Ride or Die Part: Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

About two weeks later, you still couldn't stop thinking about what Wanda had said and it didn't help that she was always giving you knowing looks behind her little cup of coffee or quirking an eyebrow your way whenever someone would bring up anything related to your past. It was weird and you were so fucking close to confronting her, but you figured now that the secret Santa exchange was here, you'd say something at the get together.

Make it casual.

Or as casual as Lucifer can be.

"Okay! I know this is usually Steve's part to um, do," Sam cleared his throat as the room fell into an uncomfortable silence, "But uh, I figured, we'll just hang out and you can give your person their gift whenever you want...sound good?"

Everyone muttered their agreements, and he clapped his hands together once before moving over to the bar where Bucky and Maria were talking. He easily fell into the conversation, making Bucky smile, and you did the same, except yours was sad because you knew he was just reminded of everything he had lost.

"Babe?" Natasha pulled your attention away from the super soldier and you took the drink she handed you as she studied your fallen expression, "Everything alright?"

"Yep." You nodded and she smiled sympathetically, knowing the Steve mention wasn't exactly easy to swallow in more ways than one.

"I'm going to go give Thor his gift – I got him every Taylor Swift vinyl there is," She smiled with a shrug, "Nobody set a budget this year, so I thought it was a safe bet."

"That's perfect, love," You smiled softly and then perked up, "Especially since Sam got him a record player for his birthday last year."

"Yeah," She nodded with a small smile, "Thought it'd be nice to have his favorites whenever he stays in his room here."

"Ugh, you're so thoughtful," You wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her in for a hard kiss before you dropped your voice, wiggling your eyebrows, "How'd I get so lucky?"

"You've got talented hands, baby." She winked and then laughed loudly as she walked away, having caught your low whistle.

Again, you caught Wanda's eye only about two minutes later when you headed towards Tony who was trying to pick out the next song, and she simply raised her glass towards you with a smirk. You shot her a half amused, questioning look back and she shrugged before smiling knowingly at you, but still watching as if nobody else was in the room.

"Okay, that's it," You mumbled to yourself, storming up to her and abandoning the idea of helping Stark, so her smile grew when you came close enough, clearly hoping for this, "What is it? Has there been an invisible 'kick me' sign on my back for the past week or did you dump Vision only to realize it's yours truly you want? Because I gotta tell you Wanda, I'm taken. Flattered. But taken," You raised a finger when she opened her mouth to speak, adding, "Have thought about it before, but again, no thank you."

"No sign." She assured, narrowing her eyes with a playful smile before she took a drink, and you huffed tiredly.

"It's not polite to stare."

"Remember the portal to purgatory?" She asked to your surprise.

"Uh, yeah, but what's with the reminiscing? First about London, now purgatory? Last time I ran into you in the hall the other day, you asked about Kris again – Wanda, what's going on? And please be as straight as two women of our...preferences can be. Sans the Roomba you love."

"I picked you," She ignored your question and everything else, pulling out a small, wrapped gift that could fit into the palm of your hand, and gave it to you, "Only drink it if you're certain though."

"Certain of what?" You asked slowly, tearing open the present to reveal a glass vial of some clear liquid with wisps of red swirling through it, and you thumbed over the corked top, looking from it to her with a confused frown, "Wanda, what is this?"

"Do you always wear your suit – even to parties?" She asked back, eyeing you up and down as you felt a bit self-conscious in the same suit you've been wearing since that day.

"In case I need it." You muttered shyly, your focus back on the vial, and she hummed.

"Even Lucifer is afraid now," She nodded softly, mostly speaking to herself, "Maybe this isn't the world we want to be living in."

"Things have change," You straightened your posture to one of a soldier, "For the better."

"And you truly believe you can fix your problems by fixing the world's issues first?" She raised her eyebrows, shrugging when you didn't answer, "If you believe this," She gestured towards Bucky who was shaking his head sadly, pouring his seventh scotch since his serum practically prevented him from getting intoxicated and then eyed the rest who seemed to be missing a piece of themselves, "Is what's best for everyone, including yourself, then don't drink it," She smiled, "Just dispose of it down the drain or something."

"You're being cryptic," You forced a laugh, but it was nervous, as you shook your head with a smile, eyeing the vial again, "If you just told me my secret Santa gift, I'd know whether I'd want to drink this stuff or not."

"Okay," She nodded once firmly after considering it, "I'll give you two options."

"Like the Matrix – where is Fury by the way?"

"Ghana."

"Okay, so...two options."

"You dump it and keep all you have," She then raised her eyebrows at you, eyes digging into yours, and you were listening intently as she continued, "Or you drink it...and get to show yourself just how much you," She pointed her finger at your heart, "Have changed."

"Have I changed?" You furrowed your eyebrows.

"If you haven't," She chuckled, not believing her next words would happen, "Then nothing will be altered."

"Alright, I'll take you up on it," You smirked, and she cocked an eyebrow as you uncorked the top, raising it, "Bottoms up, Maximoff!"

You heard Pietro cheer in the background as you threw it back, making an audible, 'ah' since it didn't really taste like anything, and then she carefully took the empty vial back with an expectant look in her eyes.

"Sorry, Wands," You shrugged casually, "I don't think anything-"

"Y/n L/n, my name is Doctor Stephen Strange, and you need to come with me."

Your breath hitched as you looked around, Natasha cuddled into your side as your arm was wrapped around her waist, and then to Stephen with his portal around him. You were back in the penthouse room and it was all déjà vu, so it took you a long moment to adjust – remembering this day and how it changed the course of your life when you accepted his request to start helping the Avengers – practically becoming one yourself.