Through the Bottom of a Glass
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and any OCs.
Chapter 25: Figure My Heart Out
7.25 PM
Thud. Thud. Thud. Jamie threw paper ball after paper ball into the trashcan in the corner of the living room. She rested her feet on the desk beside her laptop, noticeably doing very little paperwork. Jamie heard doors open and slam upstairs as Sharon and Bobbi prepared for a night on the town. Jamie managed to get two more pages done before the blondes arrived downstairs. Sharon traipsed in first as she shoved a pair of pumps into her purse. Jamie struggled to stifle a chuckle as Bobbi crashed in behind her. Bobbi stuck her head around Sharon.
"We're gonna go now, Jay. Don't wait up," the taller woman said as Sharon pulled on her high heels. Jamie shrugged.
"I'll see you then," she said with a crooked grin. Bobbi smirked back. When Sharon was finally ready, the girls departed the sitting room. they shouted their goodbyes but as the front door opened, Jamie heard an exchange of voices. One with a very familiar accent. Then, Sharon yelled:
"Heads up, Jay. Your Friday night has just arrived!"
The door slammed shut and Pietro swaggered in. He smiled and held up a white plastic bag. Jamie jumped up, which nearly resulted in her falling onto her face due to the awkward act of removing her socking feet from the desk.
Pietro pecked her lips and began emptying the contents of the bag. He placed a bottle of white wine, a box of microwave popcorn, a DVD and chocolate onto the coffee table.
"Sharon texted," he said with a shrug. "Your Friday night does not suck so bad now, right?"
Jamie smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Not as much, no," she replied, biting her bottom lip. Pietro smirked and kissed her. He pulled back and exclaimed.
"I have to show you something! I hear something, and I think: I know an idiot who would like this!"
He darted to her laptop and began typing furiously in the search engine. Jamie furrowed her brows.
"Thanks… I think…"
Eventually, Pietro found what he was looking for. A synth beat blasted out of the laptop's speakers.
"I'm rushing in a small town.
I forgot to call you,
Running low on know-how.
This beats made for two…"
Pietro smiled boyishly as he sang. He took Jamie's hands and moved them in time to the beat.
"Cos I remember that I like you,
No matter what I found.
She said it's nice to have your friends round.
We're watching a television with no sound…"
Jamie began to give as he tried to dance with her. Her shoulders began to loosen as the stress of the week past left her body. Petey twirled her around and laughed at her smile.
"It's just you and I tonight,
Why don't you figure my heart out?"
Push your lack of chest out, look at my hair.
Gotta love the way you love yourself.
Your obsession with rocks and brown,
And fucking up whole town's
A reflection on your mental health.
'Cos I remembered when I found you,
Much younger than you are now.
Once it started I am friend zone,
You created a television in your mouth…"
He had no idea what the lyrics meant, just that he liked the randomness of them. He danced with Jamie around the sitting room, laughter mingling with the music.
"It's just you and I tonight,
Why don't you figure my heart out…?"
10.30 PM
Wanda sat in front of her T.V., wine in hand. There was nothing good on. There never was on a Saturday night. She was slightly embarrassed by her knowledge of Saturday night television. Wanda sighed and sipped her drink. She stood up and decided to seek solace in her favourite place. She crossed the apartment and lifted the sash window. Wanda slipped out onto the fire escape, the metal cold under her bare feet. The cool city breeze ruffled her sweater and brushed back her chestnut hair. She stood with her hands resting on the railing and closed her eyes, relaxing her body as she took in breaths of the night air. This was Wanda's safe place, her hiding place, her reading nook. It was hers. Wanda opened her eyes and turned toward her apartment wall. Gazing upwards, she spotted a familiar face staring out into the city's dazzling lights.
"Hey," she greeted. The man sitting on a step two floors up started and glanced down, smiling when he saw her.
"Hi," Peter Quill replied, waving down. Wanda gave a small smile back.
"Having a fun night?" she asked. Peter pulled a face and shook his head.
"Not particularly. Best friend cancelled plans. Kinda sucks. You?"
Wanda shrugged. "Finishing a bottle of wine alone. My most exciting night in weeks, actually."
She heard him chuckle. "Drinking alone?" he asked.
She nodded. "I seem to be doing that a lot lately." She moved around to the stairwell to be able to look straight at him. Without thinking, she added:
"Would you like to join me?"
Peter wore a surprised smile. "If you're sure, I'd love to."
Wanda gave a small, slight smile. "I'm sure."
Peter laughed and clambered down the stairs. He jumped the last few steps as Wanda fetched the wine bottle. As she slipped back onto the fire escape, she kicked him over a crate to sit on while she kept the lawn chair for herself. They both plopped down onto their seats.
"What no glasses?" Peter asked as Wanda drank from straight out of the bottle. She shot him a look.
"What? You classy now? You want the alcohol or not?" she asked. He laughed again as he took the bottle and took a swig.
For two hours, Wanda and Peter talked about everything and anything that took their fancy. Wanda stood at the railings again and gazed out.
"It's so big," she said.
"Cities tend to be that way, you know," Peter joked. Wanda ignored him.
"All those people…" She made an appreciative noise. "There's so many people. Makes you realise how little you matter…"
She felt Peter's arm brush hers as he joined her.
"You are so…anonymous… and no one cares."
Peter cut her off. "It's not so bad. When you're anonymous, you get to be whoever you want and no one gives a shit. you can do whatever, whoever you want."
Wanda laughed at him as he smiled at her. The dim light gave her a strangely pretty look, the shadows danced across her face. He bumped her shoulder with his own.
"By the same token, there's always gonna be someone who cares about you. You just gotta find them, or let 'em find you. That last one seems to work out better."
Peter had a nice smile. It was like a boy's wide grin, cheeky with eyes full of mischief. Wanda liked it. She had a subtle, quiet smile that completely disarmed you when you saw it at full blast. And Peter liked it. He glanced down at her lips as she glanced at his. They leaned toward each other slowly. Wanda could faintly smell his aftershave as he moved closer.
Her lips brushed his as they closed the gap. They kissed slowly as Wanda wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt the pressure of his hands on her back.
Suddenly, the phone rang from inside her apartment. She broke apart from Peter and looked at his brown eyes.
"I need to get that," she said, taking a step back from him. Peter swallowed and nodded with a smile.
"Sure, yeah," he said. Wanda returned the smile as she clambered inside her flat.
"Goodnight, Peter," she whispered as she closed the window. She watched him wave with a smile. Wanda answered the still ringing phone but turned back to the fire escape as she did. She looked out on the empty landing as she answered.
Update! Yay! Exams! Boo! I am so sorry about the delay but I have so many exams to study for! I hope you liked it! Be sure to tell me what you thought of Panda (Peter x Wanda).
Songs used:
Heart Out- The 1975.
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Love ya!