~Weekend Holiday, Manhattan Children's Amusement Park~
Sean and Gwen sat on a bench under the bright sunshine...
Tall evergreen trees lined the pathways, and waves of visitors (mostly families with children enjoying their holiday) flowed endlessly through the park.
Unable to resist Mindy's pitiful pleading, and considering her recent good behavior, Sean had temporarily set aside his brainwashing of Doctor Doom to bring the little girl to the amusement park.
He had also invited Gwen, who happened to be free...
But today, Miss Stacy seemed a little off. Normally lively and cheerful, she was now unusually quiet. Occasionally, when their eyes met, she would immediately look away like a startled deer.
"Sorry to drag you out on your day off," Sean said, leaning back on the bench as a gentle breeze rustled the trees, "I'm not exactly great at taking kids out for fun."
His soft voice lingered in Gwen's ears.
She gazed at his sculpted features, feeling a faint stir in her heart. This young man, not even twenty-two yet, was already the head of a private research institute with remarkable scientific achievements. Most people only saw the dazzling halo around him, but few ever glimpsed his true self.
"You're really good to Mindy…" Gwen murmured, swinging her ponytail slightly.
She watched the little girl laughing gleefully on the pirate ship, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes. Every time Gwen tried to get closer to Sean, he always maintained a subtle distance, which frustrated the usually carefree Miss Stacy.
"Probably because we've had similar experiences," Sean replied casually.
Though his gaze seemed fixed on Gwen, he was actually observing a few men and women sitting not far away. On the surface, they looked like ordinary visitors, but they had been tailing him since he left home. Despite changing shifts, they couldn't escape detection.
With Skynet's omnipresent surveillance, these field agents' tracking skills were useless. Sean could even listen in on their encrypted communications.
"...Why are you staring at me?" Gwen lowered her head, sensing that Sean (who usually kept her at arm's length) seemed different today.
"Ah, I was just thinking how pretty you look today," the young man complimented, finally turning his full attention to her.
It wasn't an empty remark. Today, Miss Stacy was indeed special. A touch of delicate makeup enhanced her youthful beauty, making her glow like the sunlight itself.
Her simple plaid skirt and modest heels accentuated her tall, graceful figure. Clearly, she had prepared carefully for this outing.
The two on the bench seemed to inch closer.
Gwen's heartbeat quickened, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. She could even feel the warmth of his breath. A breeze rustled through the trees, the leaves whispering like rolling waves, blending with the wind's melody to create a suddenly intimate atmosphere.
Gazing into Sean's deep eyes, Gwen, who still clung to a shred of restraint, felt her fluttering heart tremble. Just as she closed her eyes in anticipation of her first passionate kiss–
"Want a soda or mineral water?"
...The romantic spell shattered.
Gwen gave a vague answer, watching Sean's retreating figure with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. She stomped on fallen leaves with her heels, venting her irritation.
What she didn't know was that the moment Sean stood up, the nearby surveillance cameras had mysteriously malfunctioned.
Several men and women sitting close by had quietly followed him. The subtle shift was like a pebble dropping into water... It was barely noticeable.
Trailing Sean were a young man and a middle-aged man, a classic pairing straight out of a Hollywood spy movie: the impulsive rookie and the seasoned veteran.
Together, they were supposed to take down the mastermind lurking in the shadows.
"Target is on the move, no anomalies detected. B team, hold position. Wells and I will continue surveillance!" the young agent whispered into his comm, pretending to adjust his camera.
*Bzzzt*
Static crackled in his earpiece.
As he pulled it out in annoyance, Sean emerged from the crowd and bumped into him. A towering ice cream cone splattered onto his shirt.
Before the young agent could mourn his brand-new Armani, a strange force invaded his mind. He looked up into Sean's eyes, which were like deep, swirling voids that seemed to pull at his very soul.
"Matthews! You okay?" His partner, Wells, snapped him out of it with a firm shake.
Blinking, the young agent turned to see Sean already back on the bench, laughing with the blonde girl as if nothing had happened.
Matthews frowned. His memory felt fragmented, like waking up after a heavy night of drinking. He couldn't recall a single detail of the past few minutes.
Shaking his head at his partner, he signaled that he was fine...
...
The day passed swiftly...
Before they knew it, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the city in golden twilight.
Sean drove and dropped Gwen off at her upscale Manhattan apartment.
Though, before getting out of the car, Miss Stacy hesitated, as if she wanted to say something, but she ultimately left with mixed emotions.
"That car has been following you forever," Mindy grumbled from the back seat.
The former Hit-Girl scoffed at the amateurish surveillance.
These rookies weren't even trying, they should've at least rotated vehicles or changed license plates to avoid detection.
"Smartass," Sean chuckled, unfazed.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s surveillance was expected.
From the young agent's memories, he knew his monitoring level wasn't high. If nothing unusual happened, the spies would likely withdraw within a week.
Judging by the timeline, Nick Fury's focus should be on Tony Stark right now. The famed Iron Man wasn't having an easy time... having lost the Department of Defense's backing, Stark Industries was rumored to be pivoting from weapons manufacturing to energy.
Driving through the city at dusk, the cool breeze flowing through the windows, and Mindy chattered excitedly about visiting a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown.
For Sean, who constantly navigated a world of power struggles and dangerous figures, this rare moment of peace was precious... Isn't this the kind of life he was fighting for?
Under the amber glow of streetlights, the car gradually disappeared down the highway.
The radio played 'Shape of My Heart', the singer's low voice blending with Mindy's laughter until both faded into the wind...