Magic Box | Tuesday

[scarlet_chaos]

Wanda had been late to work. She had the strangest dream. A wonderful dream, where she had Billy and Tommy again and they were happy. It felt so real.

And then she woke up. In her apartment, on this island, alone. She couldn't be blamed for taking a little bit longer to drag herself out of bed after that.

She was here, if late. This time last year she was already getting ready for Halloween, but this morning she didn't have the energy to do much more than stare off into the distance, trying to remember every detail of the dream she had.

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[heroic_jawline]

The specifics of the weekend had faded over the last few days but Steve remembered the beard and the crushing grief, and so he went to check up on Wanda.

"Knock, knock," he said as he came into the store because he was 100 percent that person.

[scarlet_chaos]

Honestly, the greeting was the only thing shaking Wanda out of her thoughts, so it was needed. "Steve, hey. How are you?"

[heroic_jawline]

"Hanging in there," he said with an easy smile. "I realized I hadn't bothered you in a few weeks so here I am. Bothering you."

[scarlet_chaos]

"I don't think you've ever bothered me," Wanda said with a smile. "Rough weekend?"

She hadn't even realized anything had gone on but Steve's reply wasn't really a usual Steve reply.

[heroic_jawline]

"A little," Steve admitted. "I don't remember details any more, but Tony and I were a few decades older and struggling."

[scarlet_chaos]

Wanda's eyes widened a little, certainly not expecting that answer. "That sounds terrible, I'm so sorry. Island thing, you think?"

[heroic_jawline]

"I hope," he said earnestly, nodding. "It was horrible. But it reminded me that you'd gone through things I haven't yet, too, and to make sure that you were okay."

Because she looked kind of tired. Maybe. A little.

[scarlet_chaos]

She did, in fact, look tired. She was either going to have to up her make up or illusion game if it got worse.

"Oh, I'm fine," Wanda said, waving her hand. "I didn't even realize anything was going on, I was just hanging out in my apartment all weekend. Got to skip out on getting a preview of whatever horrors the future will bring me."

[heroic_jawline]

"You didn't miss much," Steve assured her with a tiny smile. "I promise. There was a party and some cake? But there's always cake around here."

[scarlet_chaos]

"Those big sheet cakes they get for those kind of events aren't that good anyway," Wanda joked. "I am sorry you had to go through that. Even if you can't remember it; I'm sure just the residual feelings are bad enough."

[heroic_jawline]

"I remember the beard," Steve said. "Nothing good seems to be happening when I have a beard in Fandom."

[scarlet_chaos]

"I mean, that's a fair assessment," Wanda allowed. "But I happen to like the beard, aesthetically. Shame it only comes up during times of crisis."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve grinned. "You've seen the beard?"

[scarlet_chaos]

"Yeah, I have," Wanda said with a nod. "First time I saw it you were coming out of the shadows with this serious look on your face, it was very dramatic."

[heroic_jawline]

Well, Steve loved a good entrance, and he ducked his head to hide his smiling blush. "Glad I made an impression."

[scarlet_chaos]

"It's one of the reasons I can't fully be against the beard," Wanda joked.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve chuckled. "Noted. I'll be sure to pass it along to Tony, too. I don't think he hated the beard, either."