All day, Su Zhan and Sif remained in her quarters, away from the bustle of Asgard. The golden city outside was alive with the sounds of rebuilding and recovery, but within these walls, time seemed to slow. The two of them spent hours simply talking, sharing stories of Midgard and Asgard, their voices mingling with laughter and the occasional thoughtful silence. Despite there being only the two of them, neither felt bored. Instead, each moment felt precious, as if the world itself faded away, leaving only the warmth of their growing companionship.
Sif, who had once regarded Su Zhan with suspicion and even a hint of disdain, now found herself drawn to him. He was not the largest or most imposing man in Asgard, but there was an undeniable magnetism in his confidence and the easy way he spoke. His strength was not only in his power but in the way he carried himself, the certainty in his words, and the sincerity in his gaze. Sif could not help but be fascinated.
How could any woman resist a man who possessed both confidence and strength?
(TL: in Marvel Universe maybe the ladies can't keep their hands off them…)
Their relationship, once marked by awkwardness and formality, had become quietly intimate. It was not a romance of grand gestures or passionate declarations, but of gentle touches and hands held just a moment longer than necessary. There were no stolen kisses, no whispered promises, yet the connection between them was undeniable.
But Su Zhan was not of Asgard. No matter how much he enjoyed the strength and grace of Lady Sif or the rare peace he found in her company, he knew he could not remain here forever. The world beyond Asgard still called to him, filled with unfinished business and looming threats that only he could face. Asgard's golden halls offered a gentle haven, a place of respite among gods and warriors, but it was not his destiny to linger. Like so many before him who had found solace or love in the realm eternal, Su Zhan understood that his path lay elsewhere-beyond the shimmering Rainbow Bridge, where duty and fate awaited
As the sun began to set, Su Zhan finally broached the subject he had been avoiding. "Sif, there is something I must tell you," he said, his voice tinged with regret.
She looked up at him, her expression instantly serious. "You are leaving, are you not?"
He nodded, unable to hide the reluctance in his eyes. "I cannot stay in Asgard forever. There are things I must do, responsibilities I cannot ignore. But I promise, I will return to see you."
Sif's composure faltered, and for a moment, she looked almost vulnerable. "Could you not stay a few days longer?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Su Zhan reached out, gently taking her hand in his. "If I could, I would. But there are dangers that must be faced, and I am the only one who can do it."
She lowered her gaze, struggling to compose herself. The realization struck her with unexpected force: Su Zhan had become important to her, far more than she had realized. She did not want him to leave, but she understood that he could not remain by her side, not when the fate of realms might hang in the balance.
After a long silence, Su Zhan spoke again. "Malekith is hiding, recovering from his wounds. He will not remain in the shadows for long. With the Nine Realms aligning, space itself is becoming unstable. I have a chance to end this threat once and for all."
Sif's eyes widened in alarm. "You know where Malekith is?"
"Yes," Su Zhan replied, his tone resolute.
"Then I am coming with you," Sif said immediately, her voice firm and unyielding.
Su Zhan shook his head. "It is too dangerous. Besides, it is not easy for you to leave Asgard right now."
She met his gaze, her determination unwavering. "I do not trust you to face him alone. And I am Lady Sif-I do not turn away from battle."
He hesitated, but seeing the resolve in her eyes, he relented. "Very well. But you must promise to be careful."
A small, satisfied smile appeared on Sif's lips. "You have my word."
Her smile faded as another worry surfaced. "Asgard is under lockdown. It will not be easy to leave the city, let alone the realm."
Su Zhan's lips curled into a confident grin. "I know of a secret passage, one that leads directly from Asgard to the realm of the Dark Elves."
Sif's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean the passage Loki used? How do you know of it?"
Su Zhan only laughed, refusing to elaborate. Some secrets, after all, were best kept to oneself.
The two of them gathered their weapons and prepared for the journey ahead. The secret passage was far from the palace, and Sif originally suggested commandeering a ship, but Su Zhan had other ideas. With a playful smile, he swept her off her feet, flames igniting at his heels as he soared into the sky, carrying her toward their destination.
The flight was exhilarating. The wind whipped through Sif's hair, and the city of Asgard became a blur beneath them. In no time at all, they arrived at the hidden entrance to the passage. As they stepped inside, Su Zhan grinned at Sif. "Does this not feel a bit like eloping?"
Sif's cheeks colored, but she did not look away. "If we do not return, people may well think so."
The fire Su Zhan conjured illuminated the dim corridor, casting their shadows along the ancient stone walls. As they walked, the scenery around them shifted, the air growing colder and the light growing dimmer. Suddenly, the tunnel opened into the dark, forbidding expanse of Svartalfheim, the realm of the Dark Elves. Su Zhan set Sif gently on her feet, his voice soft. "We have arrived."
He pointed ahead. "Malekith's ship is nearby. It is cloaked, but I know where it is. There are not many Dark Elves left. I intend to end this quickly."
Sif could not see the ship, but she trusted Su Zhan's instincts. "Let us go," she said, drawing her sword.
Guided by his power to sense the future, Su Zhan led the way. He stopped before what appeared to be empty air, then suddenly struck out with his fist. The blow crashed through the invisible hull of the Dark Elf ship, metal shrieking as it gave way. With a powerful pull, he tore open the breach, revealing the shadowy interior.
The design of the ship was alien and stark. Unlike Asgardian vessels, it hovered vertically, with the control deck at the top and an elevator shaft running through its center. As soon as they entered, alarms blared, echoing through the corridors. Without hesitation, Su Zhan scooped Sif into his arms and flew upward, bypassing the slow-moving elevator entirely.
They landed on the upper deck just as a squad of Dark Elves opened fire with energy weapons. Su Zhan instantly projected a psychic barrier, the blasts dissipating harmlessly against the invisible shield. As the Dark Elves rushed forward, he hurled fireballs, incinerating them in bursts of white-hot flame.
There was no time to pause. Together, Su Zhan and Sif pressed forward, dispatching every foe in their path. Sif moved with the grace and fury of a true Asgardian warrior, her shield smashing one enemy aside as her sword pierced another. Su Zhan watched her fight, momentarily struck by the contrast between her gentle warmth in private and her ferocity in battle.
They reached the heart of the ship, where a dozen Dark Elves stood guard before a medical pod. Inside, Malekith lay recovering, his face a grotesque mask of burns and scars-a testament to their last encounter.
"Stop them!" Malekith shouted, fear and hatred mingling in his voice. The Dark Elves surged forward, but Sif met them head-on, shield and sword flashing. Su Zhan unleashed a wave of psychic force, scattering the attackers like leaves in a storm.
For a moment, Su Zhan paused, watching Sif as she fought. He wondered, not for the first time, whether her wild spirit could ever be tamed, or if she would always remain as fierce and untouchable as she was now.
But that was a question for another time. Now, there was only the battle-and the promise of victory.