Chapter 4

Bea P.O.V

Once Steve, Bucky, and Nat leave the room, I eagerly grab some fresh paper and carefully wrap up the painting I've just completed, now finally dry. The gleaming silver paper shines under the warm light, and I top it off with a massive, vibrant bow that contrasts beautifully against the metallic sheen. As I glance around my cluttered workspace, my gaze lands on a small container tucked away in my desk cupboard filled with seeds. An idea strikes me.

With a giddy sense of excitement, I kick off my shoes, feeling the cool floor beneath my feet, and close my eyes. I pick up the seeds, letting them dance and tumble between my fingers, their tiny textures bringing me joy. I dig my toes into the carpet, visualising them nestled in rich, fertile soil. With each seed, I trace invisible pathways through my room, harnessing the sun's rays and the drops of water I imagine, encouraging the seeds to sprout and grow under the gentle force of my thoughts.

The seeds respond—vines unfurl and curl lovingly around one another, while buds blossom into exquisite flowers. I can almost feel the soft caress of pollen in the air, weaving a magical tapestry around me. As I finally open my eyes, I'm greeted by the sight of a stunning bouquet filled with vibrant roses and delicate ferns. A smile spreads across my face, warmth pooling in my chest as I place them in water before racing to the kitchen.

Entering the kitchen, I'm relieved to find it empty. With a whirlwind of excitement, I gather my baking supplies to create a delightful cake. "Flour," I mutter to myself, tapping my chin in contemplation. "Where's the flour?"

Suddenly, a familiar voice breaks through my concentration. "Second bottom to the right." I spin around and find Wanda leaning casually against the counter, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Oh, thanks!" I exclaim, a grin bursting onto my face. I head to where she pointed, and sure enough, there it is—my missing ingredient. "Thanks again," I say, turning back to her.

"No problem at all," she replies, a light laugh escaping her lips. "What are you baking?"

I beam at her, excitement bubbling over. "I'm making a chocolate orange cake with raspberry puree filling."

"Oh, wow! That sounds amazing," she responds, her enthusiasm matching my own.

"Thanks!"

"May I ask why?" she inquires, her curiosity piqued.

"Oh, I just wanted to create something special," I explain, a hint of shyness creeping into my voice.

"Really?" she raises an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Yeah, really!"

"Do you want to help?" I blurt out, surprised at my boldness. She looks taken aback, then her face lights up with a smile.

"I would love to help!" she exclaims, her eyes sparkling.

As I place the cake in the oven, we settle in for a moment.

"So, Bea," Wanda starts, looking my way with playful curiosity.

"Yes, Wanda?"

"Do you mind if I ask you some questions?"

"What, like an interrogator?" I quip, grinning.

"Irregular interrogator?" she counters with a laugh, then joins my playful tone, "It's a game my dad and I used to play. You ask questions, and if I ask you something, you get to ask me something back."

"Like an eye for an eye!"

"Exactly." We smile at each other, and I nod for her to go first.

"Oh, okay. Umm... what's your favourite genre of movies?" she asks, her expression expectant.

"Anything Disney or horror," I reply after a moment's thought. "How about you?"

"I guess I like Disney too—hahaha! Umm... what's your favorite color?"

"Sea green or turquoise," I say, imagining the colours. "What was it like moving in for the first time?"

"It was scary at first, but now I feel like I've truly found my home. Everyone has been so kind," she shares, her voice softened with warmth.

"That's nice to hear," I respond, genuinely happy for her.

"What about you?" she asks, tilting her head slightly as she focuses on me.

"In a way, it's not the same as being on my own, and I do miss some things, but I feel a little more grounded here," I admit, my fingers tugging nervously at the hem of my shirt.

We share stories and laughter, our voices merging as we talk about life and dreams while we let the cake cool.

Suddenly, a playful thought pops into my mind. "Wanda!!!" I exclaim, and in a bold move, I try to catch the molten chocolate that's slipping from the bowl, but instead, I end up tumbling to the floor.

"Omg, I'm so sorry!" she cries, rushing to help me as I lose my balance, slipping on the chocolate. We erupt into laughter, our giggles echoing around the kitchen as we try our best to keep our footing. I manage to fall straight onto my backside, and in a comedic twist, Wanda lands right on top of me.

For a moment, we lie there, enveloped in laughter, our faces flushed with joy. "You're so weird," I say, still chuckling as I attempt to get up.

"Thank you," she replies with a smirk.

After we regain our composure, we finish decorating the cake, slathering it with rich chocolate ganache and sprinkling it with bright, crushed dried raspberries. Once it's beautifully boxed, we place it in the fridge. As we clean up, I spot the hose resting innocently in the corner, and with a mischievous grin, I take it and give Wanda a playful spray.

"Ahhh!" she screams, hands flying up in shock as I barely suppress my laughter.

"Oh, you're so dead," she threatens playfully, spinning to face me. Red light glimmers from her hands, and in an instant, I find myself doused in water, completely soaked from head to toe.

"Ahhh!!! WANDA!!!!!!!" I shout, panic and laughter mingling in my voice. I grab the hose once more and spray her back, starting a full-blown water fight.

Holding a lid from one of the saucepans, I declare, "On guard!" and we burst into giggles, diving into our own delightful chaos. Catching sight of a bubbly jug of water, Wanda instinctively hurls it at me, but I react quickly, raising my hand as the water freezes mid-air in a mesmerising spectacle.

"OH MY GOD!" Wanda gasps, her eyes widening in disbelief as a smile breaks across her face. "You. Have. Magic." She states, almost as if she's unravelling a profound secret.

"Shhh. No, I don't. Keep it down," I urge hurriedly, my heart racing.

"Why do you have powers? I had no idea!" she says, her curiosity igniting further.

"Shhhh. No one knows," I insist, glancing around as if someone might overhear.

"What do you mean?" she asks with intrigue.

"No one knows I have powers except you, Loki, Clint, Nick, and, well, Koda," I explain with a faint blush.

"I get why you'd want to keep it quiet, but you're living with the Avengers! They won't care," Wanda reasons.

"I know, but my powers are the only thing that wasn't documented in any file. People could easily question, 'Why does she lose control? Why do bad things happen around her?'" I confess, anxiety is creeping in.

"Who dies around you?" she asks, her brow furrowing in concern.

"No one!" I respond hastily, but her long, penetrating gaze tells me I need to elaborate. "Can I tell you later?"

"Of course," she says gently, reassuring me.

"You can't tell anyone! Please, Wanda, keep this between us," I plead, desperation tinging my tone.

"I won't tell a soul," she assures me, her expression sincere.

Relief floods through me as a smile spreads across my face, and we share a warm hug, sealing our newfound secret. Just then, a voice interrupts us, making us jump.

"What's going on?" Clint's voice calls from above, startling us.

"Ahh!" we both scream in unison, looking up to find him peering down from the ventilation above. "What the hell, Clint?" we exclaim together, equal parts annoyed and amused.

"What?" he asks, feigning innocence with a smirk.

"You scared us!" I say, my heart finally starting to calm down.

"How long have you been eavesdropping?" Wanda demands, crossing her arms.

"I've been hanging around long enough," he replies, studying us both keenly. "So, you know about her powers?"

"I suspected," he adds, his gaze flicking between us.

"How?" I ask, curiosity piquing.

"Well, you were incredibly defensive when we first met. Then, my twin poked fun at you for being 'weak and normal,' and suddenly, everything started to shake. Minutes later, you stormed out, and it left me wondering," he explains, amusement dancing in his eyes.

I groan, realising that I've unintentionally drawn attention to my secret. "Great, just great."

And so, the day unfolds, enveloped in laughter, shared secrets, and the delicate nurturing of a friendship deepened by moments of genuine vulnerability.

After we finished cleaning up and drying off, Wanda and I hurried to change into something more appropriate for the evening. "Do you want to wear this?" I asked, holding up a vibrant, lacy dress that caught the light beautifully.

"Really? Isn't it a bit fancy for just a regular night?" she replied, arching an eyebrow in playful disbelief.

"Yeah, but I bought it specifically for occasions like this, and honestly, red isn't really my colour," I said with a grin.

"Are you sure about that?" she asked, searching my face for any hint of hesitation.

"Of course! I have another dress I can wear," I reassured her with a wave of my hand.

"You really are a great friend," she said, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.

"Oh, so now we're friends?" I teased, my heart fluttering at the thought.

"Of course we are! I need a friend who is a girl and has powers," she quipped, a playful smirk on her lips.

"Ahh, yes, us girlfriends," I chuckled, amused by her comment.

Once we decided on our outfits, we applied just a hint of makeup and straightened our hair. I wore a flowing forest green dress that complemented my complexion, while Wanda dazzled in a scarlet number that accentuated her vibrant energy. Hand in hand, we floated down the staircase into the kitchen, excitement bubbling between us.

As we entered, Tony looked up from the dining table, his eyes widening in surprise. "Oh my gosh," he exclaimed. "You two look absolutely amazing! What's the special occasion?"

"There's no occasion, we just felt like dressing up!" I replied, laughter bubbling in my throat.

Wanda slipped her arm around my shoulder in a side hug, and I felt the warmth of her affection seep into my skin. I couldn't help but smile. "Alright, let's eat!" I proclaimed, eliciting cheers of agreement from everyone at the table.

As we enjoyed a delightful meal peppered with conversation and laughter, I couldn't help but think that this was what a proper family dinner was all about. After dinner, we transitioned to the lounge where we settled ourselves in a cosy circle. Nat and Bruce busied themselves retrieving drinks from the bar, mixing them with effortless flair.

I leaned over and tapped Wanda on the shoulder, my voice a whisper in her ear. "Let's go get dessert," I suggested, a conspiratorial smile on my face. She returned the smile, her enthusiasm palpable as we both stood up. I grabbed my present, while Wanda carefully brought over a beautifully decorated cake, its frosting glistening like freshly fallen snow.

"We've brought dessert and a gift!" I announced as I set the bouquet I had prepared earlier into a vase and then handed Wanda the gift. "It's for all the Avengers," I added with a bright smile.

As Wanda unveiled the painting, a collective gasp echoed through the room, punctuated by an enthusiastic chorus of "Oh wow!"

"Oh my, Bea, it's absolutely beautiful!" Clint exclaimed, his eyes wide with appreciation as he enveloped me in a sudden hug. "When did you manage to create this masterpiece?"

"I've been working on it for a couple of weeks," I admitted, a hint of pride swelling in my chest.

"Right, I'm definitely hanging that up in my room," Tony declared, beaming at the artwork.

"I wouldn't recommend that," I teased, noticing the bewildered looks exchanged among the group. "Jarvis, turn off the lights," I commanded playfully, and as the room descended into darkness, the once golden glimmer of the sunset transformed, revealing a breathtaking spectacle—a glowing galaxy painted across the walls.

"How do you do that?" Bruce inquired, awe etched on his face as the lights flickered back on, illuminating the wonder I had created.

"It's quite simple, actually. I mixed some of the chemicals from your lab with my paint and combined it with glowing algae I discovered in the nearby water," I explained casually, the excitement of creation evident in my tone.

"You really are a creative genius," Wanda remarked, her admiration shining through.

"Thanks, Wanda," I replied, my face lighting up at her compliment.

"You're welcome, Bea," she said softly, her voice warm and sincere.

"It truly is amazing," Clint added, nodding in agreement. "Looks like you're part of the family now, Wanda, especially after that wild water fight."

"I'm so confused. Did you say water fight?" Nat interjected, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"Yes, indeed! You can check the cameras. Jarvis?" Tony responded with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I glanced nervously at Clint and Wanda, a wave of apprehension washing over me. Clint caught my eye and nodded, silently reassuring me as he mouthed, "I dealt with it." Sure enough, we watched the video repeatedly, revelling in the sheer fun of the scared expressions and Tony's exaggerated anger, but to my immense relief, there were no traces of my magic. It had all been skillfully edited out, leaving our antics as nothing but a harmless memory.