Omniscience in Marvel 172

172

…

Leucadius sat at his desk in their shared study, focused and deeply engrossed in his work. A myriad of holographic projections floated before him, strands of light forming complex shapes and spirals.

His hands moved in fluid, practiced motions as he manipulated the threads of energy, attempting to stabilize what he'd once called a "quaint little pocket dimension experiment."

The soft creak of the door was the only warning he had before Thena entered. She moved soundlessly, the faint rustle of her linen dress the only indication of her presence.

"Leu…" Her voice was soft but carried a tone he had long ago learned to recognize. It was the sound of inevitability wrapped in a melody that made it impossible to refuse.

Leucadius didn't look up. His eyes remained fixed on the projections, his brow furrowing in concentration. "Thena, I'm in the middle of something critical."

Her footsteps were light, almost imperceptible as she crossed the room. She stopped just behind him, her warm presence already beginning to pull him out of his focus. "You're always in the middle of something," she said, her voice teasing but firm.

She leaned over his chair, her hands resting lightly on his shoulders, fingers brushing against the edge of his collar. He sighed, his concentration wavering.

"When was the last time you took a break?" she asked, tilting her head so her golden hair cascaded forward, brushing against his cheek. "Hmm?"

Leucadius finally tilted his head to glance at her. She was close—too close for him to easily dismiss her. One elegant eyebrow arched as she looked at him expectantly, her lips quirked in a small, knowing smile.

"A break?" he asked. "I don't think the threads of reality can wait for me to take a stroll through time and space, Thena."

Her smile widened, and she slid her hands down his shoulders, pressing just enough to make him aware of her. "You promised me a vacation," she said, her voice dropping into a near-whisper. "You've been promising for years."

Leucadius groaned softly, leaning back in his chair. "I don't recall promising anything recently."

Thena leaned down, her face mere inches from his. The firelight caught in her eyes, turning them molten gold. "You owe me, Leu," she murmured, her breath warm against his skin. "Or have you forgotten how I saved that quaint little pocket dimension of yours from collapsing last month?"

Leucadius closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"

Her grin was bright and victorious. She straightened, placing her hands on her hips as she looked down at him. "Not a chance."

Thena perched herself on the edge of his desk, careful not to disturb the papers and artifacts scattered across its surface. She crossed one leg over the other, the fabric of her dress pooling elegantly around her.

"Let me paint you a picture," she began, her tone light. "Somewhere, on this lovely little rock they call Earth, there's a cozy cabin waiting for us. Maybe by a lake. No cosmic responsibilities, no interdimensional crises—just you, me, and perhaps a bottle of wine."

Leucadius raised an eyebrow. "You? In a cabin? By a lake? You'd be bored out of your mind within a day."

Thena feigned offense, placing a hand over her heart. "You underestimate me, my dear husband. I happen to enjoy the simpler pleasures in life."

"You, a warrior who thrives in the chaos of battle, want to spend a week fishing?"

She laughed, a sound that filled the room and seemed to melt the tension in the air. "Not fishing. Relaxing. You've forgotten how to do that, haven't you?"

Leucadius rubbed his temples. "I'll admit the idea has a certain appeal, but I can't just drop everything and—"

Thena cut him off, sliding off the desk and stepping into his personal space. "Yes, you can," she said firmly, her hands resting on his chest.

He looked at her, his resistance faltering. There was something in her eyes. She wasn't just asking for a break; she was asking for time. Time with him.

"Fine," he said finally, his voice laced with mock exasperation. "But if we're doing this, I'm choosing the location."

Thena smiled, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek. "Deal."

Leucadius sighed again, muttering something about how no mortal gods ever had to deal with such insistent partners. Thena, however, was already planning what she would pack for their "simple" getaway.

And somewhere, in the far reaches of his mind, Leucadius was already wondering what kind of disturbances the Earth would throw at them this time.

---

Ohio, 1995

Leucadius and Thena materialized in a small forest clearing under a canopy of dense trees. Thena twirled around, taking in the crisp air and the sound of chirping birds.

"Ohio," Leucadius muttered, looking distinctly unimpressed as he adjusted his long coat. "Of all places in this vast Universe, you chose this."

Thena smirked. "You said I could pick. Besides, I wanted to see how humans live in this era. They're so…quaint."

"Quaint," he echoed dryly. "That's one way to put it."

As they walked toward a nearby suburban area, Leucadius sensed a faint disturbance in their surrounding. His expression darkened, and he stopped in his tracks.

"Something's wrong," he said, his voice low. "There's a covert operation nearby."

Thena rolled her eyes. "Ignore it."

"It's not that simple," he replied, his gaze sharpening. "The presence I'm sensing... it's familiar."

Before she could respond, the sound of rustling leaves and hurried footsteps reached them. Thena instinctively shifted into a defensive stance, summoning her golden spear.

…

First Encounter

Natasha Romanoff, clad in a black tactical suit, burst through the treeline with a young Yelena close behind her. The two girls were panting, their expressions tense. Natasha's sharp eyes immediately locked onto the couple, assessing them as potential threats.

"Who are you?" Natasha demanded, pulling out a handgun. Her voice was steady, but her posture betrayed her readiness for a fight.

Leucadius raised an eyebrow, unimpressed as he didn't expect to meet a teenage Natasha. "You should put that down before you hurt yourself, child."

Thena stepped forward, her spear dissipating into golden light. "We mean you no harm," she said gently, her tone disarming. "Why are you running?"

Natasha hesitated, her instincts battling against the calm aura radiating from the strangers. Yelena, however, pointed accusingly at Leucadius. "He looks weird. Are you spies?"

Thena chuckled, placing a hand on her hip. "Spies? Hardly. We're... travelers."

Natasha didn't lower her weapon. "Travelers don't just appear out of thin air."

Leucadius sighed, folding his arms. "I'd rather not waste time explaining the intricacies of interdimensional travel to someone who likely won't remember it."

"Leu," Thena said sharply, giving him a pointed look. Turning back to Natasha, she added, "We're here on vacation. We didn't mean to intrude."

Before Natasha could respond, a distant explosion rocked the ground, and smoke billowed from the direction the sisters had come from. Natasha's expression tightened, and she grabbed Yelena's hand.

"We don't have time for this," Natasha said, turning to leave.

Leucadius stepped forward, his voice commanding. "Wait."

Natasha froze, her instincts screaming at her to keep running but unable to ignore the authority in his tone. Leucadius extended a hand, and a faint golden glow surrounded them.

"The Red Room's forces are closing in on you," he said, his eyes glowing faintly. "Let us help."

Natasha hesitated, her grip on Yelena tightening. "Why would you help us?"

Thena smiled warmly, stepping beside Leucadius. "Because sometimes, even travelers need a little adventure on their vacation."

…

The group made their way to a nearby safe house, where Natasha explained their mission in clipped, cautious sentences.

Leucadius listened intently, his cosmic awareness already piecing together the broader implications of the Red Room's operations.

In short, Natasha and Yelena were sent to spy and gather intelligence on SHIELD and the U.S technology.

"This isn't just about you," Leucadius said after Natasha finished. "The Red Room is a symptom of something much larger, a fracture in humanity's path toward its potential."

Thena gave Leucadius a disdainful glance but didn't speak.

Natasha frowned. "And you know this how?"

Thena waved a hand dismissively. "He's complicated. Let's just say he's always sticking his nose where it doesn't belong."

Leucadius smirked. "I prefer to think of it as guiding the lost."

…

When the Red Room operatives caught up to them, the ensuing battle was a chaotic mix of gunfire, hand-to-hand combat, and golden flashes of energy.

Natasha and Yelena fought with ruthless precision, their training evident in every move as they attacked with the Intent to kill.

Thena, meanwhile, carved through the enemies with her spear dancing as it maimed everyone she passed.

She wasn't beyond killing them, but she couldn't just kill them due to her status as an eternal, but as they were bad enough to be a part of whatever this was, they surely deserved to be maimed.

Leucadius, for his part, barely moved. With a wave of his hand, he warped reality, disarming enemies by turning their guns into butterflies and knocking them unconscious with a little mind spell.

As the last operative fell, Natasha turned to him, breathing heavily. "You're not normal."

"No," Leucadius replied, his expression unreadable. "But neither are you."

Thena stepped forward, placing a hand on Natasha's shoulder. "You're strong, but strength alone won't be enough to escape the Red Room. Trust your instincts, and remember—you're not alone."

Natasha nodded, her guard lowering slightly. For the first time, she allowed herself to hope.

…

As the sisters disappeared into the night, Leucadius turned to Thena. "Vacation, huh?"

She grinned, looping her arm through his. "Admit it, Leu. You had fun."

He sighed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Maybe a little."

"Who are you kidding, you think I didn't see the Touch?" Thena continued mischievously. "Why? Do you think she's special or something?"

"Hmm. She is special. Unfortunately so." Leucadius said and didn't expand on the subject. It had nothing to do with her and only felt that it would be a pity for her to die later on in the future.

With this she could have her fate altered by a lot.

Leucadius and Thena then proceeded to spend a week in their quaint little cabin by a lake in Ohio, enjoying a rare respite.

Their days were filled with simple pleasures: leisurely walks through the woods, quiet evenings by the fire, and long talks about everything and nothing.

Leucadius fully let his guard down, rediscovering the joy of simple relaxation.

Thena, ever the instigator of mischief, teased him relentlessly, making the vacation feel more like an adventure. By the end of the week, both of them felt refreshed, but their peace was short-lived.

On their way back through California, the tranquility of their journey was disrupted when they witnessed a peculiar sight: a woman in spandex, perched on a rooftop, seemingly ready to leap into action.

Her movements were erratic, almost as if she were training or preparing for something—but Leucadius couldn't shake the feeling that she was more than just a random passerby.

"That lady…"

Thena raised an eyebrow, her golden eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Well, this could be interesting," she said, a playful smirk curling on her lips.

Leucadius, always intrigued by the unexpected, nodded in agreement. It seemed their vacation had just taken a new, unpredictable turn.