"Aryan?" Wanda asked, pulling back. She looked at the window.
Rain was lashing against the glass.
"It is raining again," she noted. "And it feels... cold."
"Climate change," I sighed, shaking my head with exaggerated disappointment. "It's a real crisis, Wanda. The polar vortex is shifting. The weather patterns are erratic."
She looked at me suspiciously. "It rains a lot when you are around."
"I'm a moody guy," I joked. "Maybe the sky is empathetic."
She laughed, settling back against my chest. "It is definitely cold."
We were still on the sofa. She was shivering slightly… or pretending to.
I reached for the blanket, but then I stopped.
I looked at her hands. They were resting on my knees.
"Your hands are freezing," I said.
"They are," she agreed.
I was wearing a flannel shirt over a t-shirt and my lounge pants had deep pockets.
I took her hands.
I slid her hands into my pockets. They were warm.
"Better?" I asked, leaning my forehead against hers.
She smiled. It was a radiant smile. She wiggled her fingers inside my pockets, resting them against my thighs.
"Much better," she said. "You are a very efficient heater, my King."
"Service with a smile," I said. "And free of charge."
"Oh?" she raised an eyebrow. "I thought there was a tax."
"I'll collect later," I winked.
We sat there for a moment, the rain drumming against the house, creating a cocoon of sound.
"You know," I said, reaching into my back pocket with my free hand (gymnastics, I tell you) and pulling out my phone. "Speaking of the world outside... do you want to see the damage?"
"The damage?"
"The internet," I said. "The 'National Husband' situation."
Wanda sat up straighter, though she kept her hands in my pockets. "Show me."
I unlocked the phone. I opened social media.
"Okay," I said. "Prepare yourself. The internet is a weird place."
I scrolled to the trending tab.
#WestviewHeroes was trending.
#DrSpencer was trending.
#WandaMaximoff was trending.
I tapped on a meme account. @StarkIndustriesStan.
"Look at this," I said, holding the phone between us.
Image: The classic 'Distracted Boyfriend' meme.
The Boyfriend: The entire Internet.
The Girlfriend: Captain America.
The Girl in Red: Dr. Aryan Spencer doing CPR in a muddy t-shirt.
Caption: "Sorry Cap, but does your medical degree look this good wet?"
Wanda burst out laughing. "Oh my god."
"I feel objectified," I claimed, though I was grinning. "Captain America is a national hero. I'm just a guy with good chest compression technique."
"You are better looking," Wanda stated loyally.
I scrolled down.
Image: A split screen.
Left: Vision (Polite, robotic).
Right: Aryan (Messy hair, holding Wanda's hand at the party).
Caption: "Upgrade Complete."
Wanda went quiet for a second. I started to scroll past it quickly.
"Wait," she said. She touched the screen.
She looked at it. She looked... amused.
"They are not wrong," she whispered.
I choked. "Wanda!"
"What?" she shrugged. "You are warmer."
I kissed her temple. "You're terrible."
"Next," she commanded.
Image: A blurry screenshot from the party video. It's the moment I was whispering in her ear about the 'menace' dress.
Caption: "I don't know what he whispered, but I'm 99% sure she's about to hex anyone who looks at him. Look at that grip."
User Comment: "@WandasSimp99: That is the grip of a woman who knows what she has. Yandere Wanda confirmed?"
"Yandere?" Wanda asked. "What is that?"
"It means... passionately protective," I lied. "Very devoted."
"Then it is accurate," she nodded.
Image: A photo of me holding the spinach puffs.
Caption: "He saves babies. He dresses like a Ralph Lauren catalog. Is he real? Or did Wanda manifest him?"
Reply: "If she manifested him, can she drop the tutorial? asking for a friend."
"They think I made you up," Wanda laughed.
"I am too good to be true," I preened.
Comment 1: "I've suddenly developed a severe choking hazard. I need Dr. Spencer to arrive immediately for a private consultation. Preferably involving mouth to mouth. For medical safety, of course."
Comment 2: "Okay, but does Westview have a residency program? Because I am currently packing my bags, burning my lease and moving to New Jersey tonight."
Comment 3: "Wanda, I love you, girl, but fight me. I am willing to risk everything for just one of those smiles he gives you in the video."
Wanda's smile dropped. Her eyes narrowed at the screen.
"These women," she said, her voice dropping a few degrees. "They are... very forward."
"They're thirsty," I explained. "It's the internet. Everyone is thirsty."
"They want to pack their bags?" she read again. "They want to come here?"
"They're joking," I said quickly. "Mostly."
She pulled one hand out of my pocket and tapped the screen, pointing at a comment that said 'I'd fake an injury just to have him check my pulse.'
"She would fake an injury," Wanda noted coldly. "Perhaps I should give her a real one."
I grabbed her hand and kissed the palm.
"Easy, tiger," I said. "Let's not hex the fanbase."
"If you go outside," she said, looking at me seriously. "There will be... lines. Of girls."
"Lines?"
"Waiting for you. Faking injuries."
I laughed. "Wanda, look at me."
She looked.
"I'm sitting in your lap," I said. "Well, you're in mine, but you get the point. My hands are holding yours. My pockets are warming your hands."
I leaned in closer.
"I don't care about the line," I whispered. "And I definitely don't care about the comments."
I nodded at the phone.
"Sorry, ladies," I said to the screen. "But I'm already taken. By the one in my lap. And she has magic, so back off."
Wanda smiled.
"You should post that," she suggested.
"Maybe later," I said, tossing the phone onto the cushion next to us. "Right now, I'm busy."
"Busy?"
"Warming your hands," I said. "It's a full time job."
She laughed, snuggling back into my chest.
"It is a good job," she murmured.
"The best," I agreed.
PS: Hey guys, come on, let's see if we can unlock another chapter before Sunday night, haha. Don't let the week end like this. Hahaha
PS: There are 30+ Advance chapters available on the Patreon for those who want to read ahead. www.patreon. com/Drrajnovel