed that Wanda was still asleep upstairs.
"You watched it?"
"I did."
Tony's voice suddenly became eerily calm.
"I watched every single frame."
"I saw that bastard crushing my father's throat with his metal arm."
"I saw my mother begging for mercy."
"I watched them..."
The sound of shattering glass rang through the communicator.
Xiao Han walked over to the sofa and sat down.
"So now you're asking me whether you should kill him."
"Wanda didn't kill me back then."
Tony suddenly said.
"Even though she hated me that much."
A faint golden glow appeared at Xiao Han's fingertips before fading away.
"I'm not you, Tony."
"Only you can make that decision."
"If I kill him..."
Xiao Han interrupted him.
"And if you don't?"
Tony let out a bitter laugh.
"I'll regret it."
"What a damn impossible choice."
Xiao Han gazed out at the sparkling sea beneath the morning sun.
"Making choices is never easy."
"You're right. He was controlled by Hydra."
"But this time..."
"You decide for yourself."
"I won't make that choice for you."
Silence filled the line.
After a long while...
Tony finally spoke again.
"You know..."
"My father never once told me he loved me."
Xiao Han remained silent.
"But when that bastard had his hand around my father's neck..."
"The last thing my father said was..."
'Save Maria.'"
Tony's voice trembled slightly.
"He loved my mother."
"He always did."
Another long silence followed.
"I understand now."
Tony finally said, his voice much steadier.
"Thanks, Xiao."
(Author's Note: That's the end of the Winter Soldier storyline. As for whether he lives or dies, I'll leave it to your imagination. I won't write it either way—people would complain no matter what.)
The communication ended.
Moments later...
Footsteps echoed from the staircase.
Wanda came downstairs rubbing her sleepy eyes.
Her crimson hair was delightfully messy, and she wore the black dress shirt Xiao Han had worn the night before. The oversized shirt reached just above her thighs.
"Who was calling so early?"
she asked with a yawn, her voice still thick with sleep.
Xiao Han dismissed the hologram and pulled her gently into his arms.
"Tony."
"He's struggling with a decision."
Wanda naturally settled onto his lap, resting her cheek against his chest.
"What decision?"
"Perhaps..."
"He wants to become a better person."
Xiao Han gently stroked her crimson hair.
Looking up at him with sleepy eyes and a faint smile, Wanda asked,
"Just like me?"
Xiao Han lowered his head and kissed her forehead.
"No."
"You've always been one."
Wanda's face instantly flushed crimson.
She buried her face against his neck and mumbled,
"Since when did you become so good with words?"
Patting her gently on the back, Xiao Han smiled helplessly.
"Go get changed."
"I'm teaching you spatial teleportation today."
Wanda's eyes lit up immediately.
She jumped to her feet and ran upstairs.
Halfway there, she suddenly stopped and turned around.
"You're sure this isn't because of last night—"
"Go."
Xiao Han interrupted her with an amused smile.
Laughing softly, Wanda ran upstairs, her crimson hair flowing behind her.
Ten Minutes Later
Xiao Han stood in the center of the training room.
Golden magical runes slowly rotated beneath his feet.
Wanda stood opposite him.
Her crimson hair fluttered gently in the surrounding energy field, while concentration shone in her eyes.
"Chaos Magic and Kamar-Taj's spatial magic operate on completely different principles."
Xiao Han raised a hand, tracing through the air.
Golden sparks followed his fingertips.
"It doesn't rely on incantations."
"It relies on your will... and your emotions."
Wanda nodded.
Scarlet energy flowed from her palm as she tried to imitate his movements.
Red sparks burst into existence—
Only to quickly dissipate before forming a complete portal.
"Don't rush."
Xiao Han walked behind her and gently rested one hand on her shoulder.
"Feel the flow of space."
"Imagine it's like water... something your energy can part."
Wanda took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
Scarlet energy flowed around her body, gradually becoming denser and more stable.
She raised her hand once more.
This time...
Scarlet light intertwined with the red sparks.
An unstable portal slowly formed before them—
Only to twist apart and collapse moments later.
"I can't do it..."
she said in frustration.
Xiao Han chuckled softly.
"Creating fluctuations in space on your very first attempt is already impressive."
Standing behind her, he placed both hands over hers, guiding her movements.
"Try again."
"But this time, don't think about controlling it."
"Let it respond to you naturally."
Feeling the warmth of his touch, Wanda's heartbeat quickened slightly.
She quickly focused herself once more.
This time...
Her scarlet energy intertwined perfectly with the red sparks.
A complete portal unfolded before them, connecting to the opposite side of the training room.
"I did it!"
Wanda exclaimed happily, turning around so quickly that she nearly crashed into Xiao Han's arms.
A slight smile appeared on his face.
"Not bad."
"But you've still got a long way to go."
With a wave of his hand, the portal expanded.
"True spatial teleportation allows you to cross dimensions."
"Not simply move around the same room."
Wanda deliberately teased him.
"Then why don't you give me a demonstration?"
Without saying a word, Xiao Han drew another portal.
The other side revealed a snow-covered mountain peak.
Freezing winds immediately rushed through the opening.
Curious, Wanda asked,
"Where is that?"
"The Himalayas."
Xiao Han answered calmly.
"When apprentices at Kamar-Taj first learn teleportation..."
"They often accidentally strand themselves there."
Wanda burst into laughter.
"So... did you end up falling there too?"
Xiao Han glanced at her.
"I mastered it on my first day."
"Wow..."
Wanda pouted, though the admiration in her eyes was impossible to hide.
"Keep practicing."
Xiao Han closed the portal.
"When you can reliably create portals across continents..."
"I'll teach you how to use the Mirror Dimension."
Wanda nodded and concentrated once again.
Scarlet light blossomed from her fingertips.
Red sparks spiraled through the air.
This time...
The portal became far more stable.
Its edges no longer flickered.
Instead, they formed a perfectly complete circular gateway.
"Look!"
"I did it!"
Wanda excitedly turned toward Xiao Han, her eyes sparkling with delight.
However...
Xiao Han narrowed his eyes.
His enhanced vision pierced through the portal.
What he saw wasn't the opposite side of the training room.
Nor was it anywhere on Earth.
It was...
A completely unfamiliar city.
Towering skyscrapers stretched into the sky.
The heavens above were a brilliant azure.
In the distance stood an enormous building bearing the unmistakable Daily Planet logo.
Something was wrong.
"System," Xiao Han called inwardly.
"What's going on?"
[Ding! Abnormal spatial fluctuations detected.]
The System replied calmly.
[Wanda's Chaos Magic has unintentionally opened an inter-universal passage. This event falls outside the scope of the host's assigned missions. No related task has been issued by the System.]
Xiao Han frowned slightly.
"You mean... she opened a crack into another universe entirely by herself?"
[Correct.]
[Energy analysis indicates that Wanda's Chaos Magic possesses reality-altering properties. During periods of intense emotional fluctuation, it may inadvertently tear open the barriers between dimensions.]
(Reference: the interdimensional gateway opened by Mister Fantastic in Earth-616.)
Xiao Han fell silent for a moment.
Then he looked toward Wanda, who was still immersed in her excitement.
She reached out, curiously touching the edge of the portal while studying the unfamiliar world waiting on the other side.