Reciprocity
After the game, they go back to the beach after buying strange tasting sandwiches. Pietro's idea, obviously backed up by a very curious Thor. The experience remained quite special, and Carol bet ten dollars to Tony that Rhodey would get stomach issues from the food, again. It's starting to become a running joke in the group and he's not precisely liking it. They're bonding at least, he can see how content Tony feels from the smile hanging on his lips. Perhaps Rhodey will put up with the joke if he's grinning like that.
Natasha gets out of the water after having held an interesting conversation with Valkyrie, as Carol begged her to. She usually doesn't enjoy meddling, but she always finds herself ending up doing so, and she can't complain because her interferences never have negative consequences. She's learned very intriguing information about Valkyrie, who is normally extremely private. But Natasha is just good like that, which is why Carol asked her to collect valuable knowledge.
Thor is lying on his stomach, a foot playing with the sand, like a child would and it makes Natasha smile softly. It occurs a lot, smiling when no one is looking because she is simply very happy to have found a family. A real one she could rely on. One that wouldn't willingly hurt her. She bumps his left foot lightly, "What are you reading ?"
He turns around, propping himself up on his elbow, squinting his eyes which are dazzled by the sun. "The lightning thief," he starts. Natasha has heard of it before, even read a part to Lila before she went to sleep. But Thor seems very excited, so she doesn't interrupt him. "It's a book about Greek mythology. There are five of it, and then five others, and then it introduces a trilogy about Norse mythology. You know I've always been passionated about it," he smiles at her, before his brows furrow, as if he's thinking deeply. "Clint's little kid recommanded it to me."
Natasha chuckles, "Did you forget her name again ?" she deadpans. He's had trouble remembering the names of Clint's children, and succeeded to avoid showing it by calling them strange nicknames that he changed every time he came to the house. Natasha noticed it, of course.
"No, I know it." He stares into the distance, caressing his beard to display a form of wisdom that Natasha isn't buying, by the look on her face. "It's like a flower... Lily !" She shakes her head. "Rose," he tries again, less confidence filling his tone. Natasha unspokenly states that he's wrong. "Tulip ?"
Natasha fully snorts, "I'll tell you to think about this one. Just read now," she declares, lying on her back and putting on sunglasses. She's going to relax.
They finished eating earlier, not long ago, and they are now consuming a bit of light alcohol. Rhodey and Tony each ordered a different cocktail, but they won't stop sipping some from the other. Rhodey repeatively steals his best friend's glass as a way to brush his finger against Tony's knuckles. They aren't incredibly soft, Tony is a mechanic, but it's Tony so he likes it. And he also likes how Tony gives him a pretend surprised smile whenever he takes his glass from him.
Tony genuinely loves it when Rhodey starts teasing him in return, since he's usually the one who gets them into trouble. Rhodey's mother thinks Tony is a bad influence, but his son never has to hide his smile as much as when he is around Tony. He sometimes doesn't even try to hide it, and this is when Tony knows he is being truly funny.
Yelena and Pietro ordered the same strange cocktail, as a dare. She keeps complaining about how bad it tastes and how Natasha makes better cocktails, even offers her a mysterious smile which Natasha shoves away with an eyeroll. She still cannot fully appreciate compliments : it always feels like they are not honest, but when it is from Yelena, it's okay.
Natasha is drinking a beer from a brand she has never heard of before, and makes sure to remember its name because it tastes very sweet. Thor has even tried it and asked for the same, but in a beer mug because it is how he drinks it. They have this habit of drinking beer together, and sometimes end up consuming a lot, for they do not exactly get drunk as easily as their other friends.
Fanny is sitting on the floor, her head resting on Wanda's lap whilst she carresses the spot between her ears. She has seen Natasha do it a lot since they arrived, and it seems to really soothe the dog. Wanda's heart clenches when Fanny licks her knee, it is gross but it inevitably makes her giggle. "She's adorable," Wanda admits as she runs her hand in Fanny's neck. She truly loves the fact that Fanny has grown used to her, and lets Wanda pet her, because it is another way for her to nervously fidget that doesn't involve spinning her rings around her fingers. It is different, and Natasha always watches a little from afar, a distant smile on her lips. She trusts her with Fanny.
Natasha chuckles as soon as Wanda has spoken, "Oh, she used to be a terror." It's entirely true, Fanny caused some arguments in the beginning, especially since Natasha did not want a dog, at first. "She peed on our couch once," Yelena adds, immediately reaching for her dog's back in order to stroke her fur, almost as if she wants to reassure Fanny that she is not mad.
"Once ?" Natasha raises her voice, laughing a little, she is amused. "It happened twice. We couldn't get rid of the smell," she drinks a bit more from her beer, quickly realising that she has got everyone's eyes on her. "Had to get a new one," the redhead concludes, sending Fanny a disapproving stare. She really liked this couch.
Wanda appears to have an illumination, "So that's why you changed it. I never understood why, it was a nice couch," she admits, and Natasha smiles because it was a nice couch. She is happy that they both agree, it's good to know that Wanda has great taste. Well, she already knew that, since she is an incredible dresser, but the confirmation brings a warm sensation in her heart.
Tony has a suspicious expression hanging on his face, he is squinting his eyes while looking at the pair. They are not even seated next to each other. Steve and Thor instantly took the free seats on Natasha's sides, and Wanda was too polite to complain. Still, Tony feels the need to interfere, again. "How do you know that, Wanda ?" he stares right through her eyes whilst pronouncing her name, which he knows will rise her nervousness levels. Natasha does not think it's cool.
Wanda swallows, her hand is out of Fanny's fur and she is fiddling with her rings."I," she swallows once more, her throat is dry. "I visited," Natasha confidently nods, that was true.
Tony turns his gaze in Yelena's direction, he wishes for her to reveal some information as she remains Natasha's roommate, after all. "Don't look at me, I wasn't there !" she raises her hands in a form of utter innocence. Since she grew up around Natasha, he does not know if Yelena is as good as lying as her sister, but he decides to trust her and dig deeper. Anything to turn Natasha's attention from the fact that Rhodey has a hand resting on his thigh, he really does not want her to notice it.
"Why do you go to Natasha's appartment when Yelena is gone ?" he asks again, looking at Wanda.This is torture, she quickly shots a stare toward Natasha, searching for some help, help that the redhead willingly gives with a beautiful smile. "Relax, honey," her voice sounds so smooth whilst she voices the nickname it turns Wanda's cheeks into red shades. "It's not like we robbed a bank or something."
Tony snorts, he is not convinced. "No that's definitely reassuring," Rhodey affirms with a witty small smile, he can feel Tony's stare on him. Tony appreciates the backup, although he does not need any when it comes to annoying people. Rhodey obviously knows that, he is the most likely to know it but he has not messed with Natasha in a while.
Natasha slightly bites the inside her cheek, it is a gesture which Wanda has not witnessed yet. It's shy and vulnerable, and all that Wanda wants is to see it again. "She just came to me for advice," Natasha declares, her poll is softer than usual. It's almost scary that everything Wanda learns about the redhead makes her fall deeper, but nothing has ever felt so gentle.
Carol points a finger toward Tony, her hand holding the beer she has stolen from Valkyrie. "That checks out. She gives the best advice," she asserts. The compliment causes Natasha to lift down her head and smile, it's adorable. And on that note, Tony stops trying to embarrass Wanda, whose mind is already elsewhere, in a memory. She doesn't know Natasha is also thinking about that same night.
Natasha had settled her tired body on the couch, feet comfortably resting on the coffee table, when she heard an unsure knock on the door. It was the first night she was alone in a very long time, so she sighed as soon as someone disturbed her peace, which she immediately felt guilty for. Perhaps it was the old man who lived above who was asking for help, or Lucy who had seen a spider. Natasha always had to help.
Therefore, she opened the door and tried not to seem like that someone was bothering her, and the person she saw sucked the air out of her lungs. Of all people, she had not imagined it could be Wanda. Why would she come to her ? Well, Wanda came to the place she lived in with her sister, so she assumed she wasn't who she had came for. "Yelena isn't there," she informed in her calmest tone.
She was getting used to the vision : Wanda with her wet hair, raindrops rolling down her cheeks. "I know," Wanda replied, her voice sounded steady, but Natasha could sense it was solely because she was controlling her poll. "She texted me a picture of her and a guy named Scott, I think ?" a smile nearly came to her lips, but it disappeared as soon as Natasha believed she caught a glimpse of it.
She could not answer the question, she had no idea who this Scott person remained, for now. Yelena would obviously tell her about him once she came home. And then, as her brain processed the information, she understood, "Oh." Wanda knocked on her door whilst fully knowing the person who would open it would not be Yelena, she came for her.
Wanda could see how Natasha was a bit confused, since they didn't know each other very well. "She always tells me you make amazing cocktails," she smiled a little, this time. "I think I could use some alcohol right now," her tone was hesitating, and it was understandable because she was still at Natasha's doorway. She had not invited her to come in yet, which was making her worry she had done something wrong. She was scared she might.
Natasha repressed a smile, she had never been more grateful that Yelena kept talking about her to everyone, especially if it could lead such a pretty girl to her appartment. She gathered herself, she was not usually like this, slow and unsure of what to do. "Yeah, of course. Always a pleasure to share my gift," a one-sided smile got its way to her lips, and she opened the door wider for Wanda to come in.
She walked to the kitchen, while Wanda looked around. The couch was different from last time, she noticed, it was strange. Natasha busied her mind with making the drinks, her hands emptying bottles and mixing everything, she was fast. Not fast enough though, she still found the time to stare shortly at Wanda, who was sitting on the couch while fiddling with her rings. She always did that whenever her hands weren't busy, Natasha had remarked it very soon.
Natasha made something simple and quick, with rhum. She went to the couch with the two glasses – she had prepared one for herself, of course, she wasn't going to let her drink alone. Wanda thanked her absentmindly, and Natasha started to wonder whether her cheeks were wet from the rain or the tears she had shed. She wasn't sure she wanted to know.
But she asked anyway, "Something happened ?" It was a simple question that Wanda could easily lie to, and it wasn't the kind that would make her crumble all over again. She made sure not to ask that kind.
Wanda shyly nodded, staying quiet for a while. It didn't bother Natasha, nothing could when the person knocking on her door was Wanda. So she waited, until the brunette found the ability to articulate something. "It's stupid, probably," Natasha shook her head, she knew too well that it was never nothing. Nobody cried for nothing, there was always a reason, even if it was a hard to find one. It was there, and the pain was real.
"Want to talk about it ?" Natasha asked again, since it did not seem like Wanda did. She didn't want to pressure her into anything. Wanda nodded again, and then she drank some more. "I think I lost a friend," she confessed, her accent biting. Natasha didn't say a word, she wasn't sure what Wanda meant. "It's actually ironic. For someone who is apparently great at understanding and sensing people's feelings, I had no idea about this." She stayed silent for a few minutes, while Natasha waited.
Wanda could have come to her brother to talk about this, but he probably would have made a joke about it, maybe even teased her about not seeing it coming. He could sometimes lack of tact, which she didn't mind. But she had simply felt drawn to Natasha, when she left her friend's apartment, and she was used to trusting her instinct.
"Do you have any vodka ?" Wanda suddenly questioned, her spontaneity almost surprising her. Natasha's face broke into a wicked grin, "Of course, we're Russian." She let out a laughter that lightened up her shoulders a bit. She would probably regret this later, coming to a customer's apartment, seeking for comfort. Could it be seen as unprofessional ? But Natasha was not just a customer, it was different.
Natasha shortly came back with a bottle that Wanda swiftly took from her hand, she swallowed the burning liquor. And Natasha laughed. "So, I have this friend that I'm very attached to," Wanda started, handing the bottle back to an attentive Natasha. "We've always had this strong connexion, and we kept... getting closer," she was struggling to find the right words. "I trusted him so much. And, he just told me he had feelings for me, tonight."
Natasha raised her eyebrows to display surprise, although she sensed Wanda would say that. "Do you feel betrayed ?" she asked, carefully. It was unknown territory, to talk about deep feelings together but it strangely didn't feel weird, or stressful.
"Is it wrong that I want to say yes ?" Wanda tucked a hair strand behind her ear and locked her eyes into Natasha's for the first time. It was electrifying to look into those green mysterious eyes, it rose goosebumps down her forearms. Natasha shook her head, "Your feelings can never be wrong. They're just there and you have to deal with them, however you want." Everything she affirmed made sense, and the way she said it... Wanda definitely did not regret coming.
"When he admitted to have feelings for me, it made me feel terrible. I thought we were friends and that was it, that I wouldn't have to worry about it. And... when he understood that his feelings weren't reciprocated, he didn't even get mad at me. I wish he had. He just told me he needed us to take our distances for a while, and that he would always be there for me if I needed something." She took some time to properly breath. "How come it feels like it's over when nothing has even started ? It feels like I lost him for something I didn't do, it's so crual."
She was a mess, her voice sounded shaky but she didn't want to cry anymore. It left a sore sensation in her throat when she did, and it exhausted her.
Natasha rested her hand over Wanda's, the gesture felt warm and soft, or maybe it was because her skin was. Wanda lifted up her head, searching for something in Natasha's eyes, reciprocity perhaps. "I understand," her voice was so soothing. "But you haven't lost him forever, because you haven't done anything wrong, anything unforgiveable. Feelings are confusing, and he's in pain right now. You just need to give him some time to get over it."
Wanda had always admired Vision for his wisdom, for the way he proceeded to make sense of any situation, to stop the blurriness that Wanda's feelings caused the world to appear like. But Natasha was right here, providing comfort and nothing was missing.
It felt incredibly simple to hear Natasha talk, she didn't have to overthink anymore. It was all so easy, and Natasha was so close now. She was tracing patterns on her palm, a small smile resting on her lips. Wanda started to talk again, because if she didn't, she would have done something that would have terrified the sober Wanda. Or maybe she just wanted to do it, and she would want it again.
However, she simply ended up falling asleep on Natasha's new couch. The redhead gently placed a blanket over her and sat down next to her with a laptop as a way to busy herself. At some point, Wanda moved a bit and rested her head on Natasha's thigh, her blurry brain found it quite comfortable.
They never talked about it again. Wanda eventually woke up in the middle of the night, she was confused for a short amount of time. And then she saw Natasha, who was still awake from looking after her. This moment had cleared some things in Wanda's mind, for once she felt sure of something.
But she had to go home, Pietro was probably worried since she had not gave him a sign of life in six hours. He tended to think the worst happened whenever Wanda stayed far away from him for too long. They were twins, after all. It seemed like overthinking remained in their DNA.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay over ?" Natasha asked for the second time, it didn't sit right with her to let Wanda go home by herself. It was five in the morning, a disturbing time in New York City. She didn't know if she could let her go.
Wanda nodded, an expression of confidence placed on her face. "I am," she asserted with the voice she used to scare off annoying people. "I'll text you when I get home," an impish grin appeared on her lips. Natasha lightly laughed, it was the kind that was low – and sexy, Wanda thought. She put her hands on her own hips, "I know you're kidding, but you have to do it. Otherwise I'm never letting you leave me again," her tone sounded serious.
It made Wanda blush. What Natasha had said seemed like a promess. A promess she slightly wanted to break, just to be with Natasha forever, to see how it would be to never leave her. This whole night had felt like a dream, Wanda sometimes wondered if it had been real, but then she remembered how Natasha's fingers had felt against her hand, and she knew she couldn't have imagined it.
Natasha viewed this night very differently, as much as she had enjoyed it. She had allowed herself to do things she wouldn't again : touching Wanda. She had always been scared of rejection, and Wanda's confession had simply reinforced that old fear. Natasha wouldn't try to ruin whatever they had. She couldn't forgive herself if she did, so she would just repress her feelings.
But six months later, they're still there, very much present and alive. She can feel how real they are, how they invade her whole body when Wanda's eyes just lock into hers, in the hotel bar. She can't fight it anymore, and maybe she just needs to talk about it with Wanda to see that she doesn't have to resist, that it's reciprocated.
It's getting late and some people – Steve – have already went back to their room to get a good night of sleep. Natasha has escaped the group without anyone noticing exactly when she left, it's kind of her thing, but it will not be for much longer now that Wanda never misses a chance to catch a glimpse of her.
Thor has gotten back everyone's attention by narrating a strange story, "You see, I look into my fridge, and it's filled with beer. It might be paradise, but when I try to open one, I notice that it's empty. They're all empty. There isn't a single one which is containing this heavenly liquor. So I go to the store to buy real beer and then I feel it," he pauses, looking at his friends. They all seem on edge, waiting to know what he is about to say.
Valkyrie's eyebrows are furrowed, as if she's confused about the veracity of the story, but maybe Thor is just being a bit too dramatic. It probably runs in the blood, after all, his brother would approve. Carol is staring at her beer, somehow afraid that its contents will disappear if she looks away.
Thor nods gravely when he remarks Rhodey's anxious expression, "I feel this strange pain invading my stomach, it's coursing through my blood. A poison. And when I look down, I notice that I've been stabbed," he stops to speak again, to let everyone process the revelation in their own way.
Rhodey brings his hand before his mouth, slight shock settling on his face while Tony loudly gasps, which seems more mocking than anything. Yelena and Valkryrie share a silent look, they're both thinking the same thing. Wanda is getting a little stressed, she is refraining herself from biting her nails. This is why she watches sitcoms over horror movies, the silence is starting to get unbearable.
"Did Loki stab you again ?" Carol asks, raising an unimpressed eyebrow, just like Natasha taught her. Thor shakes his head, "Of course not !" he seriously looks offended. "This part is kind of blurry, wait for it," he scratches his bear as if he was an old sage man. "The pain is getting intolerable, and my flesh keeps bleeding. I scream for help while I try to make a bandade off of my shirt. The person who comes to me is wearing only a red cape, underwear with christmas trees on it, and no socks."
As Thor is sharing additional details, Tony gets more confused, "What ! What kind of person would wear christmas trees underwear ? It looks terrible." Thor doesn't necessarily seem to agree, he is trying to remember something. "I think there was a racoon involved at some point," he wisely informs.
"This doesn't make any sense," Yelena cuts him off with a chuckle. Thor isn't affected by the comment, "Or was it a fox ? Anyway, this animal bit me." Valkyrie scoffs, "In a Target ?"
Thor shakes his head, "No it was in a..." he goes suddenly silent. "Oh, wait. My apologies, it was a dream I had," his former serious face turns into a grin. Pietro is the first one to laugh, he has moved his arm away from Wanda's shoulder since the position was starting to ache a bit.
Thor has always been one to recount wonderful stories that weren't every time believable. He does it greatly and they all live for it. Yelena is lost as how he could mix up a dream and reality, but Wanda gets it.
She excuses herself, pretending that she will go to sleep but she goes to the beach instead. The moon is supposed to be full tonight and she can't miss it, ever. As soon as she reaches the beach, she takes off her shoes. The sand feels cold but somehow soft under her skin, the waves regularly come crashing on the shore. It can't get any better, Wanda thinks. And yet it does.
Her trained eyes catch a silouhette, from afar. She has grown used to walking into the obscurity, and now it is only slightly dark, thanks to the moon. Wanda seems to recognize Natasha, her straight posture – very different from when she's seated, the way her thighs meet her waist, begging to be grabbed by Wanda. The thought rises warmth to her cheeks, Natasha hasn't done anything to seduce her and her mind is already wandering to places of lust.
Wanda carefully walks toward the silouhette, and when the person shifts their attention to her, the Sokovian knows it is Natasha. She always notices small details, the sand sinking at someone's weight, the shadow winning over the light of the moon, Wanda's lips curved into a shy smile. A smile that could be kissed so easily, if Natasha just stepped closer, but she won't.
She has noticed that she loses control during the night, even more while Wanda is around. "Lost ?" Wanda asks, her grin only persevering at Natasha's sight. The redhead fiddles with a thin braid, it looks so soft. "I just like to be alone, sometimes. No offense to the guys, but I need some calm from time to time," she explains.
Wanda understands, she rarely gets a chance for solitude but it is soothing. "Yes, me too," her eyes flicker to the sea, on which the moon is raditating its mild light. "I'm sorry. Am I bothering your alone time ?" her tone is suddenly nervous, Wanda is afraid she has made a mistake. She doesn't mean to intrude.
But Natasha only lets out a slight chuckle, not the mocking kind she usually does. It's gentle and understanding, "No. We can be alone together," and even so it does not technically make sense, Wanda nods and her smile finds its way back to her lips. For it is better to be with Natasha than to be alone. Natasha is thinking the same thing, it's strange but not unpleasant, far from unpleasant.
They stare at the moon in silence, as there is no need to break it. The moment speaks for itself, it is magical and Natasha simply wishes she had a hand to hold onto. Wanda's seems so close to hers, she thinks to brush a finger against her skin. "It's so beautiful," Wanda declares, voice raw and accent rough. "It is," Natasha answers back, but she isn't looking at the moon.
"I've never watched the moon with anyone before," Natasha admits after a while, missing Wanda's eyes. The latter gazes at her, lingering on Natasha's arched up nose that she wishes to drawn with kisses. Wanda seems pleased, "Well, you're doomed. Now you're going to think of me anytime the moon is full again." It is the best curse Natasha could imagine.
"Doesn't seem so bad to me," she replies, a one sided smile hanging on her lips. She isn't aware of Wanda's internal fight, the dilema she's facing. The bet.
Ironically enough, Natasha doesn't care about the bet anymore. She's discovered that sometimes it is worthy to be defeated as long as there is another gain. The only thing now stopping Natasha from losing the bet is the confirmation of reciprocity.