SISTERHOOD
“Hold on. Hold on!”,he shushed her quietly,waving his hand.
Wanda had fallen asleep on the couch, her head tilted and lips opened. Pietro had been standing over her for the last couple minutes, while Theo was yawning herself. After all, they had been drinking and dancing all night long, while Theo hadn't exactly slept before that trip either.
“Told ya. I told ya she snores- it's notme, see??”,he pointed at her.
“I don't really hear it”,Natasha curved her lips downwards. “Your snoring can wake up a whole village. This is not it, but nice try”.
Theo stood up,she yawned once more and began stretching her body. This caught both their attention as they watched her start doing push ups in two,and then one arm.
“I can feel you starring”,she breathed out through huffs.
“..Yeah, I wonder why..”,Pietro mumbled,sarcasm coming out his mouth.
At that point Wanda made a mumbling sound as she rolled her body on the couch, causing Pietro to squirm surprised,and almost fall down. Natasha rolled her eyes,then smacked the back of his head.
“Ey!”,he clicked his tongue at her, rubbing his head.
“Stop acting like a moron”.
Then, she pulled her lips to a thin line,and turned back to Theo,whom was still doing push ups, at a rather impressive speed, Natasha thought. She felt her eyelids heavy,and her lips far too dry. If anything else, they all needed some sleep at this hour.
“Theo- what are you doing?”,she let her shoulders fall down, her voice fueled by a deep sigh.
Theo stopped,then jumped up. She breathed in deeply before speaking, “It's noon. I gotta stay awake- to do that, I need to exercise even by a little. Y'know, to get the hear rates up”.
“Just sleep,it's your house either way”,Pietro shrugged.
“It's noon”.
“So?”
“So- my dad's been cooking with Stark for over an hour. If I'm not awake to eat his food he's gonna smack my head. And his smacking is nothing like Romanoff's”.
She had to admit- she wasn't completely honest. Sure, missing one of her father's homemade meals equaled a death wish alright. But Theo had one more reason for trying and work out, even by a little.
She needed to feel strong again.
She craved the courage it gave her, seeing how she could work out exercises that men twice her size couldn't do without losing their breath. She yearned for that validation, that no matter what, no matter who left and who stayed – she was still strong enough.
Enough to work out, enough to battle. Enough to shoot the next target, and not break. Because, if she was to lose that validation- then Theo had nothing left. And that, was not an option for her.
She wasn't about to break down. Not in front of her father- certainly not in front of her team. Her lieutenant always said that: “If you can't handle it, then you don't deserve the responsibility”.
Theo had to learn what he meant the hard way.
Responsibility is earned; it's not given to just anyone. If she wasn't strong enough, she wouldn't be on the team. It was as simple as that. And she wasn't about to change the dynamic. As long as they were concerned- Theo was still strong. Still standing on her feet, still responsible.
“Dora? Care to make a toast?”,her father asked behind eyes so smiling that they'd narrowed quite a bit.
She flinched a little, having zoned out a tad. William was at the head of the table, next to him Theo herself. She wiped her mouth a little, chunking down her last bite; at least her father's stew was still as great as she remembered it to be.
Raising her beer,rather awkwardly so, she pumped her cheeks, scratching the back of her head.
“Semper fi?”,she said in the form of a question.
Her father laughed, as did Tony and Natasha.
“Once a marine..”,William dragged his words.
“What does that mean exactly?”
Theo breathed in some air, her glass still raised as she turned over to Wanda,whom was sitting next to her.
“It's Latin”,Tony huffed out proudly.
“Means always loyal; always faithful. It's a marine motto”,she explained calmly, though her voice was far too weak for her to even try and raise it.
Wanda mouthed an 'oh',and then raised her glass. “Semper fi then”,she smiled.
“Semper fi..”,Theo repeated and they all clinked their glasses.
She drank quite the large sip, something that didn't go unnoticed, and yet nobody seemed to want and comment on. Thankfully,she thought.
Although her father's stew was exquisite, Theo couldn't bring herself to eat all that much. Sure, her inner pep talk earlier was rather motivational. But as the time went by and as the soberness began to slowly kick in, all Theo could see was an absence.
The absence of that chair she hated in the living room, yet only bought because Steve said it looked comfortable. His absence on the table, the absence of his voice,of the sound of his laughter.
How his history books next to the fireplace had already gotten dusty, and yet she wouldn't bring herself to do anything about it. The second toothbrush on the bathroom, and that shampoo bottle she'd have to sometime get rid of.
But, most importantly, what Theo could not face at all, what she could not bring her heart to truly embrace and accept-
was the deserted space on their bed.
The left side that he always favored, which would stay cold and untouched. The feeling of having to sleep next to nobody, of not having anyone's arms around her to brush her skin, and no lips to kiss her forehead after waking up in the middle of the night, right after an extremely vivid night terror, to calm her down.
What Theo could not physically survive was the knowledge that after three years,she'd never share a bed again with Steve. That she'd never be touched by him, or kissed by him, or have his eyes be the first thing for her to see in the morning.
“Dora? Have you grown deaf,pea?”
“Hm? Ah,sorry. Uh..can you..can you say that again?”,she gulped,then tried to force a smile.
But her father wasn't smiling. If anything else, he looked nervous. Theo knitted her eyebrows, then chuckled awkwardly.
“What is it? Killed someone and need me for the alibi?”,she joked.
“Your sister is downstairs”,he said in an awfully quiet voice.
Theo froze,her fork and knife tight on her grip as she held them to face upwards. She arched an eyebrow,her upper lip raised at him,but other than that she didn't move a muscle.
“Isn't that the one she doesn't like? Like.. at all?”,Pietro mumbled, but then a noise which sounded a lot like Wanda kicking his leg from under the table made him grow a grimace and then close his mouth.
“Well, when I saw you weren't here, and that Steven wasn't here either- I called your sister and asked her if she could come and get me. I thought you guys were on a mission or that you'd at least not arrive back for a while, so- ... why not make the most of the weekend and go see my granddaughter in Pearl River?”,he tried to sneak out a chuckle,which was cut short.
“Your sister lives in New York?”,Natasha asked surprised by the short distance to separate them,given that they'd never seen her.
“You called Mari-”,she immediately shut her mouth closed,as if to try and contain her anger in. It didn't work all that well though.
“You called Marissa here?”,she shouted.
“I forgot to call her again and cancel,she just texted me that she's downstairs and on her way up”.
Theo's right eye began trembling a little.
“I think she's having a seizure”,Tony noted.
Theo was about to open her mouth again when they all heard the doorbell ringing twice. Theo's eyes turned immediately towards the corridor leading to the door. William pulled his lips to a thin line,but no one moved,until Marissa ringed again. And again.
“So..”,Tony hummed, “ Is anybody goin' to take that...? Or should we perhaps use it as a background music and dance a little?”
William sighed and slowly stood up, although Theo beat him to it. She abruptly got up and pointed at him with her index finger.
“Down”,she almost ordered him,and he sat down.
“And here I thought there was a man born who could actually manage her..”,Tony continued his mumbling.
Theo's steps were quick and heavy against the floor. She opened the door forcefully, almost forgetting to unlock it first. And when she did, she saw her sister.
She was dressed to the detail,as per usual, her hair blonde and awfully long, her eyes glimmering blue. As Marissa noticed Theo,she arched an eyebrow at her.
“You're...here?”
“Yes. Go back”,Theo said in a monotonic tone.
Marissa mouthed something which looked like a swear, then completely dismissed Theo as she casually walked by her and into the apartment.
Theo's nostrils felt like they breathed fire, as she feared she might actually scream out of frustration. Instead, she rushed behind her until they reached the dining room.
William stood up to give her a hug,which she gladly returned.
“Oh,Mari, how good to see you”,he patted her shoulders after pulling away. “Was the journey long?”
“Oh no, don't you worry about that daddy. It was a road trip”,she smiled brightly at him.
Tony coughed a little, enough to draw her attention,and then stood up. Holding his cane steadily, he spread an arm to greet her.
“Theo's sister, I presume”,he smiled charmingly at her.
“Ah- yes. Marissa Cole”,she shook his arm awkwardly.
Now, Tony wasn't about to introduce himself. Never did in the last past ten years. Never felt he had the need to, all things considered. He merely starred at her awkwardly, as Marissa's complete dismissal of Tony's name and presence made him feel rather uncomfortable.
Only then did she take a minute to eye everyone sitting on the dining room, taking notice of a certain man missing. She didn't bother saying anything else to Tony, nor greeting anyone else.
Theo rushed inside after locking the door,her face as stiff as when she left to open it.
“Where's Steve?”,she asked as she searched the entire room.
“Not you business”.
Marissa pursed her lips, suspicion taking the best of her. She slowly removed her winter gloves and placed then on the table. Theo sighed deeply,biting her lower lip.
Her sister eyed Pietro,motioning her eyebrows at him. “May I?”
“What?”
Wanda pulled her lips to a thin line, utterly convinced that perhaps the adopted one was her and not Theo after all.
Tony sat back down slowly,muttering something to himself before patting Pietro's shoulder.
“Come on now Maximoff, where are your manners? The lady wants to sit”.
“Then she can grab a chair”,he said in an all carefree tone.
Marissa gave him a look which suggested she did not exactly appreciate that comment. Nevertheless, she did not move a muscle, simply waiting until Pietro would stand up.
“You'll have to excuse Marissa”,William mumbled awkwardly. “She must be tired from driving all the way here. Oh, and Theo, for I am sensing an incoming comment anytime now”.
But Theo didn't say anything, settling herself on simply rolling her eyes.
Eventually, and after slamming his fork down, Pietro stood up. Marissa smiled sweetly,and after thanking him, she sat on his chair.
William went ahead to bring her a plate, along with silverware and a serving. Theo went back on her seat while Pietro dragged a spare chair from the living room, only to place it in between Wanda and Natasha, sitting down in a posture which only reminded of a child.
“So”,Marissa raised her voice a bit, “I get it you all work together, right?”
“Don't even go there”,Theo groaned,leaning back on her chair. “Like you don't know all their faces and names. Your kid is obsessed with at least half my team Marissa”.
Marissa clicked her tongue, her smile growing a little sarcastic as did most her facial features. Natasha motioned her brows, hoping she could find a way to change the subject before it's too late,
“So- how many years old is your daughter?”,she asked in a forced smile.
“Oh, she's turning seven next month”,she said in a soft tone. “Really smart kid, my Emma”.
“Wonder who she gets it from..”,Theo mumbled to herself as she played with her food.
Marissa took a deep breath, momentarily losing her composure, though she quickly regained her calm smile back.
Natasha's lips parted for a second.
“You know, she's a very lively child. Always wants to try new things and all- ah, just last month she asked we sign her up for football”,she chuckled.
“She sounds lovely”,Wanda commented in a soft voice.
“Well,she is, thank you”.
Marissa was now looking much more pleased. A pride to be taken upon compliments on her family, as she'd always feel obliged in marketing their life, as Theo believed to be true.
“Theodora”,she then called on to her sister quietly. “I've been meaning to ask, what happened to your eye? It doesn't look all that well”.
At that point William had just returned,slowly and carefully placing Marissa's food in front of her. She smiled at him, thanking him with her eyes as he sat back down.
“Well,Marissa, one tends to get such wounds after fighting one of this universe's most dangerous beings you know”.
“Nevertheless, you should have it checked out. It's rather intimidating. How does Steve feel about it?”
Pietro rolled his eyes and allowed a quiet groan to escape his mouth after leaning back. Wanda and Natasha both shared a concerned look. To tell her father was one thing; he was kind enough to not make any more questions about it.
But Natasha had a feeling that Marissa wouldn't be as discreet.
Theo smiled forcefully, her lips seeming rather stiff and her entire face uncomfortable.
“Why the fuck would Steve need to feel anything about it?”
“Well, he is a man after all. Men care about such things as your appearance, Theodora”, she noted as she was cutting her meat.
Tony smiled awkwardly, feeling a soaring urge to speak after being so quiet for such a long time, “Usually, she'd be correct”,he mumbled. “We are what we are”.
Theo sighed,tightening her grip around her fork. But, this was not the place, nor the time. She'd already lost quite the face in front of her team in the past days, this one especially.
“Let's be thankful that Steve has never been so superficial then”,she said quietly,motioning her eyebrows.
“Come on now girls, why don't we change the subject?”,William asked, his eyes pleading if nothing more.
Marissa gulped down a bite and wiped the corners of her mouth carefully as she shook her head.
“Just making conversation,daddy. And, it's not superficial Thedora. People tend to usually care about how they look. It's normal”.
“I'm sure your aesthetician tells you that”.
Marissa pulled her lips to a thin line, Tony himself mouthing something to Wanda as he raised both eyebrows.
“No need to be bitter about it Theo. Just because I actually care about how I look and don't go around looking like a damn hobo, doesn't mean I'm any less than you”.
“Here we go”,Theo hummed,chuckling sarcastically. “Here it comes!”
Wanda brushed Theo's arm gently, hoping she'd be able to make her stop. But Theo had had enough at that point. This was her home, her dining room, her teammates. Marissa was trespassing, as far as Theo was concerned.
“Here comes the mother of all complexes known to man”.
“Dora”,William called her name in a tone that suggested this was a warning.
“Don't stress about it daddy. For some people maturity is a rather hard concept to understand, as it has become obvious”.
“You pretentious little- “,Theo gasped, “You always do that”.
Tony scratched the back of his head. He wished William could have brought a champagne bottle, or anything at all that wasn't beer. He had a feeling they might need some alcohol to survive this lunch.
“Do what exactly?”
“Desperately needing to make sure you're better than me. We get it, fine. Nobody cares Marissa”.
“Oh shutup”,she motioned her head,crossing her arms across her chest.
Natasha arched an eyebrow, utterly surprised as she shared a look with the others.
“I'm not one of your marines Theodora. Don't speak like that to me, especially in front of other people”.
“Yes!”,she raised her eyebrows dramatically. “Right,right. You are not a marine...what were you now?”,she clicked her tongue, “Ah,right. A store brought maid that genuinely enjoys massaging her moron husband's feet and bringing him his slippers at cue”.
“Oh boy..”,Tony sat back down,not daring to take his eyes away from them.
Natasha wiped her mouth, letting her fork down quietly as she pursed her lips. William massaged his temples, feeling a headache on it's way.
“Could you please – for once – act as if I taught you any manners at all?”
“Did you just?”,Marissa pointed her finger at Theo, “did she just? Oh that's it. James is not a moron, and you're no position to be talking about or criticizing my husband in any way- not after so outstandingly failing to keep yours”.
“Marissa!”,William yelled out her name.
She turned over to her father,and after a pure moment, her expression changed completely. Her lips parted,her eyebrows draw to their sides as she let her arms fall down.
Pietro and Wanda both shared an equally stunned expression, although Natasha's was a tad different. Nonetheless, everyone except from Tony was surprised, enough to share the same look of bafflement in their eyes.
Marissa turned to Theo; her eyes had grown red, her entire face stiff and clenched. Marissa's eye fell onto Theo's hand, unknowingly placed over her stomach, pulling the fabric of her shirt violently.
“Theo,I..”,she whispered,gulping, “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..”
Theo opened her mouth all so slightly, as if to merely breathe in some air. Her eyes wondered off for a bit. She spoke calmly, her voice coming out too weak and cracked, extremely so as to amaze even Tony.
“Tell Emma I said hi. And..take the I-78 on your way back. Traffic's a killer on the weekends”.
She closed her lips again and walked past them. Marissa took a deep breath, as William slowly closed his eyes and mouthed a silent curse.
Tony was the first one to notice the faint sparkles formed around Theo's right hand. The particles gathering extremely fast to forge a blast. Marissa turned around,ready to touch her when Tony in a matter of nanoseconds stood up and threw his cane to press his wrist.
“Pietro-”,he shouted as his suit took form around him.
But Pietro was already on it.
“Wait Theo-”
Wanda closed Theo's hand inside a dark red tube, ready to take it all in. Tony was covered entirely, creating a shield around the table big enough to guard them all. Natasha had grabbed William, forced him to stay back, her body in stance as if she could take an energy blast and kick it away.
Pietro on the other hand, run. He managed to pull Marissa away and throw her on to Tony just as she had barely touched Theo. But, instead of going back, Pietro held both Theo's arms down.
“Concentrate”,she spelled out to her.
Her teeth were grunted, her eyes already covered by the dark purple sparks. Theo's face showed just how much she was trying to keep it all in. But Pietro wouldn't let go.
The dark purple matter slowly dematerialized. It looked as if it completely vanished, only to get back inside her body. Pietro slowly let go of her, still acting cautiously.
Marissa pushed Tony out of the way, both her and William looking at Theo with eyes she'd wished she'd never seen. Marissa was breathing heavily at that point.
“You were- … You'd shoot me?”
But Theo didn't respond to that. She clenched her jaw, still unable to hold her voice volume strong enough to speak clearly.
“Go back to your family Marissa. It's getting late”.