Safe Place

23: The Fake Girlfriend (Part 2)

Wanda's POV:

I stand in the kitchen and listen to the rest of the Avengers rush down the stairs. Last time I saw Bruce, he threatened to 'choke the life out of me', so I'm not really looking forward to our next encounter.

Everyone else seems excited, though. Tony especially. I haven't seen him this enthusiastic since he caught Bucky and Steve kissing a few hours after the whole confession mess. He was literally bouncing off the walls. I'd never known Captain America's face could turn that red.

Thinking of red makes me think of Nat, which makes all other worries float away from my mind.

Pietro was right. It's not Vision I want to be with. It's her.

"Wanda!" Maria and Pepper call as they rush past. "Bruce is here! And when the whole meet-and-greet is over, we're planning a wedding!"

I watch as an overexcited Thor drags along a still-completely-placid Vision, who grimaces at me as he's yanked by. Bucky does the same as Steve pulls him along. Rhodey, Sam, and Clint are jogging behind them, gesturing wildly.

I just pour myself a glass of guava iced tea - Steve has fancy taste - and try to melt into the background. Tony's yelling frantically from the bathroom about how "if anyone tries to answer the door before he gets there", there will be "major and painful consequences".

Clint smiles evilly and pulls it open.

There's Bruce. His hair is grayer than it was, and he's wearing a Hawaiian shirt, but otherwise he looks the same. I'm not really sure how Nat was ever into him.

But the biggest thing I notice is that he's not alone.

He has a kid with him. The kid is scrawny and brown-haired, probably not any older than sixteen, and he's fast asleep in Bruce's arms. When he's not the Hulk, Bruce isn't all that strong, so the kid must be pretty light if he's managed to carry him.

Steve and Bucky immediately rush forward to take him, ignoring Bruce completely, and I smile into my cup. 

I haven't drunk anything, though. My anxiety has pulled my stomach tighter than elastic.

The rest of the boys - except for Tony, who's still in the bathroom - hurry to prop him up with pillows. Bruce follows them, smoothing the kid's hair and whispering something about how he'll explain it all later. 

I hear Nat coming quietly down the stairs, and all the voices stop.

Clint tries to save her by wrapping Bruce in a huge hug, and it kind of works, because all the Avengers pile on top of him. "Guys!" he whisper-laughs. "Outside! We don't want to wake Peter."

Everyone pushes Bruce outside and starts to embrace him one-by-one, throwing questions and "We missed you!"'s at him faster than even his quick brain can comprehend. He's laughing, though, happy to be back with his family.

But then everyone's had a turn at hugging him except for Nat and me.

And Nat's standing by the doorway in my Little Mix T-shirt.

It's now or never, Wanda.

I grab my still-full glass of tea and jog lightly over to Nat like I do it every day. 

"I got you your tea, babe," I say. "I know you get cranky without your caffeine." And then I stand on my tiptoes (A/N:  I know that Nat is actually shorter than Wanda in the MCU, but I wanted Nat to be taller in the story) and kiss her gently on the lips.

I'm really proud of myself for not fainting right then and there. She tastes like coconut lip balm and something else, another sweet taste. I want to kiss her again and find out.