After calming down, Natasha reluctantly accepted this uninvited guest.
After all, he brought benefits and—at least for now—seemed harmless. More importantly, she had gained strength that surpassed even Captain America.
Having lived since World War II, she knew exactly how powerful the Super Soldier was. In every measurable category, he had reached the peak of human potential.
And her current strength?
It clearly exceeded that limit.
"Johnson asking to see me—that was your doing, right?" Natasha asked coldly.
"Of course. Any objections?" Ren replied proudly, his tone infuriatingly smug.
Natasha's teeth nearly clenched.
She wanted nothing more than to rip this ghostly thing out of her body and beat it senseless.
This is my body. You think I have no objections?
But that was only a thought.
"This is our first meeting. I've never offended you. Why target me?" she asked, forcing calm into her voice.
If she didn't understand this, she wouldn't rest easy.
Ren tilted his monstrous head slightly.
"Simple. I took a liking to your body."
Natasha: "Excuse me???"
Her expression froze.
Her gaze slowly dropped to the black liquid forming his shape.
"Sorry. I'm not interested in cross-species romance. If you're willing, I can recommend someone else. I'm sure someone out there would be interested in you."
Ren: "???"
"What are you thinking, you unlucky kid? Watch fewer adult websites. I already told you—I'm a Symbiote, not a parasite. I don't even have that thing. What snake are you imagining?!"
Natasha coughed awkwardly. "Then don't speak so ambiguously."
"That's your dirty mind, not my problem." Ren snorted.
The moment shifted.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Someone was at the door.
"You handle it." Ren instantly dissolved back into her body.
Natasha opened the door.
The hotel owner stood outside, smiling politely.
"Madam, your lodging time has expired."
Natasha suddenly remembered the bathroom door she had ripped off earlier.
"Sorry, I didn't notice." She paid for both the extended stay and the damage, then left the hotel.
"I hope you don't reveal my existence," Ren's voice echoed softly.
Natasha's heart skipped.
She had fully intended to report everything to S.H.I.E.L.D. and have them study him.
If they could remove him, even better.
Having an alien creature living inside her was unsettling.
Even if he claimed to be harmless, criminals rarely advertised themselves as villains.
"Why?" she asked cautiously.
"If I leave your body, will you still have this power? Or will you return to being just Black Widow? A peak human—but still ordinary?"
Natasha fell silent.
She knew the truth.
In this world, there were Mutants, enhanced individuals, and countless super-powered beings.
No matter how much she trained, she would always remain human.
Her beauty? That wasn't power.
Ren continued.
"I chose you because of your identity. A top operative with access to enhanced individuals and Mutants. I can replicate abilities. And you can use them. The only price? Conceal my existence."
Natasha's gaze sharpened.
Replicate powers?
That was no small claim.
"And if I leave," Ren added calmly, "do you know what kind of person might become my next host? What they would use my power for?"
That struck deeper than she expected.
He wasn't wrong.
If someone ruthless gained this power…
Ren's voice lowered.
"As a Symbiote, I cannot survive alone. I require a living host. If my host is righteous, my power serves justice. If my host is evil, my power serves destruction. I doubt you want to see a supervillain created by rejecting me."
That settled it.
Natasha didn't respond immediately.
But internally, the decision had already formed.
"Fine," she said at last.
"If we're doing this, we agree on three conditions."
Ren waited.
"First, you will not eat people.
"Second, you will not harm innocent humans.
"Third, you remain inside my body unless absolutely necessary.
"If you can agree to these three points, then I will keep your existence secret."
Her lips curved slightly.
A negotiation.
Not surrender.
Ren's sharp-toothed grin slowly widened inside the darkness.
A partnership had just been born.