Su Zhan slowly opened his eyes, the gentle morning light filtering through an unfamiliar window. The first thing he noticed was a soft, melodic voice beside him. Turning his head, he found Lady Sif sitting close, her usual stoic expression softened with genuine concern. Her silver armor was set aside, replaced by a simple tunic, and for a moment, she looked less like Asgard's legendary shieldmaiden and more like a woman quietly watching over someone she cared about.
"You are awake?" Sif's voice was gentle, almost hesitant, as if she were unused to speaking in such a tone.
Su Zhan blinked, his mind slowly piecing together the events that led him here. He remembered the chaos of battle, the overwhelming force he had unleashed, the way Malekith had been sent flying by the sheer power of his supernova attack. After that, everything became a blur, exhaustion overwhelming him and dragging him into darkness.
He sat up, rubbing his temples. "Where am I?"
"This is my home," Sif replied softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Su Zhan looked around, taking in the room. It was surprisingly sparse, decorated with only a few personal effects and simple furnishings. There was little to indicate that this was the living space of one of Asgard's most celebrated warriors. He realized, with a touch of amusement, that Sif's private life was as disciplined and unadorned as her public one.
He turned back to her, curiosity in his eyes. "Your home? I didn't expect to wake up here."
Sif's cheeks colored slightly, but she met his gaze. "After you defeated Malekith, I brought you here. You expended so much energy that you collapsed. I never imagined you could fight like that, even without the Aether. It is a shame… Malekith managed to escape."
Su Zhan was surprised. He had thought he had finished Malekith, but the Dark Elf leader had slipped away. Still, he felt no fear. He had defeated him once; he could do it again, especially now that the Aether was no longer a crutch.
He noticed something else, too. Sif's voice, usually cold and commanding, was now gentle, almost warm. It was a side of her he had not seen before.
"Malekith escaped?" Su Zhan echoed, a hint of disappointment in his tone.
Sif nodded, her expression clouding. "The Dark Elves are relentless. The palace has suffered heavy losses. But Odin is rallying the defenders. He will make them pay dearly for what they have done."
Su Zhan nodded, his thoughts turning to the greater conflict. He knew Odin would not let this insult go unanswered. The Aether was too important, and Asgard's pride would demand retribution. Yet, for now, that was not his concern. He had fulfilled his promise, and the rest would play out as fate intended.
He turned his attention back to Sif. "Before the battle, we made a wager. You haven't forgotten, have you?"
Sif's cheeks flushed a deeper red, but she did not look away. "Of course not. You proved yourself a true warrior. I will honor my word and go on a date with you."
A smile spread across Su Zhan's face. "You may not realize it, but you are now a hero of Asgard. You killed Kurse, wounded Malekith, and helped turn the tide against the Dark Elves. I imagine there are many women who would want to date you now," Sif said, her tone teasing but with a glint of sincerity.
Su Zhan could not help but be captivated by her smile. Without thinking, he reached out and gently took her hand. "Your smile is beautiful. You should show it more often-at least for me."
Sif did not pull away. Instead, she lowered her eyes, her shyness at odds with her usual confidence on the battlefield.
He studied her for a moment, then asked, "I have heard you only admire warriors. There are many great warriors in Asgard. Have you ever been tempted by someone stronger than me?"
Sif's smile faded, replaced by a look of mild indignation. "What do you take me for? Yes, I admire strength. Only a warrior stronger than myself can win my respect. But I am not fickle. Once I make a choice, I remain unwavering in my resolve. Perhaps someone stronger than you will appear in the future, but as long as you continue to strive, you will eventually surpass them. Is that not the mark of a true warrior?
Su Zhan laughed, the tension dissipating. "That is all I needed to hear. Give me time, and I will become the strongest in all the realms-no one will surpass me."
Sif rolled her eyes, but there was affection in her gaze. She gave his hand a playful slap. "Do not get ahead of yourself. I said I would date you, not anything more."
"That is fine by me. I am the first man to date you, and I intend to be the last," Su Zhan replied, his tone light but his eyes sincere. "There may be nothing more now, but who knows what the future holds? So, Lady Sif, when do we begin our date?"
Sif tried to pull her hand away, but Su Zhan only held on tighter. "Let go of my hand," she said, feigning annoyance.
"Dating means holding hands," Su Zhan insisted, grinning.
Sif hesitated, clearly uncertain. "Is that so? I have never… I have never been on a date before. My life has always been training, fighting, more training. I do not know how these things are done."
Su Zhan's smile softened. "There is no right way. Are you free today? The palace is busy with repairs and recovery. Why not spend some time here, just the two of us?"
Sif considered this, then nodded. "What do people do on dates?"
"We can do anything. Or nothing at all. The important thing is being together," Su Zhan said, his voice gentle.
Sif's lips curled into a small, playful smile. "You have a silver tongue, Su Zhan."
He laughed. "Only for you, Sif."
The two sat together in the quiet room, hands entwined. For a while, they simply enjoyed the peace-a rare moment of calm in a world so often torn by conflict. Su Zhan told Sif stories of his world, of battles fought and won, of friends made and lost. Sif, in turn, shared tales of her childhood in Asgard, of sparring with Thor and Loki, of her dreams and fears.
As the day wore on, they found themselves laughing more easily, the barriers between them falling away. Sif's laughter, bright and clear, filled the room-a sound Su Zhan realized he wanted to hear again and again.
Eventually, Sif stood, pulling Su Zhan up with her. "Come. There is a place I want to show you."
They stepped out onto a balcony overlooking the city. The golden spires of Asgard gleamed in the afternoon sun, and far below, the people of the realm bustled about, rebuilding and recovering from the recent attack. Sif leaned against the railing, her hair catching the light, her eyes reflecting the city she loved.
"This is my favorite place," she said quietly. "Whenever I need to think, I come here."
Su Zhan stood beside her, taking in the view. "It is beautiful. But not as beautiful as you."
Sif laughed, shaking her head. "You are shameless."
"Only honest," Su Zhan replied, his voice soft.
They stood in comfortable silence, watching the sun dip lower in the sky. For a moment, the troubles of the world seemed far away. Here, on this balcony, it was just the two of them-warrior and wanderer, finding solace in each other's company.
As dusk settled over Asgard, Sif turned to Su Zhan, her expression serious. "Thank you. For everything. For fighting beside us, for saving my home, and… for making me smile."
Su Zhan squeezed her hand. "Thank you for giving me a chance."
The stars began to appear, one by one, in the darkening sky. Su Zhan knew that challenges still lay ahead-Malekith would return, and the fate of the Aether was far from settled. But for now, he was content. He had found something rare and precious in this world: a kindred spirit, and perhaps, the beginning of something more.
And as the night deepened over Asgard, Su Zhan and Lady Sif stood together, ready to face whatever the dawn would bring-side by side.