The Queens apartment felt warmer with Wanda in it—like a puzzle piece clicking into place, even if the edges were still rough.
Alex had stepped out briefly to handle a KaneTech call—something about drone prototypes for a new relief effort. He'd kissed both women on the forehead before leaving: Gwen with familiar ease, Wanda with tentative warmth that made her cheeks flush.
Now, alone in the living room, Gwen and Wanda sat on opposite ends of the couch. The silence wasn't uncomfortable, but it hummed with unspoken questions.
Gwen broke it first, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "So… how did you two meet? He's mentioned the relief camps, but never the details."
Wanda traced the rim of her tea mug, red energy flickering faintly at her fingertips before she willed it still. "It was during the early days in Sokovia. After the bombings. He was just… there. Handing out supplies, fixing generators, listening to people who hadn't been heard in years. He didn't know who I was then—not really. But he sat with me one night, when I couldn't sleep. Didn't push. Just… stayed."
Gwen smiled softly, leaning back. "That sounds like him. Steady. Like he's holding the world up without making a show of it."
Wanda nodded, eyes distant. "He saw the red in my hands— the chaos—and didn't flinch. He said, 'Power like that doesn't make you a monster. What you do with it does.' I didn't believe him then. But now…"
She trailed off, glancing at Gwen. "What about you? How did you… see him? Through all the layers?"
Gwen's expression softened, a mix of fondness and vulnerability. "MIT. We met at a lecture on biotech ethics. He was the quiet guy in the back, always three steps ahead in the debate. I called him out on a point once—thought he'd get defensive. Instead, he smiled and said, 'You're right. Tell me more.' No ego. Just… curiosity. About me. About everything."
Wanda's lips curved slightly. "He does that. Makes you feel like you're the only thing worth figuring out in the room."
Gwen laughed lightly, but her eyes shimmered. "Yeah. But it's scary too. Loving someone who carries so much. I didn't know about the powers at first—the copying, the way he grinds through nights planning for threats I can't even imagine. When my own powers woke up… spider-sense, webs, all of it… I thought I'd lose him. Or myself."
Wanda leaned forward, red tendrils fading as empathy took over. "What happened?"
Gwen met her gaze, voice thickening. "He held me through the fear. Trained with me. Copied the powers so we could share the burden. He made it feel like a gift instead of a curse. But it's not just the strength—it's the way he looks at me after a bad day, like I'm his anchor. Like without me, the weight would crush him."
Wanda's throat tightened. "I know that look. In Sokovia, during the fall… he pulled me out of a collapse. Held my hand until the shaking stopped. Told me I wasn't defined by what I'd lost. I pushed him away then—too scared of letting anyone close. But now… being here… it feels like coming home."
Gwen reached out, squeezing Wanda's arm gently. "You are home. If you want to be. He has enough heart for both of us. And honestly… I think we do too."
Wanda's eyes filled with tears—grateful, overwhelmed. "You don't know how much that means. To not be the outsider."
"You're not," Gwen whispered fiercely. "You're part of this. Part of us."
The door opened—Alex stepping in, bags rustling. He paused, sensing the air thick with emotion.
"Everything okay?" he asked softly.
Wanda stood, crossing to him. Gwen nodded encouragingly from the couch.
Wanda took his hand—red energy flickering brighter now, but controlled. "I need to tell you something."
Alex set the bags down, full attention on her. "Anything."
She swallowed. "I've been afraid for so long. Afraid my power would destroy everything I touch. But with you… it feels different. Safer. I want… I want to try letting you in."
Alex's eyes softened—raw, hopeful. "I want that too. More than anything."
She stepped closer, voice trembling. "Then copy more. If it helps us understand each other… if it makes this real… do it."
He searched her face—seeing the vulnerability, the trust. Nodded slowly.
His fingers brushed her cheek—skin to skin, intimate.
The interface activated.
*[DNA Sample: Wanda Maximoff (refreshed). Analysis: Chaos Magic enhancement – Telekinesis refinement, Energy manipulation (+1.2σ partial), Probability control boost. Risks: Emotional resonance potential.]*
*[Selective Copy: Telekinesis +0.8σ (deeper integration), Energy harmony markers. Copy?]*
Yes.
The transfer was electric—red warmth spreading through them both. But this time, something reacted.
Wanda gasped—her red energy flared, chaotic at first, then… steadied. Alex's copied traits intertwined with hers, like a counter-harmony. The wild edges softened; the power didn't fade but balanced, as if his partial copy created a feedback loop that neutralized the instability.
"What… what is that?" Wanda whispered, eyes wide.
Alex felt it too—his new telekinesis humming in sync with hers, pulling gently like a shared breath. "It's us. Together. Your power… it's calming mine. Strengthening it."
She lifted her hand—red threads weaving with faint echoes of his energy. "It feels… stable. Like I'm not fighting it alone."
He pulled her close—arms wrapping around her. "You're not. And the more we stay together… the stronger it gets. The interface says it's a resonance effect. Proximity amplifies the balance."
Wanda melted into him, tears slipping free. "I don't deserve this."
"You deserve everything," he whispered fiercely. "You deserve to feel whole."
She looked up—eyes shining—and kissed him. Soft at first, tentative, then deeper—full of years of grief melting into hope. His hands cradled her face; hers clutched his shirt like an anchor.
Gwen watched from the couch—eyes misty, heart full. No jealousy. Just quiet joy.
When they parted—breaths mingling—Wanda whispered against his lips: "I love you. I think I have for a long time."
Alex's voice broke. "I love you too. So much it scares me."
Gwen stood then—crossing to them. Slipped her arms around both.
"We've got you," she murmured to Wanda. "Both of us."
Wanda turned, pulling Gwen into the embrace. Three hearts, beating in sync.
The red energy glowed softly around them—not destructive.
Harmonious.
Strengthened by staying together.
One bond at a time.
(Word count: 1006)