The Last Supper
You crash on your bed as you and Wanda return to the room. Exhausted from over exerting yourselves time after time. Your wife tiredly joins you with a heavy sigh. “Do you think they’ll miss us if we don’t show?” Wanda asks as her head falls to gaze in your direction. You let out a light scoff.
“Trust me, it has crossed my mind,” you close your eyes for a second and focus on your breathing. Instead of the nagging feeling that this could be your last moments with your wife. “It could be fun to bond with them over more than just the mission. I think we’ll catch a second wind when we’re all together.”
Wanda’s groans cause you to laugh. “I’ve already caught my second wind. And me third, and forth. I’m not exactly in a state of having my rest tampered with.”
“Why is that?” You ask, sitting up and looking over at her.
“You know how I get when I don’t get enough rest.” Wanda mumbles as she begins to slip. You laugh softly and climb off of the bed. You pull her shoes off and flash something more comfortable on her body. You tuck her in before you jump in the shower.
Even though you could have easily cleaned yourself up with magic, saving the time and energy, you take a shower to relax. Something about the warm water is soothing as it stings your skin and clears your mind. You stop thinking about losing. You stop thinking about the Scarlet Witch. But you don’t stop thinking about your wife. You remind yourself of the wonderful years that the two of you have managed to spend together in peace. Sure, there was an argument here and there. Every couple has their moments. And you wouldn’t change a single one of them. Not even the break the two of you had before the peace. Before almost losing each other for good. When she was seeing the Simon from your universe. And you were with a girl you can hardly remember the name of now.
As you step out, you admire your sleeping wife and recall the day you reunited. The two of you had been separated for over a year by then. She was the one to put things to an end. You kept putting yourself at risk and she couldn’t handle living with the fear of losing you for good. You aren’t invincible Y/n! She didn’t like that you would sacrifice yourself so easily without considering what you would leave behind. I love you so much it hurts! But I don’t think that’ll ever be enough for you. Just go, go be the martyr you’ve always wanted to be. You’re free from me. So she kept you at a distance. Which wasn’t always easy with getting the same assignments and having to work together on the Avengers. To make it easier, you began to focus more on teaching sorcerers at Kamar Taj to be the best warriors they could be. Something the two of you do to this day, together.
It took her a few months to move on. Simon had always made himself available to her. And always followed the orders he was given to a T. Never did anything to risk his life or the life of others. Always looking for another way out. However, he didn’t make her laugh the way you did. He had no desire to build the family the two of you dreamt of together. And most importantly, he wasn’t you. But Wanda was committed to moving on from you. She wouldn’t become a young widow someday, left to care for children on her own because you had to be the hero. You took a little bit longer to move on. When you found out about her new relationship, part of you felt betrayed. Part of you thought maybe that was why she really left you. It made you angry and bitter and you built a wall around yourself to protect your heart.
Then you met someone that you thought might change things for you. That relationship was doomed from the beginning because you weren’t over Wanda. Despite how often you told yourself that you were. When Wanda caught wind of the news. She wouldn’t let go. Everyone that had an ear, she would talk on and on about how annoying this other girl seemed and how she wasn’t at all your type and that the relationship was never going to work because she wasn’t right for you. She didn’t stop until one night, at dinner with Simon, he cut her off and told her that if she wanted to be with you again then he wouldn’t hold her back. She thought his outburst was absurd but she apologized and stopped talking about you.
A couple weeks later, you were convinced to come back to the Avengers for a very important mission. There wasn’t much time to prepare, the threat was large and imminent. The two of you somehow wound up in the same area. Working as the team the two of you have always been in order to stop an enemy. You knew how to make a move without getting in her way and were good about making sure she didn’t get injured. She knew when you wanted to combine power to make a certain move with just a look. Fighting along her side again felt like a romantic dance in a way. And you knew you had to have her be yours once again. Whatever it took.
At the end of the battle, when tensions were high and the both of you were standing near each other, lucky to be alive, you walked up to her. You put your hands on her face to kiss her but you stopped yourself. Wanda gasped having you so close to her once again. She didn’t know if she wanted this again. You closed your eyes as you began to regret your actions. As you pulled away, an apology at the tip of your tongue, she grabbed your robe to keep you there. You opened your eyes to look into hers to see where her head was at. But they were shut tightly. So you closed yours again to just feel. You leaned in a bit more to feel her lips against yours, not quite kissing her just yet. She jerked her head back and let out a sharp breath. But she didn’t fight your light grasp. She didn’t remove your hands from her. She didn’t loosen her grip on your clothing. Then she made up her mind and kissed you. Both of you pulled each other closer.
She couldn’t stop apologizing and telling you how much she loved you as she broke down in tears. You consoled her the best you could but you were feeling quite emotional yourself that day. You move her hair out of her face now as you flash on something nice for the event tonight. You thought it was a little ridiculous to be celebrating before the fight. But you suppose another day alive was a victory itself. You conjure a little note to let Wanda know where you are when she wakes. It didn’t matter that she could have figured it out on her own. It was part of good communication. You kiss her forehead before leaving.
You arrive at the dining hall where they were setting up chairs around the tables. You stop Jean and Raven where they are and you make a couple of hand motions that set everything up for them. The tables and chairs are out, a buffet is ready to serve, a bar is ready to serve endless drinks, and there is a table full of desserts and candies. “Ah, I love magic,” you say happily.
Raven shakes her head, “Huh, I think I like you a little bit more.”
“Uh-oh, don’t let Carol hear that,” Jean teases.
“Shut up,” the blonde rolls her eyes, “I have to go change. Not all of us can be ready with the wiggle of our noses.” Leaving you with Jean alone in the hall.
“That is offensive to my kind,” you throw out there jokingly.
Jean smiles, “What is?”
“I am the Master of the Mystical Arts. There is a lot more that goes into my transformation than just a twitch of my nose,” you scoff dramatically.
“Is that so?” She enables.
“Yeah, it’s a wave,” you hold your hand slightly above your head, “of my hand.” As you twirl your wrist and lower your hand, your outfit changes again. This time into a ridiculous clown that makes Jean burst out laughing. “What? Is there something on my face?” You cluelessly touch your cheek, allowing the paper white makeup rub off on your comically large red glove. “Oh no! Not again!” you say and you look up to see her holding her side. “It’s not funny!” You gripe and Jean tries to get the words out to agree with you but she can’t. Then with a wiggle of your big red nose, the clown outfit poofs away and you are back in the outfit you intended to wear tonight.
“I will be sure to correct Raven before she strikes again,” Jean says once she’s able to get her words out. “I should get ready as well,” she takes a glance around the empty space, not sure if she should leave you all by yourself. “Where’s Wanda?”
“Taking a nap,” you answer simply.
“I’m surprised you aren’t with her now,” Jean says.
You laugh a little to yourself. “Oh, if I sleep now I won’t get back up.” You don’t need to be a mind reader to know the woman’s conflict. “Go on, I’m sure someone will pop in here while I entertain myself.”
“Are you sure?” She asks to be polite but she was already making her way to the door.
“Yes,” you confirm. Once you’re all alone, you leave the area to go over the strategies while you wait. This wasn’t a typical situation, you’ve never been given this much time to work out a strategy before going against a threat before. There usually wasn’t time to make a group plan. It was usually instinct based and following whatever something could come up with on the spot. So, you wanted to take advantage of the time.
“I knew you’d be in here,” Thor says as he enters the room. “Come on, put that stuff down. I'm making a rule, no one can return to this room for the rest of the night. There is a pungent odor, this place needs to breathe.”
“Damnit, man. How’d you know I'd be here?” You grumble as Thor leads you out of the room.
“In truth, I didn't. I knew someone would be in here. Trying to work. There will be no time for work. No, my friend, there will only be time for celebration. Have fun! Remind yourself what you're fighting for. All of us need to. Our freedoms, our friends, our families, our lives! All of it!” Thor boasts. Although you were slightly annoyed that you couldn’t continue working, he had a point. The work will be there tomorrow.
Well into the night the dining hall is filled with the team. The tables that were originally shorter and arranged in sections about the room were collected and pushed together to make one long table once Thor got to the room. With a snap of your fingers, you made the seating arrangements to help out. Thor thought you took the fun out of it so you undid the magic and took a seat and watched as Thor and the Asgardian soldiers moved the chairs to the table one by one. Now, you sit with your arm around Wanda's seat as you listen to Carol deliver a ridiculous story from one of her missions. Looking around at everyone smiling and laughing, Raven appreciates the moment of peace. “I’ve got to hand it to you Thor, this was a great idea,” she compliments.
Carol tips the neck of her bottle towards Raven, “I agree! We should do this more often.”
Logan, who had returned a few days ago along with Storm and Charles, wanting to fight to keep their home. Raven and Jean were more than happy to have them back. Lights a new cigar. “The protectors of the multiverse, celebrating their victory against the evil bi-” Charles clears his throat and Logan rolls his eyes, “witch,” he finishes.
“If we survive this hell, we should do this every year,” Jean chimes in cynically but no one lets it affect the atmosphere.
You feel slightly concerned about her but you don't let it show. “When,” you correct. “When we survive this hell, we'll make certain to do it.”
Thor rises onto the table and drunkenly raises his massive mug to the air. “To the protectors of the multiverse!” His voice booms in the air and everyone cheers him along as he chugs all of the contents of the glass. You refill the glass from your seat, enchanting it to be on an endless loop, and he grins as he points to you, “Now that's what magic should be used for!”
Another round of laughter fills the room before others request for the same to be done for them. You happily oblige. When you realize Wanda is one of the few that hasn't made the request, you nudge her to offer. She loves this spell. She turns to you as if you had snapped her out of her head and you move your gaze to her hardly touched glass of wine then back to her eyes and she is caught up. “No, not tonight, love. Thank you, but,” she leans in close to whisper, “I think one of us should be sober tonight.”
“Are you sure you want to volunteer for that? You've been more tense about this mission than I have,” you offer.
Wanda shakes her head, “I’m fine, really babe. I'm relaxed and there is such a thing as having fun while sober.” You raise your hands in surrender as you laugh. This was new to you but you weren't going to argue it any further.
Across the table Jean is paying too much attention to you and Wanda. She begins to miss Y/n and has to separate herself from the party for a moment. For most of the people that are preoccupied with their own conversations, the exit goes unnoticed. Except for Wanda and you.
“I wonder what's eating her up,” you frown as you keep your eyes on the newly empty seat.
"You should go check on her." Your wife whispers softly by your side, and you turn your gaze back to her, confusion written all over your face.
"You sure?" You whisper back, uncertain, but the brunette just offers you a reassuring smile.
Resting her hand over yours as she says, “I am. She looks like she could use a friend and I would send Raven but,” she looks over to the shapeshifter who's adoring gaze is locked on Carol. “Besides I'm sure she'd like your company.” You nod slowly, glancing back at the door through which Jean had disappeared a few minutes ago. When you look back at Wanda again, you offer her a gentle smile.
"I'll be right back, save me something sweet." You ask as you stand up from your chair, and the brunette lets out a low giggle, nodding her confirmation, and you kiss her lips softly before you leave the table. You look around as soon as you're in the corridor, wondering where she'd gone. But you don't have to for long, because soon you see the red hair outside, her front resting over the edge of the balcony as she watches the night sky. You make some noise with your feet so as not to startle her as you make your way over, and smile back once she flashes you a small one.
"Hey there... Is everything alright?" You ask as you rest your forearms on the balcony rail, looking at her with a mixture of concern and curiosity. The redhead casts a tiny smile before her eyes go back to the open area of the Institute - poorly lit by the moonlight - her fingers never stopping the fidgeting with her necklace in front of her collarbone.
"Yeah, I just... I never really liked parties." She lies, but you don't push her to speak, nodding your head in understanding instead.
"Yeah, me neither."
"I know." She answers softly, and your eyes are drawn back to hers in surprise. But she's looking at you the same way she did when she first saw you, or when you were talking in front of the picture frames in your living room, and the moment in the green house. Looking at you as if you were the person she knew, the one she loves so dearly. And that is now gone. You can’t carry the weight of that look anymore, so you clear your throat awkwardly, and look up at the starry sky above your heads.
"It's a beautiful night tonight."
"It is." Jean agrees just a heartbeat after, her gaze following yours. "What a shame it may be our last." She adds sadly a moment later, and you furrow your eyebrows heavily, your eyes back on her figure once again.
"Don't say that." You request, almost demanding, but the redhead only looks at you with a resigned smile.
"It's the truth." She shrugs her shoulders before looking back ahead. "But I'm at peace with it, honestly. It's better to go than to be left behind again. I can't lose anyone else."
"You won't." You assure her, more because seeing her cry and hearing her choke on a sob breaks your heart than because you actually believe what you're saying.
"You don't believe that." She sees right through you, sending you a small smile, but you shake your head in denial.
"Of course I do." You confirm the lie, but it only makes Jean let out a tearful giggle.
"You may not be my Y/n, but I can still tell when you lie. I am a mind reader after all." You can't help but laugh at that, a weak chuckle as you shake your head in amusement. Knowing you have nothing honest to say that'll comfort her, you decide to look for a different subject instead, something to take her mind off all that for a while. And you find it in her hand.
"It's a beautiful necklace." You point at the item she's still playing with, and Jean let her eyes fall to the pendant.
"It was a gift." She tells, smiling at the small piece lovingly. "I never take it off." Her tone is nostalgic, sad, and you don't have to think too much about it to figure out who was the one who gave it to her. You.
"Can I see it?" You ask instead, and watch as the redhead ponders for a second before smiling and nodding in confirmation.
It is a simple necklace, with a dark leather cord and a circular pendant attached to it by a simple metal hoop. What is most striking, however, are the infinite golden dots inside the transparent resin, which move in magical harmony, forming the figure of a majestic phoenix, its wings flapping at a slow tempo. When you take the small item in your fingers, you can't help but feel your own magic pulsating there - although much weaker than the energy coursing through your veins.
"Very beautiful." You break the silence then, letting go of the pendant and looking at Jean again, who nods in agreement, a small smile on her lips as she looks down at the magical bird over her blouse.
"I thought it would fade away when... Never mind." The redhead shakes her head to pull the thoughts away feeling like a broken record, and before you can think about saying anything on that matter, she is plastering a forced smile on her face. "You should go back to them, have fun."
"You're not coming?" You try with hesitation, trying to read her features, but she makes it impossible as she looks away.
"I'm tired, I think I'm going to go to my room." She answers, and you figure it's best not to insist, nodding your head slowly in understanding.
"I see. Goodnight, Jean."
You offer a gentle smile to the girl, who reciprocates with an appreciative one before saying, "Goodnight, Y/n."
Figuring the redhead wanted to be left alone, you don't wait for her to retreat to her room to go back to the hall where the dinner is being held. When you get there, you see that everyone is still talking. Vision and Ghost are by the window further ahead, apparently arguing about something. At the table, surrounded by Simon, Raven and a few of the men Thor brought with him, Logan and Carol are in an arm wrestling match, and the shapeshifter disguises a smile as she watches the other blonde win the match. At the other end of the table are Storm, Thor, Charles, and Wanda in what looks to be a rather enjoyable conversation. When you see your wife getting up and heading for the drinks table, you follow her.
"Hey, gorgeous, you come here often?" You flirt as soon as you're close enough, resting your body against the table beside her in a seductive way. Wanda - at first startled by your sudden approach - casts you an equally flirty smirk as she brings her eyes up to meet yours.
"Not really. I'm actually from another universe." She answers with a dismissive shrug of her shoulders, taking a sip of her grape juice.
"No way!" You say, exaggerating your surprise. "I'll let you in on my secret then..." You lean towards her to whisper. "So am I."
"Oh wow!" The brunette covers her gasp with her hand, and you hold back your amused giggle to nod your hand in confirmation.
"I know right? Sounds like a perfect match to me." You flirt again, leaning closer, but Wanda stops your movement with a raise of her hand, an apologetic grimace on her face.
"Sorry, I'm married." You click your tongue, feigning dissatisfaction at the sight of her wedding ring, and the cute chuckle your wife lets out has you grinning like an idiot.
"A lucky person there." You attest with a playful tone and honesty lacing your every word, but the brunette shakes her head in disagreement.
"I'm luckier." She argues with an ear-to-ear grin, her eyes sparkling into yours in that way that makes you fall in love with her all over again.
"Now that's bullshit." You hit back with humor that makes her giggle.
Before your wife can say anything else, a third voice grumbles beside you, "You guys are disgusting in every universe."
You and Wanda exchange amused giggles at the comment Carol made. But instead of answering her, the items in her hands catch your eye. "Two glasses, huh?" You point out, and the blonde looks down at her own hands.
"One's for Raven." She says matter-of-factly, but the way you and Wanda share knowing glances makes her eyes widen. "What? I'm only being a nice person!" She tries to play it off, but her red cheeks give her away and you only laugh some more, deciding to tease her further.
"Since when?"
"I swear, Wands, you always choose the worst people to date, in every universe." It's Carol's response, ignoring your question completely to look, amusedly, at your wife, who laughs lightly at the banter she got so used to over the years. She tries not to think about missing that too much. Just enjoying its return. So the brunette nudges her friend lightly on the side, and the blonde rolls her eyes at your offended scoff as she walks back to where Raven is. You and Wanda follow her with your gazes until a thought crosses her mind.
"Is Jean alright?" The brunette asks curiously and furrows her brows with concern the moment your good mood crumbles.
"She's scared. It's not like I can blame her." You tell with a shrug of your shoulders, and Wanda nods slowly, looking around for a moment.
"None of us can." She agrees not long after, and you mumble in agreement, not really knowing what to say. The two of you fall into a tense silence after that, thinking about everything that could go wrong. But Wanda doesn't let the atmosphere be heavy for long, offering you a disposable plate with a slice of cake and ice cream. "Here's your something sweet."
"That's not what I wanted." You say after you check the desserts she had saved for you, and you bite back a smile at the sight of her almost disappointed frown. "I prefer this one." As you shower her face with little kisses, the brunette's frown turns into a warm laugh, her cheeks becoming increasingly red. The kissing attack only comes to an end when Wanda's mouth finds yours, and you smile against her lips as you kiss her softly.
And it's with that kiss that you realize how little time you have spent with your wife - with so many training sessions and strategy meetings. Your body becomes very responsive to her immediately, and before you know it, the kiss becomes hungry, your hands roughly on her waist, pulling her close. If the sigh the brunette lets out and her fingers gripping your hair are any indication, she feels the exact same way.
"We should join the others." Wanda breaks the kiss to ask, her breathing was labored as your own.
"Why?" You ask almost on autopilot, your brain too foggy by the sight of her swollen lips and blown pupils.
"Because it's either that or I'll drag you to our bedroom." Your wife whispers for only you to hear, making your skin tingle everywhere.
"I don't see a single problem with that." It's your teasing response, a smirk on your lips as you approach them to hers once again. Her hand comes up to your chest as a smile of her own grows on her mouth. But, instead of pulling you closer, she pushes you away.
"Table. Now." It's her only warning before she sidesteps you, and you let out a short giggle, spinning on your heels to follow your gorgeous wife back to the table, where some of your teammates are. The term makes you hesitate on your tracks for a second. Teammates. You barely know these people, but it feels like the urgency of the threat you're facing together is enough to bring anyone closer. You try not to think too much about the fear of losing any of them as you sit by Wanda's side at the table.
The rest of the night, hazy memories are made with each other. Some break out into song, others dance foolishly on top of a table, more games are created with bets that upset the losers and boost the egos of the winners. By the end of it, around four in the morning, Wanda is helping you back to the room. She tucks you in the bed and whispers that she loves you after she is snuggled into your side. She kisses your cheek and falls asleep to the sound of your heart beat. Hoping that she gets to sleep to the sound again tomorrow night.