Wandas POV

"Look at you, hidden away from the cameras," her voice instantly brings a smile to my face. Especially since it holds more of a teasing manor than an accusing one.

I can match that level. So I turn around with a smirk, "yeah, I figured they already got all of my good angles."

She furrows her brows and for a moment I'm worried I read her tone wrong.

But then she breaks into a smile, "are you trying to say you have a bad angle?" She steps closer to me, "because I have yet to find one. And I've seen angles the cameras can't capture." Her eyes travel along my body.

My face instantly flushes red, "well, I.."

She laughs again and there's an eruption of butterflies that take flight within my stomach.

She's looking directly into my eyes.

"Don't worry, princess, I won't tell anyone. I wouldn't want to share what I've seen, anyway."

I..

Just...

No words..

"Hey, Blue. Are you actually going to help or are you too busy flirting with someone who isn't your girlfriend?"

I don't see her but I can tell by the voice that that was Max. She has a tease to it, but there's a warning there, too.

Alex doesn't even turn to look at her, keeping our eyes locked on each other.

"I can multitask."

"Doesn't look like it," she calls her out.

Alex rolls her eyes, "fine."

She turns away from me, but not before sending me a wink and affectively weakening my knees.

The rest of the time spent cleaning up was much like this. We'd get some work done and then one of us would crack a joke or make a flirty comment.

Okay, the flirty comments were more her. I was way too tongue tied for that, even though I slowly felt more and more comfortable with her.

A calming sensation took over my body. I haven't had this kind of happiness in a really long time, and all I'm doing is talking to her.

But that's not a complaint. Maybe we will never be more, but at least I can say we aren't enemies.

——————

Fast forward another month or so. Maybe two months? I don't know. Who's keeping track?

I've been balancing missions and volunteering along with making sure I have time to hang out with the team, especially girls nights.

It's enough to keep me busy, but I'm certainly not complaining.

I'm so glad I've opened up to do more things and see more people.

My life is so much richer now because of who I've let in and letting myself have more fun.

I can't believe I ever locked myself away, confining my life to the walls of the compound.

I shake my head of those memories. Thankfully I'm not in that place anymore.

And I almost hate to say it (almost), but a lot of it is because of Alex.

She really did help me see what was beyond the walls of the compound. Although Nat did drag me out while Tony was pushing.

Alex gave me a reason to keep going.

Don't worry.

I know.

I know there isn't going to be anything between us beyond this kind of weird friendship we've created.

And I can call it that. We've worked together usually at least once a week. And every time we talk a little more, tease a little more, learn a little more, flirt a little more..

It's been really nice. And it makes me look forward to those days even more. She makes it fun. I've really enjoyed getting to know her, even if it's just on the surface.

I can see why Yelena likes her so much. Beyond her normal charm that she seems to exude, she has this gravitational pull to her that you just can't resist.

And it's because of the way she isn't afraid to laugh until she falls over and her incredible sense of humor and how she can can put people at ease even in these insanely stressful situations and how she has this really sweet and gentle side and..

I'm rambling, I know.

It's hard not to.

Yelena?

She does know that we're.. friends.

And no. Nothing has happened between us beyond that and it won't. Alex is committed to her and I wouldn't want to jeopardize Yelenas mission.

That's why it's absolutely painstaking when I hear her ramble about how cute Yelena is or their plans for the weekend or how she loves her accent or how she's like an adorable puppy.

How she wants her to move in officially.

And it's not so much because it's with Yelena, although that is part of it, but it's mostly because I know it's only one sided.

Yelena can't really commit how Alex wants her to. She'll pretend to, I'm sure she'll move in with her. And they'll be a happy couple for the moment.

But it's all fake. And at some point it'll have to come to an end.

And I know it's cutting Yelena up, too. She's talked to us. She wants this mission to be over more than anything just so she doesn't have to drag her along anymore. This is tearing Yelena apart; she's such a good soul to begin with.

I have no idea why Fury is making her hold out for so long on this one. I know there's a level of commitment and certainty needed for this high key of a mission, but it still seems a bit excessive.

And I'm not the only one who thinks so.

But we can't really do anything.

We just keep having girls nights and do our best to give Yelena someone to talk to.

And until it's over, we keep up the charade.

——————

It's another day of volunteering with the firefighters. The sun is beating down on us, sweat pouring from every possible location. I don't know where I end and the sweat begins. It's disgusting, it's exhausting, but unfortunately true for all of us.

It's all we can do not to use the hose to put out the fires that seem to be starting from our own bodies.

We were all trying to work as quickly as is possible in this heat, desperate to get out from the suns line of fire and into some air conditioning.

The only one seemingly crazy enough to enjoy this heat is Alex.

For some unknown reason, she is even more jovial than usual.

I will give it to her, though. She is doing a great job of getting everyone to laugh and keep the mood light while making sure the work is done.

I guess that's part of why she's a great lieutenant.

Even from far away I can't help but laugh at her antics.

And apparently my laugh brings her focus to me and soon enough she's sauntering over to me.

"I'm sorry, you seem distracted from the work at hand. Did you need help with that?"

Yes she still does this to me. I still can't ever find the right response.

She laughs.

"The heat really getting to you, Maximoff?"

My breath is caught in my throat.

This is the first time she's used my last name and for some reason, coming from her mouth, it does things to me that it has no right to do.

"I'm going to take that as a yes," she raises her eyebrows.

I shake my head, hoping to clear it. "Um. No, I. Well, yes. But that's not.."

"Relax, princess. I'm just messing with you."

"Right. Um.. you just seem to be in a very good mood?" I don't mean to question it, but I am.

"Should I tone it down?"

"No! Um, I just mean you seem to have too much energy for this heat."

She laughs again, sending a rush through me.

"I can't help it. I'm having a great day."

"Oh?" I want to know.

"Yeah." She bites her bottom lip as if to keep from saying more. It doesn't work. "Remember how I told you I was going to ask Yelena to move in with me?"

And then there's a knot in my stomach just about doubling me over and pulling my guts out.

"Um, yeah," I manage to get out.

Somehow her smile widens to outshine the sun.

"Well, I did. And she said yes. She's been officially moved in for a few weeks now."

I don't answer. I can't. I can't even remember how to breath.

She steps a little closer, "anddd maybe this is a stretch of our friendship, but we're having a sort of home party, I guess, and I wanted to invite you."

"Oh.."

"It's tonight at 7, if you aren't busy we'd love for you to be there. Some guys from the truck will be there so you'll know more people. And you're more than welcome to bring a date, too!" She rushes it all out, sealing it with that smile that I can't seem to say no to.

"Uh.. yeah. That sounds. Great. Um, I'll be there." I practically choke on the words as I force them out.

"Perfect!" She claps her hands together. "I can send you the address? Or if you want to carpool with someone? We have a pool too, if you feel like swimming. But I'll see you at 7? Don't be late!" She's already backing away as she speaks and I'm barely able to comprehend what is happening right now.

"Yup," I'm lucky I get to say that.

She nods her head once, turning back to her work and immediately throwing a joke out to Max that I don't get to hear.

I'm just absolutely stuck. There's isn't a single part of my body that can move right now and I certainly can't seem to form any thought.

Except for one;

There is absolutely no way I am showing up to that party without a date.