New Recruits

6 | secrets

One Week Later

"Dipshit, I'm having an issue." De burst into El's room. El was sitting at her desk, doing something on the new laptop Tony had gotten her. 

"Okay?" El laughed, turning around in her chair. "Do you just barge into everyone's room? Thalia told me you go in there sometimes at like, three am when you have a realization or something."

"Well, mainly Thalia since she's right across the hall from me. But anyway. Back to my issue." De explained, flopping onto El's bed. "I have no clue what to do about it and it's bothering me so I have absolutely no clue what I should do about it."

"Maybe you should tell me what the issue is, so I can help you." El laughed. 

"Okay but here's the thing. If I tell you, then you'll know. And it'll change things and you could make a massive deal about it. And we've never talked about this kind of thing before so I don't know what you'll say or if you'll want to stop being my friend-" De rambled on. 

"Stop. Just tell me. I'm not gonna stop being your friend over something silly, De." 

"Wanda." De said abruptly.

"What? Wanda's your issue?" El tilted her head like a confused puppy. "How could Wanda be your issue she's so nice and... Oh. Ohhh." The realization seemed to hit El in the face. "The problem isn't Wanda. the problem is that you like Wanda." 

"Oh thank god I came to you. I don't think Thalia would've understood what I was trying to say and I would've had to say it out loud." De exhaled, returning to her regular cool and calm state. 

"I didn't know you liked girls," El said.

"I didn't either!" De groaned. "I just thought that dating wasn't really for me, then I met her and went on patrol with her a few times, and it hit me right before I came in here, that I actually, you know..." She trailed off, lowering her voice. "Like her, or something," De said in a hushed voice, as if Wanda was listening in on the conversation. "I mean, you haven't been out on patrol with her, cause she's ground-level and you're in the air, but man, she's so pretty. She always ties her hair up in a ponytail and lets a few strands hang out and she always looks so cute in her patrol outfit and she's actually the sweetest and funniest person I've ever met, no offense, and oh my god El, I like her so much." By the time she was finished, De was out of breath and her cheeks were a light pink- something El didn't think was possible. 

"I think that's adorable, De. And it's totally okay that you like her, there's nothing wrong with that. Oh, and I totally support you, by the way. I wouldn't have stopped being your friend because of that." El smiled brightly.

"Oh, thank god." De smiled. "So, like, do I hint that I like her? What if she doesn't like girls?" 

"First of all, this is the most nervous I've ever seen you. Maybe take a few days, sort out your thoughts, and then maybe start hinting things." El explained.

"Okay. I'll do that. Thanks, El!" De smiled and jumped off of El's bed before leaving the room, forgetting to close the door behind her. 

--

The six kids were all sitting in the living room on their floor playing Mario Kart and trying to better their skills two days later. They wished they could have been outside exploring the city, but the adults had made a really good point when they said that they should avoid being seen entering and exiting the tower as themselves, now that there were new reports of four new vigilantes around the city. Wanda was already well-known as an Avenger, so she couldn't just go out into the open on a regular basis. Peter openly had an internship at Stark Industries, which helped him to cover himself and his identity.