The soothing jazz from the car radio was suddenly interrupted by a breaking news bulletin.
"This just in—breaking developments from the Arctic Circle!"
"The legendary hero of the United States, Captain Steve Rogers—known to the world as Captain America—has been discovered frozen beneath the ice of the Arctic. After nearly seventy years of suspended animation, he has awakened!"
"The world is calling it a miracle!"
"As the first and most iconic superhero of the modern age, Captain America's return is expected to change the balance of global affairs. The public is waiting with bated breath to see what role he will play in today's world…"
Shawn sat calmly behind the wheel, his fingers lightly tapping the steering wheel. He remained unfazed by the report, showing no surprise or excitement.
After all, he had already known this was coming.
From the moment he transmigrated into this universe, Shawn had carefully pieced together the timeline. Based on what he had observed, it was now 2012—the year when the original Avengers story would begin.
And if the pattern held, Thanos would soon dispatch Loki to Earth with the Chitauri army. The Battle of New York was just around the corner. It would be the first major clash involving the Avengers—Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, and others.
But honestly?
That had nothing to do with him.
Shawn had no intention of participating in that chaotic mess.
Meanwhile, Harley—sitting comfortably in the passenger seat—nearly choked on her excitement as she listened to the news.
"I didn't expect Captain America to still be alive!" she gasped, eyes wide with wonder. "Isn't that insane?"
Shawn turned slightly and raised an eyebrow. "What? You know him?"
"Of course I know him! Don't you?" she asked, genuinely confused by his question.
He smirked, offering no direct answer. "I may have heard of him," he said casually, eyes back on the road.
It was indeed strange. Harley, a character originally from the DC Universe, speaking so passionately about a Marvel icon like Captain America.
Another reminder of how this version of Earth was a strange hybrid of multiple realities.
Shawn sighed internally. The more I look around, the messier this world seems…
As a slow piano ballad replaced the news on the radio, Shawn and Harley let the conversation drift away. Neither of them paid further attention to Captain America's miraculous return. They had other plans tonight.
An hour passed, and the sleek black sports car finally reached its destination.
They arrived at one of the most prestigious five-star hotels in Manhattan, nestled right in the heart of New York City. The building loomed with opulence, its grand golden entrance illuminated under the velvet night sky. There were luxury cars lined up at the entrance, and dozens of elegantly dressed guests gathered near the door, chatting and laughing.
It was clear that Stephen Strange had invited quite the guest list.
As soon as Shawn pulled up to the valet station, a hotel staff member rushed over. Without saying a word, Shawn tossed the keys to the valet and stepped out smoothly. He walked over to Harley's side and extended a hand to help her out of the car.
Harley took it, smiling sweetly as she emerged, her white dress shimmering beneath the hotel lights.
Unsurprisingly, Shawn's car attracted a lot of attention. The deep black paint, the customized interior, and the emblem—it wasn't just any sports car. It was Bruce Wayne's former limited edition model. A collector's dream worth tens of millions.
Some guests whispered in awe. Others stared openly.
But Shawn didn't care.
He casually took Harley's arm and headed toward the entrance with confidence.
Then suddenly, he saw her.
A flash of red. A familiar energy.
A girl, barely in her twenties, with long chestnut-brown hair, soft features, and bright eyes that were currently filled with anxiety.
Wanda Maximoff.
Also known as the Scarlet Witch.
Shawn halted mid-step, stunned for a moment. He hadn't expected to encounter her here—not tonight.
Wanda stood awkwardly at the entrance, trying to blend in with the other guests. But her simple attire—jeans and a plain jacket—made her stand out in a crowd full of silk gowns and tailored suits. She was obviously out of place.
As she tried to walk in behind a small group, the security guard stopped her.
"Sorry, miss, I need to see your invitation," the guard said firmly.
Wanda stiffened. Her face faltered.
It was obvious—she didn't have one.
Shawn's eyes narrowed slightly. He could feel it—the magic radiating off her. Raw, unstable, emotional. The power bubbling under her skin wasn't under control. She was getting upset.
She tried again, stepping forward.
"Miss, I said I need to see your invitation. If you don't have one, I'm going to have to ask you to leave," the guard repeated, more sternly this time.
Two more security guards moved in to flank her.
Wanda's fists clenched. The ambient magic in the air trembled. Her emotions were spiraling.
Shawn exhaled slowly.
The last thing he needed tonight was for Wanda to blow up the entrance of a five-star hotel.
He stepped forward, his voice cutting clean through the night.
"This lady is with me," he said, calm but authoritative. "Don't give her a hard time."
The security guards paused and looked at one another, confused.
They weren't stupid. They could tell that this man—dressed in a designer suit, arriving in a car that screamed money—wasn't just any guest. The invitation in his hand only confirmed it.
There was no reason to offend a VIP over a girl in street clothes.
The head guard cleared his throat and nodded. "Of course, sir. Please, come in."
Shawn gave a faint nod. With one arm around Harley and the other gently guiding the stunned Wanda, he led both women through the grand doors.
Wanda looked up at him, bewildered. "Why did you help me?"
Shawn smiled slightly. "Because I don't like seeing people get bullied at the door. Especially not someone with your kind of energy."
Wanda's eyes widened for a second. "You… you can sense it?"
Shawn didn't answer directly. "We'll talk later. For now, just enjoy the evening."
Harley gave Wanda a side-glance, still holding Shawn's arm but not saying anything. For the moment, she didn't feel threatened—just curious.
And Wanda?
She looked around the grand ballroom with a mix of awe and apprehension. She had never been in a place like this before. She didn't even know why she had come—something had simply drawn her here.
A force she couldn't explain.
And now she was inside, walking beside a man she didn't understand, but who had saved her from public embarrassment.
As they blended into the crowd, Shawn's thoughts drifted again.
Wanda Maximoff. Chaos magic. A Nexus Being. One of the few threats even the Ancient One fears…
And here she was—young, vulnerable, still unaware of the immense power she possessed.
For Shawn, tonight was full of surprises.
First Stephen Strange.
Now Wanda.
The threads of fate were gathering.
He wasn't sure what kind of game the universe was playing…
But one thing was certain:
He was ready to flip the board.
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