Chapter 66: The Symbiote Harem
Talia Stark was rarely impressed. For most of her life, she had been the smartest person in the room, and she had the ego to match. But as she stood before Wanda Maximoff and her living, breathing symbiote, Fracture, she felt something she hadn't in a long time—true, unfiltered fascination.
Fracture reclined casually on a nearby table, the crimson tendrils of her form shifting and shimmering as if alive with their own energy. The symbiote's humanoid shape was sleek, almost elegant, with faintly glowing patterns etched across her body.
"So," Talia began, stepping closer with cautious curiosity, "you're not just some fancy piece of alien goo. What are you, exactly?"
Fracture tilted her head, mimicking a motion she had picked up from observing Wanda. **"What am I? What are you? A sack of bones wrapped in squishy flesh? I think I got the better deal."**
Talia blinked, then burst out laughing. "Okay, I'll admit, you've got a personality. I didn't expect that."
**"Not just a personality—a fantastic one,"** Fracture quipped. **"But to answer your question, I'm a symbiote. Bonded with Wanda here to make her life both amazing and slightly chaotic."**
Wanda smirked, crossing her arms as she leaned against a nearby console. "Mostly chaotic."
**"Details,"** Fracture replied with a dismissive wave of her tendrils.
Natasha Romanoff, who had been quietly observing the interaction from her spot near the doorway, couldn't suppress a grin. "I have to say, Stark, it's refreshing to see someone else deal with that level of sass for once."
Fracture turned her head toward Natasha. **"You should try sharing a soul with me. It's a nonstop commentary."**
"Pass," Natasha replied dryly, though the corners of her lips twitched.
Talia gestured to one of her advanced scanning devices, her mind already buzzing with possibilities. "Alright, Fracture, let's see what you're made of."
As Talia began running non-invasive scans on Fracture, the lab filled with the hum of Stark technology. Holographic displays lit up, showing intricate molecular structures that shifted and pulsed with interdimensional energy.
"This... is incredible," Talia muttered, her blue eyes wide with awe. "You're not just bio-organic. There's an entire interdimensional energy field woven into your structure. It's like... you're alive in multiple planes of existence at once."
Fracture smirked, or at least seemed to. **"Took you long enough to notice. I'm not just a pretty face, you know."**
Natasha snorted. "You don't even have a face."
**"I could,"** Fracture shot back. **"And it would be gorgeous."**
Wanda shook her head, her lips curling into a faint smile. "Focus, Fracture."
Talia's fingers danced over the controls as she analyzed the data pouring in. "You're bonded with Wanda at a molecular level, but it's not parasitic—it's symbiotic. You're enhancing her strength, stamina, and healing abilities while feeding off her energy in return. That's... amazing."
Fracture leaned forward, her form shifting slightly. **"I can do more than that. I can heal wounds, adapt to threats, and if things get really dicey, I can eat people. Not just for fun, though—it's practical."**
Natasha raised an eyebrow. "Practical?"
Fracture's tone turned mischievous. **"When I consume someone, I absorb their abilities and memories. It's a win-win."**
Talia blinked. "So you're saying... you could essentially evolve by consuming others?"
**"Pretty much,"** Fracture replied. **"But I'm picky. Wanda keeps me on a strict no-jerks diet."**
Wanda sighed. "It's not exactly something I encourage."
**"Yet,"** Fracture teased.
**"You know,"** Fracture began, her voice uncharacteristically serious, **"if I could overcome my weaknesses, I might be able to bond with others."**
The room fell silent. Wanda's crimson eyes narrowed slightly as she processed the statement. "What do you mean?"
**"I mean, if I weren't so vulnerable to sound and heat, I could split part of myself off and bond with someone else. Not permanently, but enough to share my enhancements."**
Talia's eyes lit up with excitement. "That's... groundbreaking. You're saying you could create a network of symbiotic hosts?"
**"Potentially,"** Fracture replied. **"But it would take time, and I'd need help figuring out how to adapt to those weaknesses."**
Wanda's gaze lingered on Talia for a moment before shifting to Natasha, where it stayed just a fraction longer. "If Fracture could bond with others close to me, I wouldn't have to worry as much about their safety."
Natasha's breath caught. She tried to mask her reaction, but her heart fluttered at the way Wanda looked at her. There was something unspoken in that gaze—an acknowledgment of trust, of connection.
Talia, oblivious to Natasha's internal turmoil, tapped a finger against her chin. "If we can figure this out, it could revolutionize everything—not just for you, Wanda, but for anyone you choose to bring with you."
Wanda straightened, her expression thoughtful. "This journey I'm on... it won't end on Earth. It may stretch into the stars and beyond. Those who travel with me will need to be strong—not just in body, but in heart and mind. I can't afford to lose anyone."
Natasha and Talia exchanged a glance, both taken aback by the weight of Wanda's words. There was a conviction in her voice that made it clear she was thinking far beyond the present.
"You're talking about something bigger than just Sokovia," Talia said softly. "What are you planning?"
Wanda met her gaze, her crimson aura faintly shimmering. "I don't know yet. But I do know that the people who stand by my side will need to be more than ordinary mortals. They'll need to grow with me, or this journey will break them."
Natasha's heart clenched. She wasn't afraid of the challenges ahead—not for herself—but the thought of Wanda leaving her behind was almost unbearable. Yet, as she watched Wanda speak with such quiet determination, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride.
She's going to change everything, Natasha thought. And I'll be damned if I'm not there to see it.
The heavy moment was broken by Fracture's sarcastic drawl. **"Well, if you're recruiting, I'll need to see some resumes. No offense, Natasha, but I don't think a spy's skill set includes handling interdimensional goo."**
Natasha smirked. "I've handled worse. Besides, I've got plenty of experience keeping Wanda alive."
"Oh, don't remind me," Wanda teased. "You're starting to sound like my bodyguard."
Natasha leaned closer, her voice dropping to a playful murmur. "Maybe I am."
Talia, watching the exchange with an amused smirk, shook her head. "If this turns into a love triangle, I'm going to need popcorn."
Fracture chuckled. **"Make it a love hexagon. Wanda's not exactly a one-woman kind of woman."**
Wanda shot her a glare. "Enough, Fracture."
The symbiote raised her hands innocently. **"Hey, just calling it like I see it."**
As the laughter subsided, Talia gestured to her equipment. "Alright, let's get back to work. If we're going to make you unstoppable, Fracture, we've got a lot to figure out."
Wanda nodded, her gaze softening as she glanced between Talia and Natasha. For the first time in a long while, she felt something she hadn't dared to hope for: a sense of possibility—not just for herself, but for the people she cared about.
And as they worked together in the glow of Stark's cutting-edge tech, Natasha couldn't shake the feeling that whatever the future held, Wanda was going to change their lives forever.
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