wanda maximoff (fears) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2019-07-22 19:43:00 |
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With most of the days clear for her, Wanda found herself regularly wondering how Peter was doing regularly. After he’d spent the night with her, feeling like they’d gotten even a little more close since he felt he could share his issues with Yondu, open up to her and be vulnerable. So, after she’d finished up her plans for the day she’d made her way to the home Peter shared with Yondu. For the first time she’d actually been selective in her appearance, making sure her hair was nice and she wasn’t just in her lounging clothing, putting on a nice pair of jeans and a tank top with a soft blouse over the top.
She hadn’t ever been nervous about spending time with Peter, and it wasn’t exactly nerves so much as not entirely sure what was going to come from things. She knocked on the door, unsure if she should’ve text ahead to see if Peter was even home and up for company -she knew he worked some nights for one of his clients just now too.
After a few minutes of no response, Wanda figured this was why people text ahead, turning to head away and that she could text him later to catch up and maybe arrange something for another time. Until she was leaving the house and spotted Peter’s truck pulling in.
The last thing Peter expected when coming home was seeing Wanda standing in his driveway, especially since he had been avoiding/not avoiding her. The problem was he thought about her constantly, and that night . It was strange to him how much it had meant to be able to just hold her and kiss her with nothing else happening, even though all he wanted was more. God, did he want more.
And since he had that big job, he hadn’t been able to do anything to burn off this energy, which just kept building and building inside.
Just like he had said to Nine, the closer he got to Wanda, the more he panicked and fooled around with others. Today was a good example. Since hiring Snart, he’d taken on a few more jobs, and the one this week was a long one. Early mornings, late nights which meant he passed out the second he hit the pillow but today? Today they finished early, got themselves a bonus and a promise to return the next week to finish up the drywall and painting once the electricians and plumbers were done with their work.
That meant free time which meant he was getting laid. Wasn’t hard when he had a phone full of numbers, and he texted a few until someone answered. Jane? Jamie? Something with a J anyways. It was good, it was fun, and now he couldn’t wait to get home and shower.
But there was Wanda and he felt like a piece of shit suddenly. Part of him though was annoyed at this thought. It wasn’t like there was anything between them, she didn’t own him and he could do whatever he wanted. But frickin’ Nine. I’d be mad if someone who had feelings for me was out fucking around . Why did Peter have to have such a practical friend?
Parking the truck, he desperately rooted around for some gum (spearmint) and took a deep breath. His stomach was doing flip flops looking at her, and he really, really wanted that shower now.
Fuck, he was such a douche.
“Hey,” Peter said, stepping out his truck. He noticed how she looked done up, and he was again blown away by how beautiful she was. He was kind of used to the casual look on her, so this was different “Did...we have plans?” Oh crap, did he totally forget and stand her up on top of banging some random?
He stepped close to her but being very aware of himself, he didn’t lean in to kiss her or give her a hug. Instead, he started to ramble. “Fuck, well if we did, I gotta shower, because well, you know, busy day, lots of work.” His pants were thankfully paint splattered, and he was so glad he had a strict no kissing rule. If there was any lipstick on him right now, that would not be a good thing. “Just ..yeah. Here there, and everywhere. You okay?”
And then he realized how awkward he was being, and he needed to not be so he just leaned over, gave her a peck on the cheek and motioned for her to follow him into the house. “I just...yeah. I really really need to shower.”
There was something off, and Wanda wasn’t sure what it was. “No plans,” she shook her head trying to give Peter a reassuring smile, “I just thought I would stop by and we could hang out.” She knew that he was keeping busy, and there were a lot of renovations around Orange County all the time. It was why she thought maybe she’d come to him instead of asking him to meet her somewhere, they could watch something on TV without the stress of being out somewhere and he didn’t need to stay awake if he fell asleep on the couch.
The kiss on the cheek at least settled her a little, worrying that she’d maybe overstepped something, if he’d had plans with Yondu or something. “Don’t worry, I know I’m just turning up unannounced,” it wasn’t her intent to get in the way, she just thought about spending time together that wasn’t through the phone.
Inside was quiet, but that was to be expected, and Wanda was a little more used to Yondu and Peter’s house by this point. “Is there anything in your fridge this time? I can make you something to eat while you shower.” If he’d been working all day he was probably hungry too.
“Um.” Peter didn’t know actually, and he really couldn’t think right now while his brain was moving a million miles a minute. Could she tell? Was it obvious? He really didn’t know what to do here other that panic.
Finally, he shrugged. “I haven’t really been home much this week, and I have no clue what the old man has been up to. As long as there’s no sign that says ‘Peter fuck off’ or something, I’m sure it’s all up for grabs. I just -- “ He pointed to the hall way and started walking backwards. “I’ll be as fast as I can okay? Promise.”
And he did try. It was probably the fastest -- and hottest -- shower he’d ever taken in his life. Afterwards, he brushed his teeth, shaved, put on cologne and did whatever he could to not smell like sex. Even if it was in his head.
Looking at what to wear, he suddenly felt very tired. She looked so good and all he wanted to do was throw on a pair of sweats, forget about a shirt and just laze about. It had been a long week, and he really was physically drained….but he wasn’t about to disappoint Wanda. Food first, then plans.
Grabbing a pair of light brown linen pants and a loose button up top that he left open, he came out of his room and almost froze. Did...the house smell like food? And good food?
Curiously, he looked into the kitchen and was surprised at what was there. No longer feeling self-conscious, he walked in behind Wanda and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. When standing up, the height difference was pretty apparent (and frick, he really needed to stop focusing on the differences ) when compared to laying down. “What you making?,” he asked, giving her a kiss on the side of her head. “Because whatever it is, I’m pretty sure you just made magic and I’m super disappointed you never told me you were a wizard.”
Wanda wasn’t sure what was going on with Peter, but she let him have his little moment of weirdness before his shower while she started moving about the kitchen, finding some utensils and ingredients for making something good for Peter to eat.
It wasn’t like she expected anything to be drastically different, they were friends and they’d slept over with each other when dreams were horrible, or just when life was a little too hard. Comfort and support was something that they could provide for each other when needed and Wanda cherished that part of their friendship. Even if there were some confusing developments that she was still trying to compartmentalise.
She just went through the motions, heating up a pan and getting out some of the food from the fridge, slicing vegetables -amazed that Yondu and Peter had vegetables, and listening to the shower run along the hall.
Peter wasn’t usually this jumpy, about anything. She’d seen him break from appearing like the stoic and put together guy that he tried to be all the time, even when he was being a goof with things. So she didn’t really get why he was doing it. Unless it was just because Wanda showed up without letting him know, maybe he had plans.
Maybe he’d been with someone.
And it wasn’t that farfetched, not really. She knew that Peter wasn’t exactly hurting for company, and he’d been honest about how he had a tendency towards booty calls so…
Peter’s reappearance had Wanda coming back to attention, “It’s an omelette.” She couldn’t help the small smile, leaning into Peter as he commented on the food, “It’s not difficult, really. There are eggs, some peppers, I’ve cooked some bacon and seasoning.” It wasn’t hard to make, and Wanda rather liked that anything could really be used to make up an omelette. “It’s light, but filling, so if you fall asleep it won’t upset your stomach.”
And it would help if he’d missed out any meals today. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yeah. A bit.” He reached over and snagged a piece of pepper, before stepping aside to get a glass of water. Peter was also surprised to see there were any vegetables in the house. This was not the norm, and he wondered idly who had been over while he’d been working.
Maybe Step-Jessica….although he didn’t think she ate vegetables either. He couldn’t wait to call her that.
Leaning on the counter, his legs lightly crossed at the ankles, he downed a glass before giving his head a shake. “No, really, I do feel better. I needed that shower, I needed to just be home again… it’s been a long week but it was good. Finished that job, have the weekend or so to relax before going back for a few more days and then I think I gotta hustle and see what else I can do.”
He gave her a soft smile, his eyes crinkling a bit. “And you keep being so worried that I’m going to fall asleep on you. I swear, it’s only because you’re ridiculously snuggly that I tend to. I can be awake and stay up all night, promise. Besides, you’re all dressed up. We shouldn’t just hang around here. I’m awake now.”
He seemed better, so maybe it was just the whole week catching up to him, maybe the thought of not being able to just unwind had him worked up. Wanda could understand that. Especially if he’d been under the impression that he could just go home and zonk out on the couch with Kraglin or the television on. “You know, you don’t actually need to kill yourself working so hard,” Wanda gave him a telling look, knowing that he’d probably pushed this job quicker than he should, maybe just to prove something. But Peter seemed to always want to prove something.
Poking at the edge of the omelette, laying out some more bacon into the mix before testing the base, Wanda grabbed a plate while Peter took a drink. “Oh, this?” She felt a little bad now, coming over when she knew that Peter had been working, “I was out with friends earlier,” she hoped that he couldn’t tell when she was lying yet, and while she focused on the omelette and getting the perfect fold, her hair was a little bit of a curtain.
“And you have been foregoing too much sleep. If you drive and get tired you might hurt yourself.” Even if Wanda’s powers were getting a little stronger, a little better, to the point where she’d be able to possibly help them not crash, she didn’t want to risk it. “So, maybe just eat the omelette I made you and tell me about your day?”
Wanda was lying but so was Peter so he wasn't about to call her out on it. She must have her reasons, just like he had his.
"We'll go out," he said firmly, putting down his cup and coming back to her. He didn't like seeing her looking down, and hiding behind her hair. It was things like this that reminded him of how young she was and how he really really needed to either step away or go really slow.
It'd be so much easier if he wasn't so attracted to her.
Coming up beside her, he brushed the hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. "Thank you for thinking of me, and showing up. I didn't really get how much I missed you this week until I saw you. You look amazing -- you ARE amazing. So no second guessing yourself, alright?"
And because he couldn't help it anymore, he leaned over and gave a soft, lingering kiss. He was confused too about everything but he knew he wanted her.
Slow and steady. That was how he had to play this.
The omelette was carefully slid onto the plate as Peter put down his cup, Wanda turning off the cooker and sliding things back -she’d clean up so that Yondu didn’t come home to a mess later. But Peter’s more adamant statement that they should go out drew her attention more than the clean up did.
Tilting her head upwards as he brushed back her hair, giving a small smile while a blush reached her cheeks. She should’ve texted him first, about coming over, but it still made her feel a little warm inside that he did appreciate it.
Kissing while standing was a little bit more difficult with Peter being that bit taller than her, and Wanda’s hands easily slipped to his hips, thumbs ending up just above the waist of his trousers where his shirt was still flared open. “Maybe out to a movie then, since you insist.” It was practically whispered almost against his lips, Wanda hesitant to pull too far away.
He moved his hands to cup her face, giving her another smoldering kiss before realizing that he really was hungry and he didn’t want the food to go to waste. Even though it would probably taste amazing while cold.
Looking over at the table, he frowned a little. “Hey, that’s one plate. You didn’t make yourself something too? You can’t forget about yourself too.” Tugging lightly on her hand, he moved to the table and sat down, pulling her on his lap in the process.
“Tell me how your week went. I barely looked at my phone…..Yondu’s going to be so mad when I finally talk to him.” Peter chuckled a little but it was probably true -- since he’d basically disappeared immediately afterwards and had barely been home, he knew he would have to reach out and say he wasn’t mad or anything, just needed time to process. He really did feel a lot better about things now.
“I, probably unlike you, have eaten three meals today.” Wanda just smiled but followed Peter along as he sat to eat, because at least he was eating. If she could distract him enough to forget that she wasn’t eating right then, it would be fine.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine, you’re working hard and he’ll get that.” Yondu probably had a lot to process too, maybe not in the same way at Peter, but emotionally speaking they were very detached people. “I didn’t do much this week, I’m trying this thing where I take my summer easy. Although I got a part time job at the pool as a guard, the one you got me the number for.” Which would be a good few hours to be out and doing something.
“I did read some books for next semester, but it’s mostly things I already knew.” While she was talking, perched where she was with an arm around Peter’s shoulders, her fingers automatically playing with the ends of his hair on his neck. “I might need to get my hair cut this week, it’s getting hot and heavy.”
The food was really good and it was kind of hard not to inhale it. He hadn’t really realized until this moment that she was right -- he really hadn’t been taking care of himself and eating properly. Today, he had eaten some granola bars, something greasy at lunch, and multiple gatorades while he worked in the heat. This was nice … and really unexpected.
“Oh yeah?,” he said to her comment about the job. “That’s cool, pool work sounds like a really great place to be when it’s so effing hot out.” Her touch was distracting him a bit, and he couldn’t help but shift in the seat. “But cutting your hair ...it’s really nice….” And he liked to play with it, as much as she seemed to like playing with his.
“It’s your hair though,” Peter hurriedly added. “Do what you want. Dye it pink. Get a mohawk. Be wild. Isn’t that what college kids are supposed to be doing? Expressing yourself in weird ways?” Not that he had any idea -- it wasn’t like he’d ever gone to college.
“Well, it is work, but it’s outside and I will be somewhat shaded and there’s a pool when people need help.” Shed find out all the details about what she could and couldn’t do later. She was rather looking forward to her first official shift.
“Oh no, I’m just getting a little trim.” He liked her hair, from that whole thing, all Wanda was getting at the moment was that Peter liked her hair. “I like it long but it needs tidied. I wish I have the courage to go a colour or shave some.” She didn’t think she could carry the shaved thing.
“How is your friend enjoying work? Are you both liking working together?”
“It is nice long,” he agreed. “And I guess easier to have it long if you’re working in water all day? You could just put it up or something…” It’d been years since Peter had gone to a pool, he realized. Obviously since prison, but even before that, he had no idea when was the last time he went swimming. Maybe he’d have to do something about that.
Nudging at her, he handed her the fork. He’d already eaten more than half, and realized that he hadn’t offered her any. “Snart is fun to work with. He listens, and it’s kinda ….well, it is like it was before. We shared a cell for a long fucking time. You get to know a guy that way because well -- no privacy right.” He wasn’t going to go into details but he was sure Wanda could figure it out.
Zero privacy in prison.
“And you know, if I hadn’t had Yondu to fall back on...or Hayley to take a chance on me and let me work on her studio … I would be where he is. A shitty job, shitty apartment, no real friends ….” He gave her a soft smile. “I’m pretty damn lucky, and I really needed this week to put things back into perspective. See how lucky I am.” He didn’t add the fact that he had a beautiful girl on his lap, but he knew it was implied. He nuzzled into the side of her neck, but stopped short from kissing her. Sometimes he remembered he should behave, sometimes he didn’t. “I gotta do something nice for Yondu, since I’ve basically been ignoring him…you’re good at coming up with smart things. What should I do?”
It would be easy for Wanda to tie it all up while she was working, she was used to doing that during warm summers, even if the ends got damp, that was fixable. She did like having long hair, and it was something of a comfort, she could play with it when she was bored and anxious. She wouldn’t cut it all off, just a little trim. But the fact that Peter agreed that her hair was nice long was something that gave her a warm tingle.
Smirking as she took the fork, giving in to Peter to ensure he didn’t have to push too hard. “So you guys are really close?” Surely the prison system would do that, for people who were open to it. Peter seemed like he was more about being social too, it wasn’t like he’d be able to stay to himself for that long.
It hadn’t struck Wanda before, how hard coming out of prison, for any reason, and trying to get back into civilian life, without the supports around them to do well. Society on the whole wasn’t forgiving, despite the whole concept of prison and serving their time being a pay your dues sort of deal. “Support is important, I’m sure it’s good for Snart, that you’re there to help him get some structure. That way he can get out of the crappy apartment and really get back on his feet.” Hopefully it would be good for Peter too, not just seeing what he had. Picking at little pieces of the omelette, Wanda considered.
“Well, doing something nice, and doing something nice for Yondu seem like they’d be different things.” Yondu wasn’t exactly a typical ‘dude’, and Peter wasn’t exactly ‘emotional’. They had an odd relationship, so doing something ‘nice’ was complicated. “Do you think he’d like a car detailing? Or if the house was cleaned? He’s a hard one to think of something for.”
Peter gave her a grin and wrapped his arms around her waist. She could finish eating, especially since they'd be going out later. Movies demanded popcorn. "Yeah, things seem good with Snart. We're close enough...." maybe not the same level as his friendship with Nine but it was a good one. After all, they had a bond, and Snart was probably the only one who would ever understand what it was like on the inside. "Glad he's around anyways. This last job would have taken longer...you'll end meeting him at some point anyways, especially if you still want to come and work with me some day." Having Wanda there would also make sure he didn't go and get wasted afterwards.
"And I knew you'd have a good idea." Ever since he moved in, he'd been meaning to properly landscape the yard. Sure he mowed it, but doing the edging, maybe some new gravel, tidy it up.... and cleaning the house was a given. It was never horrendous, not with Yondu's military background, but it could be better.
"Why are you so damn smart," he asked her teasingly, giving her side a light tickle. "Too damn smart to be friends with me. This is why you tell me what to do. Safer. Like what movie you wanna go watch."
There were probably layers to the friendships formed behind bars, but Wanda wouldn’t really know for sure and she didn’t want to grill Peter about his time in prison, since it was a sensitive subject and part of Peter’s past, she didn’t think he needed to dwell on it. “And it’s good for you to have help,” as much as Wanda wanted to go along and help out, she couldn’t do a lot of work that Peter might need help with.
“But I would still like to help, you need to show me how to paint properly, so I’d like to meet your friend.” If anything so that Peter and Snart knew that their pasts didn’t automatically mean people wouldn’t take a chance on them for whatever.
She did feel a little proud that her suggestion seemed to be like something Yondu would appreciate, if only because it showed Peter was thinking and taking action and trying to make things happen in the house. “Well, I mean, I’m not that smart, just smart at certain things.” Although she did blush a little, Peter always commenting on her intelligence was actually rather nice, almost as nice as the arms around her. “We should see something lively, like an action movie, I’m not up for anything sad.” And she didn’t want to confuse things with a rom-com either.
Peter shook his head with a chuckle. "I agree with you -- nothing too sad. Bad enough you've seen me cry, don't need a theater to see that." Even if he was actually glad she'd seen that. It made him feel good that he could open up so much...regardless of his actions that he still wasn't sure about.
"Any other plans tonight? Remember," he said, looking her in the eyes before leaning forward to kiss her. "You're the boss. I'm all yours," he got out between kisses. It really was easier with her on his lap.
“There’s nothing wrong with crying, but no, I don’t think we’ll make you do that in a theatre full of people.” And Wanda didn’t really want to get weirdly emotional in public either, it possibly wouldn’t go well.
“After,” the kisses were distracting, but not enough that Wanda would tell Peter to stop. It seemed, since he spent the night, this was his way of showing affection. Wanda knew she could examine it for hours, put in negatives and positives, talk herself into and out of letting Peter use it to show he cared, but ultimately, the notion that he wouldn’t just casually touch and kiss her wasn’t something she wanted to pursue. “We could get started on cleaning?” Placing the fork on the empty plate, her free hand at the back of Peter’s neck, toying with the hair there, she raised the other hand to stroke his jaw a little.
“Yondu left you a note,” but Peter had scampered off to the shower so quickly it had been left until now, “it’s on the coffee pot, he clearly thought it’d be the first place you’d go.” Which might’ve been true if Wanda hadn’t been there waiting.
"Hmm?" He didn't really want to think of Yondu while he was kissing Wanda, but a note.... the old man was way more responsible than Peter. Moving her off his lap, he went over to the coffee pot and read the hastily scrawled message.
Off to the Quadrant
Well. That was annoyingly vague...payback for the lack of texts and for blowing Yondu off all week probably. Still. Did that mean an hour? A day? All weekend? Probably a good amount of time...
"Guess we got the place to ourselves," he said casually, even if in a way he was glad he stood up and took a moment. Looking over at her, he realized that pushing her away this week was just as bad as for Yondu. But was he really ready - or able - to grow up? He had no idea. Sad, really, that he was 35 -- almost 36 -- and still had no clue.
"So yeah ...I mean if you wanna clean...I guess we could..." he was not going to suggest anything else....even if that's what was on his mind.
She used the distance to get the plate cleared away, putting everything in the sink, straightening out her shirt while she was at it. “Well, it does make sense, we can get a start on things.” Because obviously Wanda would help, she had suggested it and she could help Peter square things up inside before he got onto the garden. Even then, she could probably pull some weeds there too.
“But after the movies? You should relax a little too, you don’t have to always be working on things.” And he was probably tired. It wasn’t like he could start on the yard work yet, so if they went out Peter would be forced to do something fun and then later they could do the things that were more cleaning orientated.
She’d get the dishes either way. “It’ll be a nice surprise for Yondu to come home to.”
Peter smirked. "You're always telling me to relax or sleep or eat better. I'm 35, not 95." Although now that he was at the coffee pot, a cup wouldn’t be a bad idea. Not if he wanted to stay awake for the movie.
Okay yeah, he was old.
"Spending time with you relaxes me enough." And since her hands were already getting covered with dish soap.... he quickly set the coffee to start and reached for a dish cloth. "I'll dry and then we can get out of here. We probably should get some groceries too...you'll starve in this bachelor house."
“Maybe if you actually took care of yourself, I wouldn’t have to remind you to do these things.” And the fact that he had to say that they’d need to get groceries just highlighted that point. It wasn’t like Peter was inept, Wanda knew that. He could do a great many things that Wanda couldn’t, like drive, fix plumbing, put up walls for goodness sake. So no, she didn’t think he was incapable of things.
It was just clear that being healthy and resting and taking care of himself wasn’t high on his priority list.
And while she got the pan cleaned out, the plate and cutlery already on the rack for drying, Wanda picked up on the implication that she’d stay. Which, obviously, she didn’t mind, she would be fine with staying -and they were at Peter’s place so if he wanted to escape in the morning it was harder and he’d actually have to have a conversation with her about it.
“That sounds like a good idea. Then I can make a proper breakfast too.”
Peter put away the cutlery, grinning. "Yeah, yeah. Coffee is a good breakfast and it's made from beans so that's practically a vegetable."
Giving her hip a bump, he brushed her hair lightly. "Now enough cleaning. I'll take the day off tomorrow, and we can tidy up then." He realized he didn't actually ask her to stay....but he knew she would.
"Let's go."