Wandas POV

It was another couple of weeks before I saw Alex.

She definitely wasn't the same jovial person we all knew.

She was slightly more aggressive. No cracking jokes. No laughter. No flirting.

Just working.

She wouldn't look at me.

She hardly seemed to do anything besides working her ass off.

And I know she has a good work ethic, but there's a difference between that and when you're working yourself into the ground.

I'm currently distracted from my own task as I watch her stop someone from wrapping up the hoses and taking over the job herself.

"Has she talked to you?" Max's voice is soft as she also looks on at her friend.

"No," I turn my gaze to her, "has she talked to you?"

"Barely. I know they broke up. I don't really know why or how." She looks at the ground and I figure she's done explaining so I look back over to Alex.

"She does that," I look back to her as she's still looking at the ground, "she uh.. she tends to keep that stuff bottled up. She.. went through some stuff when she was younger. And then when Maia cheated on her.. well she doesn't let her guard down easily. She likes to keep people at a distance."

She finally looks back up to me.

"She did with Yelena, let her walls down. She was genuinely in love. And it was so good to see her open up like that again. We all really thought she found the one. I know she thought so, too. So it really fucking sucks that she's burying herself back into a hole."

I hate hearing this. Knowing she's keeping everything bottled up, not able to share it. I wish she would. Even if it isn't with me.

"I know she cares about her team a lot. She loves you guys like family from what I can tell and what I've seen. So I'm sure she'll tell you in her own time."

Max shakes her head, "no. We hardly got her to be human again after Maia. And this seems.. worse somehow. Although I don't think Yelena cheated. I think this was even more unexpected for her."

Ugh I really, really dont..

"You helped her open up too, you know."

This catches me off guard, "what?"

She laughs at my confusion. "I know she walked around kind of pissed at you for whatever reason, but when you started to volunteer with us, and it wasn't for some selfish agenda, she was even happier.

"I know she liked working with you. And I don't know your full history and it's none of my business. But whatever you two have, I think you may be one of the few people that might be able to actually talk to her."

"Oh, I don't think so. We didn't really talk about much. I was barely more than an acquaintance. I think she had just gotten over her hatred. We really didn't.."

"You were. You were a friend. She talked about you. And though she'd kill me for telling you, when you weren't here, she asked about you. Again, I don't know why, but I think she'll listen to you. Could you please try? We're all pretty desperate to have our old friend back. Plus she's a pain in the ass of a lieutenant when she's like this."

I join her laughter, looking back over to Alex working on something else now.

If they think I can help, I think I owe it to her and Yelena to try.

I don't think Yelena would want to know she's like this. The quicker we can get her back to her joking, flirting self, the better.

"Okay. I'll try," I tell her.

"Thank you!" She pulls me in for a hug.

Then she's pushing me over to her, "wait! You mean right now?!"

"Yes!" She laughing again. "Remember what I said about being a pain in the ass boss? Plus, there's no time like the present!" She calls out.

I take the momentum from her push and the encouraging words to propel myself towards her, only stopping once I was a few feet away.

It took her a few heartbeats to notice I was there and I'm pretty sure she only noticed because she could hear my actual heartbeat.

She doesn't even say anything, just raises an eyebrow at me as she continues her work.

Guess I'm going to have to initiate everything.

"Hey, Alex."

She only raises her eyebrow impossibly higher.

I guess I don't usually use her name. Or greet her in such a formal way.

"Um, how are you? I know you're going through something right now and I just want you to know that you can talk to me about anything. I know we haven't really talked too far into our personal lives but.."

She stops my ramble with a raised hand, "I'm fine. And I'm trying to work, so.."

She drifts off at the end and I know she's trying to gently push me away.

I won't let her.

I find Max's eye line and she's watching us intently.

Looking back to Alex she's already working, pretending I'm not here.

I take a deep breath and keep trucking along.

"I won't stop your work, but I know that you need someone to talk to. Trying to bury yourself isn't going to.."

Her head snaps up, "you have no idea what I'm doing. You don't know me or anything about me. Instead of wasting both of our time, why don't you do some actual work." Her eyes have reverted to their cold state, one I haven't seen since I started volunteering with the firefighters.

And it's crushing my spirit all over again.

She wins.

"Okay. I will.. leave you alone. Sorry for bothering you. But.. I am here if you need someone to talk to."

She doesn't even respond, still focusing on her task at hand.

I walk away with my tail between my legs.

"So? What happened? That's not the face of someone that got her to open up," Max has so much hope in her voice.

I look back at Alex as I answer, "she hardly even responded to me. Just told me to leave her alone and to get back to work."

"Ugh," her hand flies up to her forehead. "I thought maybe.. but.. don't give up yet, okay? Still sounds like she talked to you more than anyone."

I'm shaking my head no, "if by more you mean she said I didn't truly know her or what she's going through, then yeah. Sure."

Max's expression softens, "hey. She doesn't mean it. When she's like this.. she says things on purpose to push people away. Don't let her." Her arm reaches for mine and gives it a squeeze.

I may not give up on her, but I'll give her some time. Wait a few days.

For now, I'll keep working.

——————

It's been a long ass day.

Unfortunately there was another large fire a few blocks away.

So while I helped finish the clean up at the first spot, they all rushed over to the next fire. Of course I met them there after it was all over and the fire was out.

We finally finished the second location, everyone exhausted and more than ready to go home.

I hardly even wanted to fly back home. And I mostly used my magic to move shit around.

I went over to Ruby to thank her along with wishing everyone a goodnight.

"Ah, Wanda. Thank you for your help today. You really make a difference," Ruby speaks first.

"Thank you! It's been eye opening being able to help. I'm grateful that you let me tag along."

She shakes her head with a smile, "well you're more than welcome anytime."

"I will keep that in mind," I chuckle then turn to everyone else loading up, "you guys kicked ass today. Hope you have a good night."

They all say something similar in response and I take that as good enough. None of us really having any energy for anything else.

I go to walk away, debating if I should..

"Wanda!"

I freeze in my spot, only half sure I heard right.

Then there's a hand on my arm gently turning me around.

"Hey. I'm sorry about earlier.. I didn't mean to snap at you. I've just.. been under a lot of pressure," I can't say I'm not surprised to hear Alex apologize; I've seen her be cold before. But standing in front of me now, she looks honestly sorry.

Again with her eyes giving everything away.

I decide to tread lightly. She may have apologized but that doesn't mean she wants me to pry any further. "It's okay. I know your job can be stressful. And it has been a long day."

"Yeah, but I still had no reason to act like I did. I am sorry."

I half smile, "it's okay. Apology accepted." I figured that was the only way she'd be put at ease.

"Okay, good."

I can tell she wants to say more but isn't sure if she should. And I don't want to shut her out now.

"Of course. I told you I was here for you anytime and I meant it," I remind her.

She looks back to her truck as everyone is loaded up and ready to go.

"Um.. I really have to go. But I'd like to make it up to you."

"Okay? You don't have to.."

"No. I should. I know it's kind of late.. but I have tomorrow off. I don't know about you, but I could really go for a drink. What do you say?"

There's so much hope in her eyes. And even though I am tired as hell and was so very much looking forward to throwing on pjs and landing my ass in my bed..

I can't help but let out a, "sure."

She breaks into that smile that makes my heart do flips.

"Yes! Perfect!" She starts backing away, "I will text you! I still have to take care of my gear so it may be a little while."

"Okay, sounds good. Let me know when you're ready."

She lets her smile linger for a moment longer before turning and jumping on the truck.

I can't help it.

My smile might actually be bigger than hers right now.

And I'm probably a horrible person, but I have to go get ready for drinks with Blue.