16. "It's Complicated."
After dinner, and after a toast to the fallen, the men and women dispersed. The children went back to playing; Pepper, Wanda, Laura (Clint's wife), and Esme volunteered to clean up. While it did seem sexist, Esme didn't seem to mind. She got to bond with the ladies and some wine afterwards.
The men were out on the porch, exchanging loud stories and laughter, to which Esme smiled at. It was good to hear among them Thor's booming laughter.
"This was a great idea," said Laura, who swirled her red drink in her wine glass. "We should do this more often, make it like a once a month thing or something."
"I'm down for that," said Wanda. "So, Esme, I believe you owe us an origin story."
"Origin story?" the Asgardian questioned.
"About you and Thor, of course!" Wanda snickered.
Esme looked down at her dwindling supply of wine in her hand. "Like I said, it's complicated."
"Well, try to make it so we can understand it," said Laura thoughtfully. "Pepper and I know what it's like to be in a serious relationship. No offense, Wanda."
"None taken," said the youngest out of the ladies in the room. "I'm just waiting for the right person."
"Person?"
Wanda shrugged.
"To be fair, the only serious relationship she's had is with an android," said Pepper seriously. "And I'm really not trying to be mean about it, it's just fact."
"Wait, how does that work?" asked Laura.
"That isn't the point," Wanda snipped rather quickly. "The point is, I want somebody who won't look at me like I'm a freak and try to get me into a laboratory where they'll conduct experiments on me. Some people don't view heroes in a great light. The reason I have these powers is because I volunteered for experimentation."
"Well, anybody would be lucky to have you," Esme told Wanda.
"So...about you and Thor..." Laura pushed gently.
Esme sighed.
"So help me if you say it's complicated..."
The Asgardian shrugged. "It is. Before me, there was a human named Jane Foster, which fell through. He got busy saving the other realms, I became a guard for our prison. I became imprisoned due to Loki faking his death and posing as King Odin. I had to submit to being ruled by Thor's eldest sister, the Goddess of Death."
Laura whistled lowly, taking a sip from her glass.
"Our home was destroyed, and then Thanos came and screwed everything up." Esme exhaled. "We were to be wed, you know."
Wanda almost spit out her sip of wine in surprise. Pepper's eyes widened, and Laura jumped in her chair in excitement.
"In the aftermath of Thanos getting his way, Thor...he wasn't Thor anymore. He was a drunk who spent his days travelling and returning home for beer. I couldn't find myself staying with a man who didn't want to help himself or have someone help him, so...I had to break it off."
"And yet here you two are."
Esme nodded. "He found me to make amends. I think it's become much more than that."
"I'll say," said Pepper. "The last time everyone saw him, he was overweight, had dreads, and had his beard braided. Now he looks totally different."
"Hell, just say it, Pepper. The god looks hot," sniggered Laura.
"Don't let Clint hear you say that!" Wanda chided her playfully.
"He may be changed outside, but inside...things are still the same in some ways, mostly with his warring emotions," Esme said, bringing the playful air down a notch. "The outside doesn't necessarily reflect the inside."
"Has anything happened between you two?"
Esme bit her lip. There were little things, sure, she could admit were happening. But she just met these ladies. Did she want to divulge the tiniest of details to them?
"Your silence is a big tell," Wanda sang. "We won't say a word."
"Can you promise that while under wine influence?"
"I haven't had a lot, so yes."
"Well, if you must know...I think there are sparks, but we're still very cautious about acting on them. It's been a few years since we've really been together. We've started over, in a way."
Esme wasn't sure why the topic came to an abrupt halt, not until she noticed Thor had made his way in. Though she always pictured him in Asgardian armor, to see him in civilian clothing was just as attractive. Wanda hid a smile behind her glass, Pepper looked down at hers. Laura maintained a good poker face.
"What's the matter?" Esme asked the God of Thunder.
"Nothing, just wanted to make sure you were all right."
"We got her, Thor," Pepper assured him. "We're bonding."
"I can see that." His eyes fell on the wine each of the women had in their hands.
"It's not much," Esme told him. "Besides, you know our tolerance is much better than theirs are. I'll drink them all under the table if they so challenge me."
"I'm not sure Morgan would like to see her mother passed out on the floor somewhere."
Pepper nodded in agreement.
"Let me go check on the kids. I'm sure they're okay, but just for the sake of being a mom, a visual will make me feel better," Laura said suddenly, making a rather hasty exit from the kitchen.
"I'll join you," said Pepper.
"Oh, bathroom break," said Wanda.
"They aren't the most subtle, are they?" Esme chuckled to Thor when the ladies dispersed, leaving the two of them behind.
"I guess I was the subject over wine?"
Esme looked away. "It was all good things, I promise." Thor went to her chair, kneeling before her. "How're things going with the boys out on the porch?"
"It's nice. Wilson and Barnes are entertaining to listen to."
"I gathered that from the time I met them."
"Clint's trying to convince everyone to try archery to see who would be worthy to wield a bow."
"That sounds like a dumb idea."
"He may be a little buzzed."
"Ah, that explains it. And you? How sober are you?"
"Fairly." He took her hands gently. "You're sure you're all right?"
"Yes. The girls are really sweet, I like them. We should do this more often, Thor. Gather the group for dinner and such. Maybe we could host one at our house!"
Thor blinked in surprise.
"What? What did I say?"
"You said 'our' house."
"W-well, we have been living together. I can't claim the house fully mine anymore."
Thor smiled shyly. "I like the idea. If everyone is on board with it, we can see about taking our turn to host."
Esme beamed. Maybe they didn't need to relocate to enrich their lives. Maybe they just had to reconnect with old friends and gather over food and drink. It sounded like a nice enough time. She hoped they wouldn't abandon Arisabel and Jamie, the couple they had befriended after Esme had saved them from a potentially brutal beating from bigots.
Esme noticed Thor having that in-awe look in his mismatched eyes again. "What?"
"I like seeing you so happy."
"And here I thought I was to help you be happy. The roles seemed to be flipped." She lightly scratched at his thick beard. "I suppose there's one thing true about us."
"And what is that?"
"We seem to find each other, no matter how much time has passed. We're...we're good for each other." And Esme pulled Thor to her to kiss him shyly.
She was under no wine influence for this act of intimacy. She didn't know how long she had wanted to do that, to feel connected to him like that again. Thor placed his hands on both sides of the chair, not allowing Esme any escape. As if she wanted to leave right now!
The moment was short-lived by childish giggling.
Thor and Esme pulled away, both pairs of eyes searching for the source. Esme caught a flash of strawberry-blonde hair belonging to one Wanda Maximoff.
"There's no privacy in here," Esme growled rather lowly.
Thor chuckled. "To be fair, this isn't our house. We'll have all the time to be private later."
While she knew the God of Thunder wasn't implying late night activities, it was where Esme's mind went. And boy did her face light up like a tomato!
As Thor went back outside to the men, Wanda snuck back into the kitchen, a stupid grin on her face.
"It's complicated, huh?"
Esme watched Thor until she couldn't see him anymore. "I guess it isn't anymore."
**Wow, even in a short book I can make a ship slow burn.
I'm just a wee bit proud of that.**
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