Alex's POV

It was a long day of work yesterday and my cure for it is laying in the pool till I can't stand it any longer. I've got my bikini on, floaties are inflated, drinks are made, sunglasses check. I'm ready to relax.

Wanda? Oh. I don't know. I texted her once I woke up, but I have yet to hear from her.

She could have slept in. Her phone is charging. She's training. No, not on a mission. She'd tell me if she were.

Point is, I'm trying not to worry about it. I can't always get to my phone, especially at work, I don't expect her to be waiting to answer me every second of the day.

I hope she talks to me soon, but in the meantime, I'm sitting my ass on my pizza floaty and letting the wind push me around the pool till my hearts content.

Could be hours. I've no idea. It's been far too long since I've been able to do this, so I'm going to enjoy it and not worry.

I'm not even sure how long it's been. An hour or two? Maybe more? Like I've said. Not keeping track. I've dipped in the pool once to cool off, but

otherwise, I've been soaking up every last ounce of the sun as I can.

Mm actually, I should probably get some lunch. I doubt I have anything in the fridge. Or cupboards. I need to go grocery shopping. But not today.

Screw it, I'll order food.

Half an hour? I can wait.

Sunglasses on, phone back on the dock as I resume my music.

Can life get any-

Fuuuck. Who is ruining my vibe?

Oh. Wanda is FaceTiming me.

I answer quickly, "hey, sunshine. How are you?" I'm cheesing, happy to finally hear from my girl.

"I am great! How are you?"

"Doing well. I've just been hanging out by the pool for most of the day. Would be better with you, though.."

"I miss you," that sad face.

I pout, "I miss you too, babe."

"Great! Soo.. would you want to come to the compound?"

"Of course I'd come see you."

"Yes! Okay, we're having a little party type thing and I'd really like for you to be there!"

Oh no. A party? Sounds like a lot. I pull myself up onto the side of the pool to sit, adjusting the phone accordingly. "Should I dress up, or..?"

Please say no, please say no.

Not that I'm against dressing up, but I was really hoping for a more chill day.

She shakes her head, "no. Not at all. It'll just be the avengers and their plus ones." Then she smirks, "you should wear what you have on right now."

I look down remembering I'm wearing a bikini that she can now see.

"Okay, if you want me to put a show on for everyone, I could-"

"No."

"But I thought you wanted-"

"No."

I chuckle, "okay then. So I won't dress up, but I'll put on some more clothes."

"Yes."

"Deal. I just have food arriving in.. 20 minutes? But I'll start getting ready and be there as quickly as I can." Internally laughing.

"That'll be perfect! Everyone isn't getting here until later, so no worries. Although I can't wait to see you!" Then she blows me a kiss which I catch and attach to my lips, getting her to giggle.

"Ill be there ASAP, promise. I'll see you soon, love you!" I wink.

"Love you, too!" Then she hangs up.

I guess I need to get out of my pool.

—————

It was awhile later when I made it to the compound. I opted to drive my bike as it's a nice ride and why not?

I knock on the door after texting Wanda that I was here. Nat opens the door.

"Oh. It's just you."

"Missed you too, Nat." I laugh before squeezing past her and into the entranceway.

"No offense, I just thought you were my girl back from the store."

"Why, Natasha, does Spencer know? Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret from Wanda," I pretend to go in for an over exaggerated kiss which she stops. But she laughs.

"You are a pain. I can't wait to see you and Spencer drunk off your asses together."

"Woah. Sorry ma'am, but I don't drink."

She raises her eyebrows. Let's be real, she's seen me more than tipsy on a few occasions by now. We both just bust out laughing.

"So who all is going to be here? Wanda was kind of vague on the phone."

She shrugs, "Tony invited just about every avenger plus whoever they bring with them. Who knows who will be here."

"Great. Well, since my girl isn't here and yours is still absent, would you like to grab a drink with me? Get this party started early?"

"Thought you'd never ask."

We walked over to the bar making small talk. Once we were there I mixed us up a couple of drinks. Which we both downed fairly quickly.

"Damn. That was good, Alex. You should be the bartender more often."

"That's a hard pass. I do not want to get stuck behind the bar. But I'll make you a drink anytime, Nat," I playfully wink at her.

"Wow, I'm gone for two hours and already Nat's replaced me."

A wide smile spreads across Nats face as she spins around and into Spencers arms. "Bub!"

They're adorable. I finish making the drinks, leaving one for each of them before giving them their space.

Time to wander.

After awhile, I check my phone, curious as to why I haven't seen Wanda yet. Guess I could make my way up to her room

I knock briskly on her door and await an answer.

"Blue!" She launches herself at me. "I miss you," I chuckle at her obvious inebriated state.

"I see we started early on the drinks."

She nods her head eagerly, "yeah, Carol made us a few while we waited!"

"Carol?"

"Yeah," then she turns around and pulls a blonde girl forward. Oh.

"This must be Carol," I'm gritting my teeth. Not loving how close they are, especially under the influence, but reaching my hand out for her to shake anyway.

"Yes! And you.." she points at me, squinting her eyes while our hands are still touching, "you must be Alex. I can tell by the eyes. Wanda does not stop taking about you!"

I instantly feel better.

And Carol is laughing while blood rushes to Wandas cheeks.

I smile, pulling her into me.

"You're adorable," little kiss on the head, "how about we go get some more drinks, yeah?"

"Yes!" They both eagerly agree.

So we found our way back down to the bar where Nat, Spencer, and Bucky all greeted us with drinks in their hands.

This is going to be a great night.

"Who wants a shot!" Cause why not? Everyone cheered. And that's when I realized there was a mass of more people sitting in the common area with drinks in hand as well.

It was moments later that the bartender (yeah, Tony hired one) had shots for everyone and we were throwing it back.

It wasn't the last shot, that's for sure.

I'd say I'm about four drinks and 5 shots in and feeling fan-fucking-tastic. (Something I coined from Spencer.)

"Hi, babe. How are you feeling?" Wanda asks into my ear. Which tickles, so I scrunch away.

"I am great! How are you? I've missed you," I give her a short sweat kiss to the lips. "You want to get a drink?"

"Oh, no. I think we've had enough." She pats my arm in sympathy.

I give her my pouty face, "awe. That's no fun, sunshine."

"Ah. I think we've had plenty of fun, right? You and Spencer nearly set fire to the curtains trying to use Tony's suit. Right?"

"Well, yeah. But we didn't! And thankfully Tony likes Spencer enough not to get mad. No harm no foul!" I raise my arms up spilling my drink. Nope, none came out. I finished it.

"Okay, well we don't want to actually set something on fire, so-"

"So we won't touch Tony's suit. Promise!" I kiss her forehead and dart away, on the lookout for anyone that wants to take a shot with me.

I corralled Carol and Maria, who I just met today. Both very willing to take shots with me. They just so happen to be body shots..

"Alex!"

Oops. That would be Wanda.

"Hey, babe! Want to do a body shot?" I try to ask innocently.

"No. I thought we agreed no more drinking?"

"Nooooo. I remember no such thing."

"Okay, that's it. Let's go get you some water," she starts to pull me away.

"No! My friends!"

"They'll still be there when you're sober."

"I don't want to be sober."

"I can tell." She has to dragged me all the way to the kitchen where she sits me down while she grabs a water bottle. "Once you drink this, you can go back."

"Okay, mom," I roll my eyes as I tip the drink back. Ugh, not the head tilt. "Sorry."

She nods her head.

"What we could do is both go get a drink? If I recall you had started without me. I was just playing catch up." I shrug my shoulders, drinking more water.

She scrunches her nose, "fine. Finish that and we'll go get a drink."

"Yes!" I throw my arms up, this time sloshing some of my drink out of the bottle. "Oops."

She laughs lightly, shaking her head.

I finish off the water, standing up to kiss her, then grabbing her hand and pulling her to the bar. I get us both two shots.

"Okay. But the last two drinks, please?"

"Anything for you, sunshine," I can't help but kiss her again. Because why wouldn't I want to?

Right as we're about to take the shots, there's a bright light. And then there's two guys standing int the middle of the room.

Two guys I recognize.

Everyone is greeting them, giving hugs and handing them drinks.

And I.. have tunnel vision, red is all I see at the end. Breathe. Breathe or this could all turn to shit fast.

But then the next thing I know, I'm right in front of their faces, the blonde one looking down at me with a smile. "Hello, little one."

Oh hell no. "You assholes! Tweedle dee and twiddle dumb fuck everything up and you think you can come back here?! Destroying homes and businesses and then going back home to mom and dad! You fucking suck!" My arms are waving around all dramatic. I'm kind of nonsensical at the moment.

And it's just as I'm about to lunge at the greasy haired one that I'm stopped, frozen in my tracks, a red glow surrounding me.

"Alex? What the hell are you doing!"

But I'm kind of stuck so..

She releases me, but then takes ahold of me with her hands. Still stuck.

I point at them, "that one destroyed everything. Turned my city into a crumbling disaster. And then that one takes him back him to their parents. No remorse, no punishment, no payback. He ruined what I loved!"

"Okay, Alex, baby, you need to calm down. You're getting really hot."

I'm so angered I can't even say the remark I want to. Fumes practically coming out of my ears. Oh wait..

"I'm fine. It's shitholes like these two that need to pay for what they've done." Like I said, I'm seeing red.

"He has. Loki was locked up. Thor made sure he had punishment on their own planet, which could actually contain Loki."

Okay. Fine. But still. He did the bad thing.

"It's not enough! He's here walking around in the avengers tower? No cuffs, full freedom. Walking around like he's friends with you! What has he done to earn that!" I'm attempting to wiggle free of Wandas arms.

"He's paid his debts. I know he isn't perfect, but he's adopted. And he's working on it. Right, brother?" Thor places a hand on Loki's shoulder.

He winces, "of course. I'm doing my best now. I've even helped the avengers!"

I scoff, "I don't trust you! You're just a little weasel waiting for the opportunity to-"

"Alex!" Spencers voice stuns me. "Hey. Trust me, Loki isn't the bad guy. Not anymore," she speaks softly.

"Really? He has you fooled too?"

"Alex.. trust me, I didn't like the guy either. But then him and Spencer formed this weird friendship and.. he's not bad. It almost pains me to say this, but give him a chance," Nat too, apparently.

I'm breathing heavy. I don't want him to get out of this so easily. He deserves much more than some time in a (I'm sure) very cushy 'jail cell' his parents had for him. But everyone here has forgiven him, I guess.

"I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry. For what I've done. I let the power of the stone get to me and it destroyed so many peoples lives. I have to live with that. But I'm trying to do better."

I furrow my brows and tilt my head, really inspecting this guy. Is he telling the truth?

"I know I can't exactly fix what I've done, but I'm trying to.. to amend what I can. No one here trusted me right away. It took time. So I understand your hesitancy."

Maybe he is telling the truth. Maybe it's the alcohol. I don't fucking know. But, I believe him.

"I trusted you," Spencer had a wide smile as she points to Loki. Pretty sure the poor girl is trashed.

Loki offers her a smile and.. I don't see it. I don't see him being underhanded or villainous or fake. He seems genuine.

Fine. I'll be the good guy.

"Okay. Two things. One, you have to help volunteer. Two, we need shots."

Then he grins, "oh, I think I like this one."

—————————————————————————

Wandas POV

Alex can be fiery. But she also has a soft side. And once she lets you in, once you're in her friend group, she'll protect you like her life depends on it. I've seen the fierceness in her. When she loves, she loves deeply, no matter the relationship.

So, once Loki and Thor were forgiven, and they took their shots (and Thor gave her some Asgardian liquor), they were practically bffs.

She really took to Thor, he was like a big bear to her. Think I meant brother? Yes, but no. She liked his big bear hugs.

Can't say I'm mad at it. And, yeah, we had a few more shots and might have actually set the carpet on fire. But Alex put it out!