Settling In

Wanda and Pietro climbed somewhat awkwardly out of the back seat of the stretch Cadillac. Even when their feet touched the streets of New York, both of them still felt a little dazed.

An imposing gate, an air of solemn dignity, and a reddish-brown mansion enclosed by a ring of white wooden fencing, with two flights of stairs before its entrance.

Elizabeth told the driver to turn off the engine and remain on standby in the driver's seat, while she stepped out from the front passenger seat. When she told the twins that the reddish-brown building with its sharply pointed roof belonged to them from this day onward, neither child could hide their surprise and delight.

Elizabeth led them up the steps, took out a key to unlock the door, and then handed it to Pietro. But before he could even warm it in his hand, his sister slipped it into her pocket. Elizabeth pushed open the heavy doors, revealing a long, spacious corridor.

The foyer had high ceilings and round arched windows, while the hallways stretched north and south. Sunlight cast the deep black shadows of the high walls across the plush carpeting.

Pietro stepped into the sunlit living room and let out a sharp whistle. Wind seemed to rise beneath his feet as he flashed through the corridors like an impatient bolt of lightning. A white afterimage darted through every room connected by the north-south hallways before screeching to a halt back in the living room.

"Ha! You should see how many rooms there are!" he exclaimed, pointing behind him excitedly. "The bathroom is bigger than our old living room!"

But perhaps he suddenly realized that acting like this might make him seem immature. He hurriedly wiped the grin from his face and folded his arms with feigned composure. "Uh, I mean, the house is pretty big, and we appreciate it, but it's not like we've never seen anything like this."

Wanda smoothed down her hair, which had been thrown into disarray by the hurricane her brother had whipped up, and reminded him helplessly, "Pietro."

"Okay, I know, I get it, I'll stop." Pietro raised an eyebrow and shot Elizabeth an awkward glance. The light-haired secretary merely stood to one side with a faint smile, showing no reaction to his behavior.

"Then this way, please." Elizabeth smiled and gestured in the direction ahead. "Let me show you the rooms."

Despite being mentally prepared, Wanda had to admit that she was a little stunned. The house had an absurdly enormous living room, two kitchens, and a bright terrace with a swimming pool. The white square dining table was so long that if you sat at one end, you might have to shout for someone at the other end to hear you. Rows upon rows of bookshelves lined the study, containing nearly everything imaginable. It looked as though someone had moved in a small library.

There was also a gym, a karaoke room, a private theater, and an arcade. The arcade had even been thoughtfully stocked with every latest model of game console on the market. It seemed that even if they never left the house for a month, they would not be bored.

"All right, you really did prepare thoroughly." Wanda carefully considered her wording before speaking to Elizabeth. "To be honest, a little too thoroughly. We're not sure this is a good idea."

"I think it's great," Pietro said, already sprawled across a bed warmed by the sunlight. "I've decided. This is going to be my bedroom."

Wanda frowned. "Pietro."

"Please rest assured, Miss Maximoff. These are all gifts, part of the employment agreement. Someone will deliver the contract here soon, and you can review it carefully then."

Pietro sat cross-legged on the bed. "We have a contract?"

"Of course." Elizabeth explained, "Officially, you are both special consultants for New Energy Development Creative Co., Ltd. It is a subsidiary of the Passo Group."

"Officially," Wanda repeated, catching on to the word. "So in reality, we're agents of New Hydra?"

"In fact, its nature is closer to S.H.I.E.L.D. than Hydra. And your identities are not exactly those of agents. It is similar, but somewhat more specialized. You'll understand once you see the contract." Elizabeth did not seem inclined to continue the subject and instead said, "All right. Mr. Passo instructed that after viewing the house, I should take you to buy some clothes. Shall we leave now?"

The twins simultaneously lowered their heads to look at the single wrinkled outfits they were wearing, then could not help exchanging glances.

"The car is waiting outside," Elizabeth said. "Let's go."

A few hours later, the country-bumpkin-like twins had been transformed from head to toe. Pietro had gotten a neat, fresh haircut and changed into a black leather jacket with dark sunglasses, giving him a considerably more dashing look than before. Wanda's auburn hair had simply been dyed dark red and fell smoothly over her shoulders. She wore a black coat over a light-colored top, paired with fitted jeans, giving off the air of a city girl.

The twins each bought several outfits, along with some basic daily necessities. Elizabeth paid for everything with her card, and they then returned to the Cadillac that had been waiting outside.

After spending several hours together, the siblings had become a little friendlier toward the secretary. On the way back, Wanda hesitated for quite some time before finally asking, "Um, Miss Betty?"

"What is it? Is there something else you need?"

"No." Wanda waved her hand. "I was just curious. Coming here to arrange all this for us... is that part of your job too?"

Elizabeth nodded. "My job is to carry out anything Mr. Passo instructs me to do."

"So you know him?"

"Only the parts he permits me to know," Elizabeth said lightly.

"But you know about his other identity, don't you? You know what he keeps busy with in his spare time besides being the president of a multinational corporation." Wanda said, "Have you never thought he was a very dangerous person?"

Elizabeth's smile faded slightly. She turned her head, and in that instant, Wanda seemed to see an unprecedented gravity in the secretary's eyes.

"If you think that, perhaps it's only because you don't understand him yet," Elizabeth said. "Mr. Passo is the most outstanding person, and the best person, I have ever met. He isn't good at expressing it, and even seems somewhat resistant to doing so, but I know very clearly what he is like deep down. It is an honor to work for him."

Wanda stared at her blankly, unsure how to respond for a moment.

The car came to a stop. Elizabeth got up and opened the door. "All right, this is your stop. Go home and get some rest. Don't leave anything behind. If you need anything later, I'll contact you again."