Alex's POV

Why the actual fuck is she here? I haven't seen her since the break up and I kind of liked it that way. She had given no explanation as to why she dumped me, she just left.

We dated for months. She had moved into my place. I thought she was going to be the one I spent my life with. And she just left me.

I have moved on and I am happier with Wanda than I have ever been. She is the one I know I want to marry, have a life with, grow old with.

But that never means you want to see your ex.

The air is thick, heavy. Like if you moved you'd be in slow motion. Like we're all holding our breath and waiting for the match to strike, igniting the intense awkward and setting it off.

Her eyes haven't left mine. Like deer in headlights, she's a little afraid, a little unsure. Frozen.

Speechless. Gaping like a fish out of water.

And I'm waiting for an answer. From anyone.

"Well? Why the hell are you here?" I ask again.

"Um.. I.."

"I invited her!" Nat blurts out, giving an apologetic look when I glance over to her with hurt.

"Why?" I ask her with less conviction.

"Um.. she's my uh.. she's my sister."

"What?!" The fuck.

"Yeah.."

I turn back to Yelena. "So you know the avengers? The same ones we would trash on? The same ones we said we couldn't stand? The same ones we'd mock when we saw them on tv?"

"Uh, well. I.."

I laugh. This is just too absurd.

"So, what? Was any of our relationship true?" I say it half sarcastically. But then the silence that follows..

I think I struck a chord there. Her face goes completely white, eyes widen. Did I just catch her?

"Well, that's a no. Wow. That's just great. Fantastic. Fucking fantastic. So glad you could make it. Glad we could do this everyone, but I'm done."

I go to walk out. I'm not going to stop Nat from seeing her sister, but I sure as hell don't have to be present for it.

"Wait, Alex," Wandas voice stops me briefly. "Hey, please don't go."

"Wanda, I would have thought you'd get it. She's my ex. The one that hung me out to dry? You were there to pick up the pieces, remember? And now I find out our whole relationship was for nothing, meant nothing."

"I know, but there's an explanation. If you'd listen, I think-"

"Wait, wait. Hold up," I'm shaking my head, hand in the air. "Are you telling me you know why we broke up? Fuck. You're friends with her, aren't you? You knew this whole time." My hands are running through my hair trying to calm me down, trying to process this.

"Alex, we can explain."

"Yeah, I don't see how. Not in a way that doesn't make both of you, or hell, all of you, seem like you weren't in on whatever the hell this was."

"Alex, please just come and sit down."

"You think the explanation is going to make any of it better? Like it'll fix something?"

"I- I don't know. But I do know you need to hear it."

"What could she possibly say? Our relationship wasn't real. She dumped me for the hell of it. Moved into my house, up and left, then never to be seen again. I mean, she knew all of you the whole fucking time. And she probably told you about me. In fact-"

Realization hits me like a ton of bricks. I almost fall from the impact. Suddenly the pieces are all falling into place. The dots are connecting. It's lining up.

Fuck.

"You little shits."

"What?" Wanda asks confused.

"Wow." I start clapping my hands. "Well done, truly. You got me."

"Alex, what are you talking about?" Nat asks.

"Well, it's all so crystal clear to me now," I shrug.

"What is?" Bucky.

"Why you were all so eager to believe I was the bad guy at that house fire, even though I saved your lives. Why Wanda said that she let what everyone else said get to her. Why Wanda and Yelena acted weird when they 'met.'" Yes, I used actual air quotes. "Why I never met any of Yelenas friends or family."

"Which is?" Clint does seem genuinely confused. But there's a few people here that look guilty. More than enough. More of the ones I thought I could trust.

"It was a setup. Isn't that right, babe?" I look from Wanda to Yelena.

"Um, I-"

"Trouble with words still? Let me help you." I turn to everyone. "You used Yelena to get closer to me, no? You never trusted me. And since I didn't give anything away to Yelena, you used Wanda. And you knew about it. You knew it was all fake, all a set up."

Now I'm focusing my attention on Wanda, "Yelena's little tricks didn't work, she couldn't get me to crack. Which you knew. So I became your little mark, didn't I? Or did you both go for me and see which one I took on to?"

She wants to talk, but I keep rambling.

"Unfortunately for you, I didn't know Yelena was connected to the avengers, so she already had a one up on you and I went for her first. Let her rope me right in. Fuck! I'm such an idiot. Because I fell for it. For both of you. I actually thought you both genuinely cared. I know I did. What a fucking idiot." I'm smiling, borderline laughing. It's not funny, but it is.

"No, Alex, you aren't an idiot. That isn't the whole story. Please just let us explain," Yelena speaks up.

"Blue, that isn't true. I would never do that to you. What we have is real, always has been. I love you," she goes for my hands, but I pull them away.

"Then tell me Yelena wasn't a set up. Tell me you didn't know about it. Tell me this wasn't all just some trick," I'm practically begging her. I want with everything in me for her to tell me she didn't know, that she wasn't a part of it. Smile is gone, the tears are flowing and I couldn't care less about stopping them.

This fucking hurts. Like getting stabbed with a screwdriver and twisting it until it reaches the other side. Then pulling it out slowly.

Not just one of my relationships was faked, but two? Two people I loved, two people I cared about, two people I would do anything for. Both took my heart and threw it in the nearest trash bin without even thinking about it.

"I was right, the avengers are a group of selfish assholes. Who cares about someone's life, their emotions, their well being? As long as you get the answers you're looking for. And I guess you won't stop until you get them. So you're persistent, I'll give you that."

Wanda is crying. So is Yelena. But they have nothing to say. At least they're finally done lying to me. Isn't it wonderful that, that is the only positive out of this right now? Maybe they've actually learned to be better people? One could only hope.

"Right." So done with this. I can't wait to get the fuck out of here and never look back.

"Alex, it was my job! I didn't have a choice. I didn't like having to lie to you!" Yelena says in attempts to get me to stay. "I ended it because I had to. But I cared about you. Lying to you tore me apart. I never thought you were with hydra. You are an incredible person with the biggest heart. I loved being with you. I just hated that it couldn't be real for me."

"Yeah, I hate that too. But if you were truly sorry, you wouldn't have done it. You would have told me the truth. Because it was real to me."

Am I being hypocritical for not hearing the whole story? I don't think so. I'm actually giving them a chance to talk and explain, I just don't think there really is an explanation that doesn't make them out to be exactly who they are; lying exploitive assholes.

"I couldn't!"

"Right." I shake my head. I don't need this.

"She's telling the truth, Alex. She hated every minute of it. She would come home in tears-"

"Over being in a relationship with me? Yeah, I can tell. Because I'm such a horrible person. Obviously I work with hydra, that's the only explanation. What about me, huh? Did you ever consider what it might do to me?"

"No. None of us think that. We all care about you, Alex," Steve tries.

"Save it, stripes. You aren't any better. Tell me you didn't know. Go on."

He can't.

"Unbelievable."

"Alex, I love you. With everything I am. I knew Yelena was spying on you. But I didn't like it. I couldn't say anything and neither could she. But I wanted to help you move on, to heal."

"Oh, you helped. You swooped right in and made sure Yelena didn't fully break my heart. Wanted to save that job for yourself."

"No, I never want to hurt you. What we have is real. I can't lose you again, please don't walk away."

"I'll do you one better."

And with that, I teleport the hell out of there.