Alexs POV

I'm going to the avengers compound today.

To meet the team.

Her friends.

Her family.

No pressure.

I'm sure it'll go well.

They're 'super heroes.'

I know they're trying to make up for the destruction they've caused.

And I love Wanda.

Would have thought you were crazy if you told me that a year ago, or even six months ago.

But I do love her

And she loves them.

And it's happening.

And it'll be fine.

Yeah, the more I say it, the more it's not helping.

I don't think I'm going to get mad at anyone. At least, I don't think I will. Depends on where the topics of conversation take us.

But, it'll be fine. I'm not there under any interrogation or for breaking some law.

I'm going to be there to meet the people that are important to my girlfriend. To meet them as her friends and family, not as 'super heroes.' And to eat an amazing dish my incredible girlfriend insisted on making.

I'm a firefighter. A lieutenant. I run into fires. Wandas girlfriend. Their friends girlfriend.

And that's what they know about me.

Somehow that doesn't make the nerves go away. Doesn't make them any less.

But for Wanda, I guess I'm going to meet the people I've despised for.. long enough.

The avengers.

—————

"Babe, they're going to love you," Wanda assures me, squeezing my hand. We're walking up to the door as she had walked out to greet me.

I only nod in answer, letting out a long breath.

That's only part of the reason I'm on edge.

But no need to worry her with that.

We're at the door so she opens it for us to walk in.

Except I don't. I just stand there frozen like a damn popsicle.

A delicious one, but still.

"Blue. Come on. I'm going to be with you. There's nothing to be nervous about."

Yes. Yes there is.

But I plaster a smile and my face and let her drag me inside.

There's no one waiting for us inside so I let her continue to drag me along until we reach the kitchen, the amazing smell hitting me long before we got there.

"Wow, is that what you cooked?" I ask Wanda, taking in the aroma.

"It sure is. Hope you don't mind but I made an older dish from back home," she smiles at me.

I kiss her nose causing her to scrunch it, "of course I don't mind. I want to learn everything about you. And I especially want to try any and all food you want to make."

She giggles. And that giggle..

"Well, isn't that sweet."

My head snaps over to the voice, I recognize them instantly. It's none other than Tony Stark himself.

I have to take a few breaths to calm myself down from already wanting to hurl insults at him.

Wanda changed my mind, I have to give the other avengers the same chance. Right? Yes. For Wanda.

I reach out my hand, "I'm Alex."

He shakes it, "Tony. Wanda has said a lot about you." He actually seems genuine.

Soon there were way more people taking over the kitchen, some I recognized from the volunteering, some I've been introduced to. But let's be real, I know all of them. You know all of them. There's no real introductions needed. You'd have to live under a rock not to know them. They're the avengers.

Once the somewhat awkward intros were made, Wanda told us the food was in fact ready and we could all dig in.

I was sat between Wanda on my right and Black Widow.. er, sorry, Natasha, on my left.

Nat seemed nice enough. And I know she's been through some shit. I know we all have, but I couldn't help but have a small soft spot for her before, so I'm glad she's the one sitting next to me now.

"So, Alex, you're a firefighter? What's that like?" Arrow man asks me.

"I am. And I guess it's much like what you do. Face the bad guys head on until you win. Accept my bad guys are usually fires and they usually happen all the time, all around me." I can't help but add a little bit of attitude with that. It's still new, I'm still trying.

"I can't imagine doing that. I know we've faced some aliens, but to run into a fire? I couldn't do it. I commend you," Sam says. He's the guy with the wings. Also a Vet. Also someone I have respect for.

"Uh, thanks. I know it seems crazy, but I love my job. I love the people I get to work with. I don't think I would trade it for anything," I state proudly.

"That's awesome, Alex. How long have you been a firefighter for?" Bucky joins the conversation.

He kind of hit a sore spot no one knows about. Time to pretend, "oh, about 7 years."

"Wow, you've been in the business awhile. And what did you do before that?" Steve pries.

Okay so it's probably not really prying but it sure as hell feels like it. I know you're suppose to ask questions to get to know someone and they're trying. But they're getting personal, which is exactly what I was afraid of happening.

"Uh, not a whole lot. I had a few odd jobs while I was in school. But I had wanted to be a firefighter for as long as I can remember, so the choice was easy. Went into the academy pretty much right after that." I try to keep it as vague as possible. I swear if they ask why I wanted to be a firefighter..

"That's amazing that you were able to accomplish your childhood dreams," Bruce.

They have no idea, do they?

"She's actually going for a captains position," Wanda says proudly, wrapping her arms around my right one.

"Oh really? Impressive. It'll be nice to have another captain around here," Steve says as he winks at me.

Gross. I know he's dating winter soldier over there and he's trying to be nice, but still.

"At least I'll have earned my captain title," I couldn't help it. It just.. slipped out.

My eyes grow wide as Steve coughs. Everyone's just looking at me a little shocked. I'm shocked.

"Uh, sorry. Um.. yeah..." I'm kind of at a loss for words.

"So what do your parents do? Are they firefighters, too?" Nat asks, trying to break the tension. She unknowingly only creates more.

I clench my jaw for a moment before I say something stupid that would ruin this for Wanda. I don't know why they want to know, but this is actually starting to feel more like an interrogation than meeting my girlfriends friends.

Luckily I think Wanda can sense my discomfort and wraps her hand around mine.

She didn't read my mind. I know she said she wouldn't. We talked about that.

"Um.. no. They weren't fire fighters. I.. I actually don't completely know what they did," lie. Pretend hurt. Act like it's painful that you don't know.

"Oh, that's odd. Kept close to themselves, did they?" Tony again.

This is going to go south fast if they don't drop this.

Tight lipped smile. "Something like that."

"Do you still talk to them?"

"No."

"Why is that?"

"Because they're dead."

That silenced the room. I never thought I'd lose my appetite so quickly. Thankfully Wandas cooking is outstanding and that's enough to keep me eating. Maybe the faster I eat the faster we can go.

"Um.. I'm so sorry. I didn't.."

"It's fine," I cut them off. I really just want to drop the topic all together.

"Do you have any other family?" Really?

"No. I was an only child. Didn't get to see my parents much. Always busy. Then they passed away," that's all I'll say. If you don't offer up any more information, most people are too awkward or uncomfortable or unsure to ask why themselves.

Thankfully this still rings true. Not my first time I've had to avoid this topic.

I keep eating. Everyone does.

It's so fucking awkward now. I just want it to stop. Especially since I know Wanda really wanted this to go well.

I glance over to my right to get a read on her; her focus is on the food, there's no smile on her face.

I don't like that. Time to fix it.

"So, how's the volunteering going for everyone?" I speak up.

This quickly becomes an easier conversation for everyone to talk about and soon enough everyone is laughing and joking around.

Wanda is joining in that laughter and that's all that matters. I want her to be happy. She deserves that.

I didn't realize I had focused so much on her smile until she looks at me, "do I have something on my face?" She smirks.

"Yeah," I say seriously, "it's all over.."

Her eyes widen, "what is it? Is it the sauce?" She starts to wipe at her face.

I can't help it; I laugh.

Her eyes narrow at me, "what?"

"Nothing it's just.. I was just going to say beauty. You're beautiful. But then you started to panic.."

She playfully hits my arm, I just keep smiling.

We've all had our fair share of food and have been sitting around when someone suggests we all watch a movie.

I eagerly agree, ready to cuddle up to my girlfriend.

Also, I'm sure their movie room is huge.

And, besides the small investigation that just happened, I guess they aren't so bad. Besides, I can't really blame her friends for wanting to know who Wanda is dating. It's only right. It's only normal.

Nothing that needs any worrying about.