Alex's POV

I could be a better boyfriend than him

I could do the shit that he never did

Up all night, I won't quit

Thinking I'm gonna steal you from him

I could be such a gentleman

Plus all my clothes would fit

Just as I'm about to belt out the next line to Boyfriend by Dove Cameron, the music is interrupted by a phone call.

"Ugh, way to ruin my moment." I take the food I was making (yes, I have gotten a little bit better at cooking) away from the stove and turn it off.

I move over to my phone, noticing it's Nat, I can't help but be confused. Not that Nat can't call me, but she never calls me. I have a feeling she doesn't exactly trust me with Wanda, yet.

I get it. We aren't exactly defined as anything really and I don't know if we will be. We were both hurt by the other. It doesn't matter who did what to who, we hurt each other. We both need to heal.

I didn't see what she went through, though we've talked about it at length. But Nat was there. So was Spencer. So they're a little defensive for their best friend. I can't be upset with that. In fact, I love that.

I don't want to hurt her, it's no where near my intentions. I want to protect her, even if it's as her friend, as well as my own self. So I'm glad she has other people looking out for her, too.

Then I remember I have to actually answer my phone. So with my eyebrows furrowed, I swipe my phone to answer.

"Hello? Nat? What's wrong?" I can't help but assume it's something bad.

"Oh, um. Sorry to worry you. It's nothing really serious," it sounds like she moves away from the phone at the end as it goes quiet.

"Nat? What is it? It's still serious? It's Wanda. What's happened?" Now I am panicking.

"Uh.. it is about Wanda. But don't freak out!"

"You are not helping me not freak out here, Nat." I think I need to sit down. Or pace. Both. A mix?

"She's okay! Relatively speaking. We had a hard mission. I think she could use you here. I don't know if you have to work today or not, but if you are able, I'd get here as soon as you can."

My heart sinks. I hate hearing that she's having a bad day, hate knowing she's upset, maybe hurting. And for Nat to call me? It must actually be serious.

"Okay. You think I should? Like with the team and everything? I mean we still haven't told them that we're.. talking again."

"I swear between you and Spencer.." I can tell she rolled her eyes at me. "You can teleport, Alex. Teleport to Wandas room. The team doesn't have to know. Just bring what you need and do it quickly."

"Riiiight. Sorry, I spent so much time hiding my ability that I can kind of forget about it sometimes. But don't worry, I'll grab a few things and be right over."

"Good. I'd help her myself, but I think she'd prefer you. For some crazy reason," she mumbles the last part, but I still catch it. Don't think it was her intention for me to.

"Yeah, I don't get it either," I let out a breathy chuckle, "um, hey Nat?"

"Yeah?"

"I uh- I get it. Why you don't like me that much. But I'm not trying to hurt her. I never intended to. It's complicated and we've both hurt the other. But we're trying to repair that."

There's silence on the other line and I kind of wonder if she hung up.

"Hello?"

"Sorry. I just didn't expect that," she states blatantly.

"Oh. Well, I know you're important to Wanda and she is to you. And it's all weird with us because Yelena.. but I don't want things to be weird. I let it all go awhile ago. We're just trying to figure out how we fit into each other's lives again. I understand why you're protective of her. My friends are the same way and I wouldn't expect anything else. I want to protect her, too."

Another pause. Are we cutting out?

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah. I get it. We're always going to do our best to protect Wanda. But I believe that you're trying your best not to let either of you get hurt. Just be careful, please? She is really happy that you two are talking again and I don't want to see her try to recover if you don't end up together. I don't know if she will."

Shit. I had no idea she was putting that much pressure on this already. Did I miscommunicate?

"Okay, now you're being oddly silent."

"Sorry, uh.. I guess I just didn't know she expected- that she was so sure we would get back together-"

"Fuck. No, that's not- Ugh. Of course, I think, she wants to get back together. If that's what happens. I don't want you to freak out. She's good with being friends, too. But if you up and leave her again.. I don't want to see what that would do to her."

I let out a long breath.

"Okay. I'm not freaking out. It's just.. I don't want to leave her again. I care about her a lot. I guess we just have some stuff to talk about."

"Shit. Don't tell me I fucked this up?" I can tell Nat is genuinely worried.

"Of course not. It would take a lot more than this for me to stop everything. If I know I'm hurting Wanda in some way or it isn't healthy for myself anymore, that would be the only time. I would talk to her first. BUT I think I should get my ass over there to help her out, yeah?"

"Yes. Please do. I know I don't sound like it's true, but you really are good for her, Alex. She's so much happier with you. Her happiness isn't entirely on you, but it makes a difference."

"Thanks, Nat. Don't worry, I'm looking out for her."

"Okay. Now hurry your ass up and get here."

"Yes ma'am."

———————

It was only minutes later that I had a few of her favorite snacks along with some drinks in a bag and I teleported to her room.

"Holy shit, Alex! You can not do that without a warning!"

"Sorry, sunshine. I figured Nat would have told you," oops.

"Nat? What do you mean?"

"Oh, well she called and said you had a tough mission?"

"Oh. Yeah.. we did," she instantly drops her head along with her tone.

"Hey, babe," I sit on the bed and cup her face, "talk to me. What happened? What do you need?"

Then a heart breaking sob escapes and I have her wrapped in my arms.

"I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm crying! We're all fine and we saved everyone but.."

Once she stops talking, I pick up for her, "but sometimes they can still haunt you, the almosts."

I feel her nod against my chest.

"It's okay to be upset about it. Feel whatever you need to feel, sunshine. I'll be right here."

"Thank you. For coming. I know this is kind of out of our friend agreeme-"

"Hey, I'm here for you no matter what. Whatever you need me for, don't hesitate to ask, okay?"

"Okay," her voice is small, but she's no longer crying.

I kiss her forehead before leaning back to look at her. She doesn't want to look at me. So, I wipe the hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

She shakes her head 'no.'

"Okay. Would you like to watch movies? Eat junk food? Have a mini spa day, just the two of us?"

Now she looks at me, "you'd be okay with that?"

"More than okay with it, sunshine. Whatever you need to do today."

"Okay. I think I'd like to do that. I'm just.. not ready to talk about it, yet."

"Alright. Spa day with movie and snacks, coming up."

I quickly pull out everything I brought and set it up on her bed before going to set up a movie then grabbing stuff to do our nails and facials.

"You don't have to get everything-"

"Yes, I do. I'm doing whatever you want."

"Whatever?" She gets that smirk..

"Hey! Whatever is within reason," I point at her, also with a smirk of my own. "How about a massage?"

"I'll take what I can get," she shrugs her shoulders.

I finish setting everything up, facials were set, movie was playing, Wanda was on her stomach as I straddled her back.

"Holy shit. How come I didn't know you were so good at giving massages?"

I laugh, "well, we've been apart a year. I've picked up a few things."

"I feel like I don't want to know how you became so good at this." There's some disappointment there, if I'm not mistaken.

"I took a few classes."

"You took classes?"

"Yeah. I had a lot of .. self discovery in the past year. I explored a lot of different things. I may have only taken 5 classes, but they were great classes."

"You aren't kidding. If you ever don't want to be a fire fighter, you should become a masseuse. Wait. No, can I have you as my own personal masseuse?"

"I would be honored."

"Perfect."

And though there is one of her favorite movies on, I see her close her eyes. I'm just glad she's finally relaxing. Glad I'm helping.

After practically a full body massage, Wanda and I were cuddled up in her bed, her head on my chest, my arms wrapped around her as we watched yet another Disney movie.

We've talked some, what she was comfortable with. She says she's better, that she'll be better. I believe her.

But I wasn't going to leave her.

And that is how we ended up falling asleep tangled up together in her bed.