Elias POV
Shaun seemed like a nice, normal kid in his late teens, quietly packing my substantial order without complaint. The only things that gave him away were the way he always kept me in sight and how he subtly shifted his weight every time I moved, even a little.
He clearly knew something was off about me. I stayed still in one of the store's corners, waiting patiently for him, hoping the son of the 1000-year-old Chinese warlord would write me off as an aberration and move past today.
If I had known he was anywhere near here, I would have stayed clear of it...
The kid wasn't a threat. No matter how skilled he was at martial arts, he wouldn't be able to damage me—unless he had something else going on for him. There was a lot I didn't know about his story or how it ultimately unraveled, other than the fact his father was an undying warlord with a loyal army and some magically-inclined Chinese mother.
I didn't want to get involved with any of it; I had enough on my plate as it was. The last of the livestock went into thick bags and wet cartons: crabs, a few lobsters, squid, and another pair of heavy fish. It should be enough for now. I narrowed my eyes, estimating the mass here. It should be enough to at least cover most of my body in a thin layer or protect critical areas while creating primitive weapons with my exo-bio suit.
Shaun wiped his hands on his apron and looked over.
"That's everything."
I glanced at the pile and realized a problem: carrying all of it in one trip would look suspicious to normal people. It would take at least two trips. Maybe three.
Shaun followed my gaze. "I can help you get it to the truck."
I raised both eyebrows, then nodded. I felt the kid had other reasons to help me.
Katy came around the counter, checking the bags. "You get all of it?"
"Yeah," Shaun said. "We're good. You can bill him."
"Oh, definitely," she said, quickly moving to the register to ring me up.
I smiled despite myself and paid. Thirty pounds of live seafood in Flushing in 2008 wasn't as cheap as you'd think—crabs and fish would have been one thing, but the lobsters pushed it. I paid Katy four hundred and sixty dollars in cash before moving out of the shop.
Shaun and I split the load and headed out into the street. We quickly reached my Ford despite the foot traffic of the busy street and packed the bags into the passenger footwell and the back seat. Hopefully, I wouldn't have a situation where I'd have to deep clean the upholstery.
Shaun moved stiffly. Sighing through my nose, I decided there would be no misunderstanding. I looked at him over the bed of the truck; he didn't seem to want to start the conversation.
"So, uh, thanks for your help, Shaun," I said to the kid.
He shifted his weight, his hands still damp from handling all the bags. "Uh. Yeah. No problem."
Then, unable to leave it alone:
"So, um. You from around here?"
I thought about it. The general area wouldn't cost me anything, and if it settled whatever he thought I was, it was cheap insurance.
"Astoria," I said.
He nodded too quickly. "What do you do for work?"
It came out strong, then trailed off as he heard himself. The kid realized it was rude but still pushed on.
I sighed. "Just got back from Afghanistan, kid, and wanted some seafood. Figured I'd try my hand at cooking."
I told him the best cover story I could.
"Oh." He blinked, some of the tightness leaving his shoulders. "Ah. Yeah. Okay."
"If you're uncomfortable for any reason," I said, keeping it even, "I can change shops."
"No, no. It's fine." He shook his head fast, already backpedaling. "Katy would kill me if she found out I drove a customer off. And yeah. You're cool, man."
"Alright. I'll take my leave then."
With that, I got into my truck and pulled out of Flushing before the conversation could grow any weirder and made my way home.
Hopefully, things were going alright with Wanda...
Wanda Maximoff POV
Hmph.
How could he just give the phone to my father after I told him everything I had gone through and how I left home? Frustration rose within me as I stared hard at my phone. I took a deep breath, controlling my emotions. After all, I was in the campus library; I couldn't ruin my chances at a normal life.
I will not go back. I took another breath, sitting, bracing my hands on the desk. I must control my emotions; nothing ever good comes from letting them control me.
The younger me had learned that the hard way...
I stared hard at the phone and felt my lip tremble even as I brought it under control. Thinking back to the call, I couldn't help but feel a pang of confused feelings: longing, hurt, anger. Father, he had come to check up on me, but—
Daughter. I was disappointed you left without so much as a note. Still—I am proud. You are even making friends of the right sort. I am sure you will do well. I will keep in touch.
It's always like this, always about what he wants and his stupid ideals. Does he even care for us? I thought angrily, controlling myself. I couldn't help but feel hurt, and a bout of traitorous joy that he had come in search of me, but in my head, I knew that wasn't all it was about.
"The good sort," he had said. He means Eli. No, I won't allow my father to involve Eli in his schemes.
And Peitoro, that buffoon,I grit my teeth. He's dead, I declared privately in my mind. This was all because of him.
"Hey, Wanda. Did your phone kill your dog?" A voice whisper-shouted.
I looked up to find Madelyn—Maddy to her friends—dropped into the opposite seat at the table. She was a pretty blonde girl, though a little short, wearing a white crop top and jeans. She was someone I had gotten to know in the past few days.
"No," I said sharply, before biting back my words as my accent slipped.
"Arrgh, girl, I love the accent." I narrowed my eyes at her as she clawed the air in front of my face with her perfectly manicured nails.
"So, what's the matter?"
I blew the lock of hair from my face. I couldn't really tell her everything. Normally, I would never share anything personal with anyone. Maybe it was because I was trying to live a normal life, or just because we were all in college, or just maybe I just wanted to gossip. I told her everything, well, obviously leaving out anything related to powers and anything weird in general.
Maddy snorted into her hand.
"Snrk. So basically, you ran away, shacked up with a hunky soldier, your family did a surprise inspection, and your man doxed you to your dad."
"It is not like that, Maddy," I hissed. "And Eli is not my boyfriend."
She giggled into her sleeve. "You're not denying he's hunky."
"Well, no. I suppose he is," I said, feeling my face heat up.
"So you're mad he gave you away." She pressed a hand to her chest, theatrically. "He betrayed your trust."
"Maybe," I muttered, leaning back into my chair. It was getting a little hot, and I was most certainly not angry with him for the same exact reason Maddy mentioned.
"Anyway. I should go home and give him a piece of my mind."
"You're contradicting yourself, girlfriend," she giggled, that little...
I stood, ignoring her, and started stacking my books. "Whatever. I am leaving. I have to go home."
"Sure, sure. Go home and give your man a piece of yourself. Pro tip—" her voice dropped dramatically, and she looked delighted to tease me.
"—go a little crazy andthenfuck him. Guys like crazy-hot girls."
I glared at her. "We are not like that, you slut."
"Okay, okay. Take it easy." She tipped her head, suddenly almost sincere. "You free this weekend?"
"Why?"
"Jessica's throwing a party. Come with me."
"A party. Now?"
"She said something about reminding the world it isn't ending. The economy's fine, we'll all get jobs, forget the giant green guys, pretend everything's normal." Maddy shrugged. "It'll be fun. Bring your soldier-man."
"Why?" I asked, already knowing I would regret it and purposely ignoring the memories of that day with the green monster.
There's no use bringing up the past...
"I mean, if you two aren't a thing, you should introduce me. I could totally use a boyfriend."
I stared at her with all the annoyance I had left.
She smiled like she had won the lottery. "Don't worry, I won't take your man. Still, it will be fun. Both of you should come."
"I'll think about it. I have to go."
"Bye."
I took my books and walked out of the building that housed the library, making my way to the subway. All throughout the way home, I kept thinking about everything I had gone through to reach here. I was finally at a point where I could try to live a normal life: go to college, make friends, graduate, get a job, and maybe even start a family.
Despite my annoyance at Eli for how he had given my number away, I was glad to have met him. Sure, he wasn't perfect, and from what I had seen, he was selfish to a degree and certainly seemed to have a darker side to him. But he was a good man. He seemed like someone I could trust and be myself with.
After all, he could have left back in the warehouse and escaped by himself; he certainly was fast enough for that.
I had seen the way his eyes would linger on my body, and a smile touched my face. He wasn't bad-looking either. Maddy's words flashed through my mind at lightning speed as a flush crept up my neck.
Down, girl...
It was too early for anything like that.
...Still. It would not be the worst idea in the world.
I looked at the other people in the train car until the thought loosened its grip. The train pulled into Astoria. I got off, climbed back to the street, and went to the local grocery store with purpose.I was going to splurge on Raven's credit card. It was something she had given me a couple of years back.
I had stopped using it after leaving home, only using some of the cash I had saved up over the years,but not anymore, I thought vindictively. By the time I reached Eli's apartment, my arms ached with all the stuff I had purchased.
I should go shopping for some new clothes as well, maybe even some shoes.
I unlocked the door with my shoulder and pushed inside.
"Eli?" I called out, "Are you home?"
I heard grunts and heavy breathing coming from the master bathroom. I quickly made my way there after dropping the groceries in the kitchen.
What is he doing?
"Eli?"
I reached out and opened the door.
The bathroom floor was a mess. A thick black substance had spread across the tile like living moss, crawling in slow, wet shapes all around and over him. His clothes were soaked, but I concentrated only on his face, doing my best to ignore his very muscled body that I could almost see through. I did not quite succeed.
Whoa.
His powers were certainly unique. I had wanted to ask him about them more than once but held back. I knew it had something to do with biology, though I doubted even he could explain it properly. After all, I couldn't explain mine even if I wanted to.
Still. It was very cool.
"Eli," I said, louder. "Are you okay?"
His eyes snapped open.
The black sludge pulled inward all at once, sinking into his skin as if it was never there. He stumbled once as he stood up quickly.
"Wanda. You're home."
Home.
The word sent a warm feeling through my chest. I did not let it show. I put my hands on my hips and pinned him with a look.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself? How could you do this to me, huh? How could you give my number to my father after everything I told you?"
He sighed, then marshaled himself to his height.
"And what was I supposed to do? Send him on a wild goose chase? He's your father."
It was a reasonable answer. I shoved that fact down and answered shamelessly anyway.
"Yes."
I crossed my arms underneath my breasts, pushing them up, enjoying the way his eyes darted to them for a brief moment.
He sighed again. "Is everything okay, or..."
"If it is not," I asked as he trailed off, looking at me awkwardly, "are you going to help?"
With another quieter sigh, he said, "If you asked for my help, I'd try my best, Wanda."
My annoyance at him vanished at his sincerity. I clicked my tongue because I had to do something with my face.
"Fine."
Then I noticed the plastic bags and cases still sitting in the bathroom, and the smell under the damp.
I wrinkled my nose. "Is this fish?"
"Yeah. I'll clean it up."
I nodded. It had to be part of his power, I thought to myself.
"And take a shower too. But I am still angry with you."
He rolled his eyes at me. That pulled a smile out before I could stop it.
"I'll make it up to you then."
"Great," I said, and turned for the hall. I felt another flush grow on my face as I felt his eyes staring at my butt, and couldn't help putting some extra sway to it.