Command input complete.
"Release."
Antony snapped his fingers, simultaneously masking the Infinity Gauntlet with the Reality Stone.
The strange tint in Jessica's eyes vanished, replaced by her usual sharp, restless spark.
She blinked.
Her body wobbled slightly.
Then she realized—
She was sitting on the floor in a perfect split.
"…?"
Jessica froze.
She looked down at her legs pressed flat against the floor, then up at Antony with pure confusion.
"What… am I doing?"
She pushed herself up, rubbing her aching inner thighs.
"Did I just slip?"
"Probably," Antony said mildly, holding his milk with an innocent shrug.
"Honestly, Jessica, if customer service were graded out of ten, I'd give you a three."
"Please." She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, slipping back into that familiar combative posture. "You got your milk. Don't expect a lullaby too. If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."
She turned—
"Wait."
She stopped, turning back with irritation.
"What now? Need me to burp you too?"
Antony ignored the sarcasm.
The Reality Stone flickered.
A small glass vial filled with shimmering blue liquid appeared in his hand.
Its true origin?
A cherry-flavored Vought energy drink.
"Drink this."
Jessica narrowed her eyes. "What is that? Some new poison? If you want to silence me, just use the laser eyes—pew pew."
"Your sense of humor is sometimes unnecessary."
He stepped forward and pressed the vial into her hand.
"This is the original extract of T-VEX. What some call… Compound Zero."
"One of only two remaining samples in the world."
Her grip tightened.
Even Jessica knew what original extract meant.
One vial had fallen into Hydra's hands during Wanda's rescue.
This—
Was the last one.
"Permanent enhancement. No side effects."
"You…" She instinctively tried to hand it back. "This belongs in a vault fifty floors underground. Or in Dr. Connor's lab. Or auctioned for hundreds of billions."
"Why give it to me?"
He didn't take it.
Instead, he gently wrapped his hand around hers.
The warmth made her stiffen.
"Jessica. Look at me."
For once, Antony dropped his usual confident dominance.
There was something else in his expression now.
Weariness.
"The Chitauri. The Dark Elves. The Asgardian banshee. You've seen it. Trouble doesn't come alone."
"And beyond the stars… something far worse is watching."
He placed a steady hand on her shoulder.
"I'm strong. But I'm not omnipotent."
"There will be times I'm stretched thin. Or gone. Like last time."
"I need to know someone is still here. Guarding Earth."
"I need to know that if I fall… someone can carry this world forward."
His fingers tightened slightly.
"If there's anyone I can entrust my backline to without reservation…"
He met her eyes.
"That person can only be you."
"…As long as you're still on Earth, I'll always have a home to return to."
Jessica stared at him.
To him…
She mattered that much?
A feeling she had never experienced before flooded her chest.
Needed.
Valued.
Trusted.
"I…"
She opened her mouth but couldn't form the words.
Memories flashed—her eye rolls, her insults, the private curses she'd thrown at him.
Damn it, Jessica. You're such a jerk.
Guilt.
Gratitude.
Something softer she couldn't name.
It surged all at once.
She suddenly stepped forward and threw her arms around him, burying her face against his chest.
"Thank you… for trusting me."
Antony blinked once, then gently patted her back.
"You're welcome, Miss Bad Temper."
The embrace lasted five seconds.
Jessica shoved him away abruptly, retreating as if electrocuted.
Her cheeks were red—but she immediately put on a fierce expression.
"Fine. Do I just chug this? Why not inject it?"
"Oral works the same," Antony replied with perfect composure. "Trust me. Cherry flavor."
She didn't hesitate.
Twisting the cap open, she tipped her head back and drained it in one go.
"Glug… glug…"
"Burp."
A distinctly cherry-scented belch escaped her.
"…Tastes like Vought's energy drink."
"Flavoring to mask bitterness," Antony said smoothly. "Now close your eyes. Feel the change."
"Something's coming."
Jessica obeyed.
The instant her eyes closed—
The Mind Stone flared brilliantly.
Antony guided its energy carefully, threading golden psychic currents into her body.
"Enhance… physique."
"Unlock… potential."
Jessica felt lighter.
Stronger.
Her fists thrummed with compressed power.
But more than that—
Space around her felt tangible.
Foldable.
Pierceable.
"…What is this?"
Her eyes snapped open.
She looked at the couch across the office. A single thought formed.
Go there.
"Whoosh—!"
No wind.
No distortion.
In the next instant—
She was sitting on the couch.
"What the f—"
She stared at the spot where she'd been standing.
Then at where she was now.
She looked at the coat rack near the door.
There.
Flash.
She appeared beside it.
"I… teleported?"
"More accurately," Antony said with quiet satisfaction, "you blink."
The Mind Stone had not only enhanced her physical strength—
It had coaxed forth a second latent gift buried within her potential.
A gift that made space itself…
Yield.
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T/N:
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