Wandas POV

I feel like air. Or what it must feel like to be air.

Okay.

I'm floating.

I'm on cloud nine.

Happiness has entered my blood stream and it's carrying me all the way back home.

I push open the door, smile on my face, and quite literally, a skip in my step.

I don't now if you've figured it out yet, but that little interaction with Blue has given me a new life.

And I know it sounds crazy. I know it's absolutely ridiculous.

The person my friend is fake dating who I've hooked up with and that usually hates me..

Yeah. It sounds like I've lost my mind and sent it away to Pluto.

We talked. Like normal people. I wouldn't quite say like friends, maybe more like acquaintances?

Doesn't really matter.

It didn't end up in a yelling match or with her breath hot on my face, one small move and our lips being brought together..

Okay, I kind of wanted that to happen.

But anyway.

She smiled. I got her to smile. And.. I don't know. I feel like I may have brought her walls down a little bit? I don't want to take all the credit or assume anything here, but I think I finally broke the ice. She saw how genuine and true I was about everything, saw that I was actually trying to make a difference and do some good.

And I think she was able to move past the anger and hate and let me in, even just the smallest amount.

And it shouldn't be such a big victory, but it is.

Because it is.

Maybe you don't think so but.. you aren't feeling what I'm feeling.

And only she can..

"What the hell are you doing?"

Nats voice breaks me of my reverie.

"Uh.." I look up to see her with a confused expression, but she's also trying not to laugh.

What could I be doing to warrant that?

Then I realize I had been pouring a drink for a solid minute and it was over flowing.

Oops.

I quickly move to clean up the mess.

"Are you okay, Wanda? Did something happen? Because if it's too much working with the fire and everything.." her voice is weighed down with concern.

"No, no. I'm fine. I'm not in the burning buildings and usually everything is put out by the time I get there," I assure her.

"Okay.. then what has you all spaced out?"

I could tell her it's Alex. I mean, it isn't anything bad, right? Her letting the anger down if even for a moment?

I should tell her.

"It's Alex," I have got to stop blurting things out.

"Oh?" She's skeptical.

I had to work with her today," I'm making her work for this.

"And you had another fight or..? No. I see, you had a good conversation?" Her voice is careful. She's testing me.

Alex is her sisters girlfriend, fake dating or not.

"We did. She accused me.. us, of using the field work for more publicity and I told her the truth. I told her that she made me realize we could be doing more and that we made sure to make some actual changes."

Nats expression is unchanging.

"Hm. Interesting. And it has you all bubbly and over pouring drinks because..?"

"Because.. I thought she hated me. And.. she made this huge impact on my life. Not only did she save my life, but she's the one that brought this to my attention. She's the one that set this in motion. And I didn't think I'd get to tell her that," I admit. And I realize as I'm saying it just how true it really is.

After a moment too long, "alright. Well I'm glad you were able to talk it out."

"Yeah, me too. I feel like we made some progress. I don't know what we're progressing to, but I'm still thankful for it. If anything it made working less stressful," I realize I kind of rambled.

She smiles, "good. It was about time your weird little fued died." We both laugh. "So does this mean you are ready for girls night? We were just about to start."

Right, I never told them I was done so they didn't know I was coming home. "Absolutely. Let me just grab a drink and I'll be there."

"Okay, I'll have it ready for when you do," and she walks away.

I quickly find a drink and make my way to the movie room where everyone else is already situated. Yelena is here too, but without Alex.

Makes sense. I just saw her. And even though I think we've made some progress, I don't think she'd be okay with an avengers party.

Everyone else is already coupled up, even Carol is sitting very close to Val. Interesting. I bet that's who she had a date with.

I also didn't know this became a couples night.

So I take the spot next to Yelena and she offers me a smile.

Yelena notices my wandering gaze, "Alex is working," she offers.

"I know," I tell her.

She looks at me weird, I explain further, "I just got done working with her."

Yelena nods in understanding then turns to the screen as Spencer starts the movie. I'm not even sure what we're watching and it doesn't matter. I could be watching Batman for all I care.

We all settle into the night, Yelena and I drank more than our fair share; I know I was just in a good mood, I can't speak for Yelena. But we made the romcom even funnier. We were laughing and drinking and eating as we watched some poor soul think they are about to lose the person they love to someone else. Only they find love where they least expect it; some long lost love still holding the flame.

——————

It's been a week since I worked with Alex. I've helped the fire fighters one other day since, but I'm guessing it was her day off as she wasn't with her station.

Not that I was looking.

I was.

It's all fine and good, the day went well.

The other days I've been on missions or helping the avengers with one thing or another. Or training. Plenty of training.

I guess I had been focusing on helping the community more than focusing on my powers.

So now I'm looking forward to breaking up the boring routine and joining the firefighters in a day of clean up.

Even if it was a slow day, there was always something I could help with.

I never went to their fire houses; how could I choose one when you never know who will be called out? And I figured they have their own work to do.

But I found ways to help the others while they awaited a call out.

I almost finished cleaning up a whole park before I was notified of a call out. They were already on their way to the location.

One that was close to Alex's station.

So yeah, I was kind of hoping I'd see her. Get a chance to keep mending what we started.

It only takes a few moments to meet up with the firefighters at the site.

Of course they were still faster, already having their hoses out and attempting to douse the flames.

I do everything I can to help, although I'm still apprehensive about working with fire.

You can't blame me. No one does.

I might get there some day, but for now.. I'll wait.

And train more.

I catch sight of Alex's fire truck almost immediately, recognizing their number. Yes, I may just have it memorized. But I have a lot of them memorized by now.

Maybe I don't...

So of course as I go to find out where I'm needed, my eyes are searching for her, seeking her out amidst all of these people.

Fire fighters, cops, and EMTS galore.

They're all tying to do their jobs and it's entrancing.

There's a mess of bodies, but they're all working around each other like they've been doing this same dance routine for decades.

Each person knows what they're doing, where they're needed, how to help.

It's a good feeling to have; to know where you belong.

I haven't caught sight of those blue eyes yet, but I still have hope. For whatever reason.

Luckily I'm not standing around long as Ruby directs me to where I can help the most.

Soon enough they have everything under wraps and are moving to clean everything up.

I join in, not bothering to wait to be told what to do. I've done this a few times now.

"Look at you getting down and dirty. I'm so proud," it's a voice I recognize but not one I can place, so I turn to see who the it belongs to.

"Hey, Max," I smile.

"Hey, Wanda. Good to see you here again. We've really appreciated the help, it has made such a difference."

"Yeah, it's been really good to be out here helping. Somehow this feels bigger than fighting off some aliens."

She laughs, "I'll take your word for it. But, uh, your girl blue is over on the other side of the building."

She caught me. I was looking for her. But I won't admit that, "huh? Oh, okay. I wasn't really looking.."

"You were. That's alright. I know you know about her girlfriend and they're pretty serious, so I expect you to respect that. But I also know you two have some weird hate friendship. So, you do you."

I'm really not sure what to say, "oh.. uh. Yeah. I guess?" Good enough.

She just smiles, shaking her head as she walks off.

I try to not seem too eager to go over to the side Blue is on.

But I still make my way over.

I spot her instantly but I try not to make it obvious, opting to start moving things instead of going right over to talk to her.

Try to draw her over to me.

It works.