Safe Place

15: Movie Night

Wanda's POV:

I smile to myself as I leave Nat's room. Dating Vision has kind of thrown me into the deep end of the Avengers social pool, but she's still the only one I really feel comfortable around.

Her and Vision. Obviously.

I walk into the living room, expecting loud conversation and maybe popping popcorn, but instead I find a bunch of yelling and squealing. At the center of it all is two women I've never met before - a brunette wearing dark eye makeup and navy sweatpants, and a strawberry blonde with a ponytail and a pink hoodie. 

The two of them are laughing, Brunette's arm around Strawberry's waist. All the guys except for Steve, Vision, and Clint are surrounding them - Steve's in the kitchen, Clint's on FaceTime with his kids and shushing everyone at random intervals, and Vision is - huh, where's Vision?

"Hello, Wanda," says a very low, very British voice.

Ah. There he is.

"Hi," I say, turning to face him. 

"Are you alright, dear?" he asks. "You're not smiling, and you seem rather...tense."

He lifts my hand, and I glance down to see wisps of red surrounding my tightly clenched palm.

I fake a laugh and force my lips to turn upwards. 

"No! I'm fine, really," I say, nodding like it will prove my point. "Just a little on edge, I guess, with all the people, you know?" 

"Ah. Yes. I don't believe you've met Ms. Hill and Ms. Potts before, have you?"

"No, I don't believe I have." My voice sounds flat, even to my own ears.

He takes my hand more firmly and guides me over to the two women and their little harem. Rhodes and Bruce are deep in conversation with Brunette, while Tony's sprinkling confetti - where did he get confetti? then again, he's Tony - over Strawberry while Sam watches, laughing.

"If I may interrupt," he says, and all eyes spin to him. "I don't believe Wanda has yet been introduced to you, Ms. Potts, Ms. Hill."

"Oh!" says Strawberry. "Hi, I'm Pepper. You're Wanda, right?" I nod. "So good to meet you! I've been Tony's best friend since we were kids. And yeah, he tried to make a couple moves on me, but I'm not exactly into what he's selling, you know what I'm saying?"

She lowers her voice at the last part, but the entire room busts into laughter, even Tony. Strawberry - oops, Pepper - seems bubbly and kind of loud, but sweet. 

"I'm Agent Hill," Brunette says, sticking out her hand. "Pleasure."

I shake her hand, suddenly nervous.

"Ri, stop with the formalities. She's a friend. She's an Avenger!" Pepper nudges Agent Hill's side. "At least tell her your first name."

Agent Hill winces. "Sorry. Old habits. I'm Maria. This one over here," she says, pointing to a giggling Pepper, "is -"

"Nat!" Clint interrupts, standing up from the sofa. "Look, guys, it's Auntie Nat!"

A wave of shrieks and "Auntie Nat!"'s wash over me as I watch Nat sit down beside Clint on the couch. She's wearing plaid pajama pants and a black tank top, and I watch as she laughs with and teases Clint's kids over the phone. A deep, gnawing hole of yearning opens in my stomach.

She glances over at me, then quickly away, and I feel my cheeks sear with heat. I let Vision lead me to two round armchairs. He hands me a blanket and a bowl of popcorn, ever the gentleman.

We start the movie a few minutes later, and I don't know what to do with myself. Everyone, even Vision, seems comfortable and happy. I just feel stiff and cold and uneasy.