Slowly but surely

| Four |

I woke up to my alarm and groaned, already regretting setting it. But then I remembered why. 

Today, I was hoping to catch the twins and invite them out for a little shopping trip. 

My plan was to help them personalise their new spaces—maybe pick up a few room decorations, some clothes, and shoes. It wasn't entirely selfless; I could use a few things too.

I hopped into the shower, brushed my teeth, and went through my usual morning routine in record time. 

A bit of makeup, some soft curls in my hair, and then it was time for the hardest part: picking an outfit. 

I tore through my wardrobe, debating between what felt like thirty different options before finally settling on a pair of white shorts, a white crop top, and a loose blue shirt over it. 

Summer was fast approaching, and I was definitely dressing the part.

When I made it to the kitchen, to my luck, Wanda and Pietro were already there, eating breakfast.

"Morning!" I greeted them with a smile, grabbing a banana.

"Morning," Wanda said, offering a polite smile. Pietro gave a silent nod in acknowledgment.

Trying not to make it too obvious, I casually asked, "So, what are you guys up to today?"

I already knew the answer. The recruits usually had their first few days to settle in, so their schedules were wide open.

"Nothing," Wanda replied, spooning another bite of cereal.

Perfect. "How about I take you guys out? Maybe hit the mall, grab a few things for your rooms, some new clothes... we can hang out a bit?" 

I tried not to sound too eager, but I could tell they were a bit unsure.

Pietro was quick to shut down the idea. "We don't have money," he said, as if that was the ultimate excuse.

I waved it off with a smile. "Don't worry about it, I'll pay. Think of it as a welcome gift from your friendly neighborhood... me."

They both still looked hesitant, so I threw in a joke, "Consider me your personal sugar mommy for the day." I laughed, but their confused faces made me backtrack quickly. 

"Never mind. Ignore that last part."

Wanda finally seemed to warm up to the idea. "Okay, we'll go," she said, and I couldn't hide my excitement.

"Great! Let's leave now," I said, tossing my banana peel away.

Wanda asked if she could borrow something cooler to wear, and I happily led her to my closet. 

Pietro waited in my room, quietly looking around at my stuff while I discreetly kicked some stray underwear under my bed. 

Wanda chose a lighter shirt and soon we were heading down to the garage. 

I unlocked the car, and before long, we were on our way to the mall—Wanda in the passenger seat and Pietro in the back.

"So, what's it like being Stark's daughter?" Wanda asked, breaking the silence.

I laughed. "Not as fun as it sounds. I'm basically the anti-Tony Stark. People say we're opposites."

As I pulled into a parking spot, I decided to address the elephant in the room. 

"By the way, I know why you guys have... issues with my dad. He told me about Sokovia, and I just want to say, I get it. What happened wasn't entirely on him, but his ex-partner, Obadiah, had a lot to do with those weapons ending up in the wrong hands. Still, I get why you'd hold it against us."

The twins exchanged a look—the kind of silent communication only they could do. 

Wanda turned to me with a slightly softer expression. "I've looked into your mind, and I don't see any ill intentions," she admitted.

I blinked, feeling both relieved and a little creeped out. "That's... good to know. Thanks for not finding any evil thoughts?" I said, half-joking.

She smiled apologetically. "I know it's invasive, but for our peace of mind, I had to be sure. I'm sorry if we came off hostile."

"I trust my sister, and if she says you're good, I believe her," Pietro added.

I grinned. "I'd love a fresh start. Let's kick things off with some coffee?"

We headed inside, but barely made it through the door before I heard my name being called. I turned to see two teenage girls rushing over, phones in hand. Great.

"Can we get a picture?" one of them asked.

"Sure, but let's keep it quiet, okay?" I smiled, quickly posing for a selfie before excusing myself. "Sorry, I'm in a bit of a rush!"

As we walked deeper into the mall, Pietro raised an eyebrow. "Does that happen a lot?"

"More often than I'd like," I chuckled. "I'm not even an Avenger, but I guess being Stark's daughter has its perks... and its problems."

We spent the next few hours shopping—clothes, shoes, accessories, and even some décor for their rooms. 

As the day went on, the twins relaxed more, and we actually started having fun. 

By the time we were done, even Pietro had bags piled up in his arms, though he stubbornly refused to let Wanda or me help.

But as we exited the mall, my heart sank. 

About fifteen or twenty paparazzi had gathered outside, cameras at the ready. I had a feeling those girls from earlier posted something that led them here.

I'd had my fair share of run-ins with the paparazzi before, and while it was never easy, I'd learned to handle it. But this time was different—I was more concerned about the twins.

The photographers weren't just after me; they were looking for any chance to catch "Tony Stark's daughter" in an awkward moment. 

One wrong move, and it'd be headlines blaming the Avengers for something completely unrelated. 

Not to mention, those invasive snapshots would be sold to the highest bidder, plastered all over the internet, and spun into some ridiculous story. It was exhausting and completely intrusive.

"Is this all for you?" Pietro asked, incredulous.

"Unfortunately, yeah." I sighed. "Just stick close, keep your heads down, and don't engage."

Flashes went off the second we stepped outside, and the barrage of questions started. 

Some were innocent, others not so much. I pushed through, guiding Wanda and Pietro through the chaos. It felt like it took forever, but we finally made it back to the car.

"That was... an experience," Pietro said, attempting to flatten his hair, which had been ruffled by the photographers.

I laughed. "Next time, let's bond somewhere paparazzi-free."

"Agreed," Wanda said, shaking her head at the madness.

I started the car and sighed with relief. "Alright, time to go home."

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stuffs happening 🧘🏼‍♀️