New chapter! Yay! I'd like to thank MarvelousMissFanfic for the prompt for this chapter as well! Speaking of chapters, thanks to Saint of the Sinners, Savarra, and emilyamazing for their reviews! It's nice to hear from you guys! :)
On that note, I've got the last few chapters all panned out (finally! Now I have my life together)! I'm going to try and get this done by mid-August, if not earlier. I hope you'll stick around until the end! It means a lot to me to know you keep up with the story.
If anyone's interested, I'd like feedback on my story As You Wish, Your Majesty. I'd just like to hear some thoughts about what I've got so far.
That's all for today, folks! Have a MARVELous evening!
It took another two days for Esca to get better. The others were all relieved when she could finally stomach solid foods again, and they positively smothered her with grilled cheese and tomato soup. It was only thanks to Steve that they stopped shoving it towards her—he declared that she probably shouldn't eat too much just in case she had a relapse.
Luckily, there was no relapse, and three days after she recuperated, Wanda, Zelda, Pepper, and Natasha all decided they wanted a girls' night out, because the guys were driving them insane. Normally, they could put up with their male counterparts, but only for so long.
And so it was that the five females left to go eat dinner and go shop or something. They didn't have a specific plan; just getting out of the Tower seemed like a good one.
First up, they went to Macy's—always a favorite—and pored over dresses and make-up. Everyone ended up getting something. In Esca's case, it was a pair of summer shorts and a few t-shirts that had been on sale, although Natasha tried to get her to buy a short red dress that could be used for clubbing.
Afterward, they stopped at a smoothie shop to grab something to drink. Wanda got a vanilla/chocolate swirl, Pepper bought a banana/orange mix, Natasha ordered a blackberry shake, Zelda got a hibiscus/mango smoothie, and Esca got a plain raspberry smoothie. And of course, everyone tried a sip or two of everyone's, even though Esca warned them that she might not have completely gotten rid of her bug.
Needless to say, they didn't care.
For the next two hours, the women tromped around the city, stopping at whatever looked interesting. Hot Topic, JC Penny, and a tea shop were three of their stops—but after their wallets were lighter and their arms starting hurting from carrying bags around, they decided it was time to grab some dinner.
"Where should we go?" questioned Wanda, glancing around.
Natasha smirked. "Is there any real question? We go to Schwarma."
"Yeesss," exclaimed Zelda—Schwarma was her favorite restaurant, and with good reason. Not only was the food absolutely delicious, but Robbie was often there.
It took only a few minutes for them to reach the restaurant, as it was only a couple blocks away. As soon as they entered the store, they heard a gasp and, "Oh, my favorite girls! Here's a large booth for you. Come sit and tell me what you want—except you, Zelda, I know already."
Their food was out in ten minutes. As the restaurant was not very busy, Robbie grabbed a burger and plopped down next to them. "So how's life?" he prompted.
"Splendid, as always," replied Esca with a smile. "Although—this might sound strange—I'm looking for something to happen! Another mission, maybe?"
"Oh no," teased Pepper. "She's been exposed to the mission adrenaline."
Esca made a face, which set the others to laughing.
"I heard you were sick, dear," exclaimed Robbie, patting Esca's hand sympathetically. "I trust you're feeling fantabulous again?"
She grinned. "I couldn't have put it better myself! These people tried to smother me with blankets and food when I started feeling better… they treat me like a five-year old," she smirked at the others as they attempted to deny her accusations.
"We do not!" protested Pepper.
Natasha laughed. "Yes we do. At least, I know I treat her like my little sister. Most of us do—you're family."
Esca smiled sincerely at that. "For all my complaining, I'm very glad to be considered family by you guys. You all are legitimately the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"Aww," crooned Pepper, Wanda, and Robbie simultaneously.
"Well it's true," she confirmed, shrugging. "Everyone in that Tower is my friend, and the greatest friends I've ever had."
Robbie grinned and opened his mouth to say something, but he was cut off by Zelda, who pointed to the door and exclaimed, "Hey, Robbie. Boyfriend alert."
Robbie glanced over his shoulder to see his boyfriend, Nathaniel, standing in the doorway. With a happy grin, he declared, "Well, ladies, I must farewell you for the evening. We're going to see The Lion King on Broadway!"
And with that, he waved and sauntered out of the building, the women's well wishes and requests to hear how the musical went following him out.
Once he was gone, Esca giggled. "I really like him. But hey, speaking of boyfriends… Nat, are you and Bruce official yet?"
Natasha's eyebrows rose. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Zelda coughed something into her burger that sounded like, "BULLSHIT."
Wanda smirked as she put in, "You know exactly what we're talking about, Natasha. I know you do."
Nat blinked for a moment, as if confused, before realizing that Wanda was probably reading her mind. "Oh, hell," grumbled Nat—but, at the other's invested expressions, she huffed and muttered, "Alright, so we'll probably be official soon. Relax."
"Soon?" demanded Esca. She had been waiting for her friend, practically her sister, to get in that committed relationship with Bruce Banner for the past three stinking months! "Soon?! No! It should be official the minute we step back into that Tower, Natasha Romanoff!"
The redhead just curled her lip into a grin. "Sorry, Rarity. You'll have to wait."
Esca pouted. "I've waited three months already."
The others were all but grasping the table to keep upright, they were so amused. As it was, Zelda managed to gasp through her tears, "Come on, Nat, Esca's right. We've all been waiting, you know."
"Oh, really? How long did it take you and James to become official?"
"Three weeks. It may or may not have been a bit of a rushed relationship."
"Well, it seems to have worked out well," noted Wanda softly, a smile on her face. "After all, you've been together what, two years?"
Zelda nodded. "Something like that. A little longer, I think."
Nat whistled. "That's a while."
"Yes—but for real, let's look at Pepper, if we want to analyze long-lasting relationships. How long have you put up with that maniac, Pep?"
Pepper thought for a moment before replying, "Oh, it's been years. I've lost count."
"How has he not proposed yet?" exclaimed Esca, her eyes narrowing.
Pepper snorted. "Tony? Think of proposing? Tony Stark? That's very funny, Esca." She giggled a little more. "If we're ever going to be engaged, it'll be because I proposed to him."
Wanda blinked and smirked, something that was quite uncharacteristic of her. "We'll see about that," she muttered, but Pepper didn't hear her. As a matter of fact, the only one who noticed was Esca—she almost bounced in her seat, relatively certain there might be some exciting news around the Tower soon.
As it was, Pepper noticed Wanda's smirk, although she hadn't heard her words, and exclaimed, "And I suppose we're just going to ignore Wanda and Vision?"
At this, Wanda promptly turned a shade of red and looked around, as if searching for something. Esca figured it was probably Pietro—she smiled a little. Their bond, as twins, was incredibly tight. She believed that somewhere in Stark Tower, Pietro was fidgeting, knowing that Wanda was looking for him as backup.
"What about us?" asked Wanda, finally realizing that Pietro would not come zooming in. Perhaps she had actually been expecting him to.
"Is that official or not?"
Wanda looked pleased, yet scandalized. "Are you insane? If I publically announced that Vision and I were official, Pietro would never give us a moment's peace!"
"But are you?" questioned Nat, trying to refrain from smirking.
"I… don't know," she answered softly, looking down at her hands.
The others burst into exclamations, but Esca simply looked at Wanda curiously. She saw the other woman flush and twitch uncomfortably—deciding to help her out, Esca declared, "I think it's under the radar. You know, to prevent too many people finding out about it. Besides, not only would Pietro give her a hard time—so would Clint. He practically sees you two as his own kids at this point, you know."
Wanda looked relieved for the backup; she shot Esca a gratified smile.
After a moment of silence, Zelda nodded. "I suppose that would make sense. So it's official, but not Facebook official."
"Facebook official?" repeated Wanda, a confused look on her face.
Pepper laughed. "We'll show you what that is sometime."
Wanda nodded and smiled a little again. There was another silence until Natasha jolted and exclaimed, "Wait a minute. We haven't pestered Esca about Pietro yet."
Esca blinked. "What else is there to say about my relationship that you don't already know? You guys know practically everything about it… believe me, that wasn't my choice," she grumbled. Remembering the day after her birthday party, she flushed in embarrassment and threw her hands to her face. "I cannot believe that Steven thought I was sick… ugh."
She slumped down into her chair as the others snorted and burst into laughter—except Wanda, who merely rolled her eyes.
"Speaking of Steven, he needs a girlfriend," burst out Esca, shooting bolt upright. "I mean, we've all got guys. And Thor is dating Jane, and Clint is at home with Laura… Nat, didn't you tell me you were trying to set him up some time ago?"
Natasha nodded. "I had been, but then I stopped."
"Why?"
"I just did. I figured it would be better for him to find his own girlfriend."
Esca narrowed her eyes. "Please. You're not going to trick me with that. Natasha Romanoff does not give up. She does everything she can until she gets what she wants. There's another reason you stopped woman-hunting for Steve. What was it? I want to help!"
Natasha just exchanged exasperated looks with Zelda. "It's nothing, Esca. We'll tell you when you're older."
"You are the youngest one in the Tower," laughed Zelda.
Esca huffed and tossed her hair behind her shoulder. "I'm twenty-one, ladies, not five."
"You're still the baby," mocked Natasha, her usual smirk on her face.
Esca groaned, knowing that she would never get anything out of Natasha no matter what argument she used. And so, she sighed and retorted, "Fine, then, if you want to be like that, I'll figure out why myself!"
Wanda laughed. "Good luck with that, Esca."
"So you know too!" cried the blonde girl in utter betrayal. "Am I the only one who is clueless here?"
Pepper raised a hand. "No. I am confused too."
"Thank goodness," sighed Esca. "I thought it would be like old times."
That made the others laugh—but then Esca remembered something. "Speaking of plans that almost no one knows about… wait. I can't talk about it here, because Wanda is here. Never mind!"
Wanda cocked her head sideways before asking, "You're thinking about having a birthday party for me and Pietro, aren't you?"
Esca glared at her. "I don't like your powers sometimes."
"Neither do I, believe me," grumbled Wanda, but she offered a hopeless smile anyway.
"Okay, well, refrain from reading my mind for a moment. I know your birthday is in a month, but I'm already planning," declared Esca—at her insistence, Wanda nodded and focused really hard on avoiding looking into her mind. She knew that as much as Esca loved surprises, she loved giving someone else a surprise even more.
After a moment, Esca grinned. "Okay, you're good, Wanda! I was just thinking about what to get you guys."
Wanda began to protest, but her refutes were drowned out in the sound of four other women gabbing about, "Oh yes, presents! What do you like, Wanda? Is there anything in particular you need?"
Esca giggled as Wanda looked completely overwhelmed—seeing her mirth, Wanda stuck her tongue out. That, perhaps, only made Esca laugh harder.
As it was, this was the perfect excuse to make her escape and buy Wanda the perfect birthday present. "I'll be right back, you guys!" she exclaimed. She remembered seeing it earlier in one of the shops they'd visited… now was the time to snag it before someone else did.
The others waved farewell, see you in a minute. With that, Esca left Schwarma and hustled to get back to Hot Topic.
She crossed the busy streets quickly and rushed back into the store, immediately heading for the t-shirts. There was a perfect one for Wanda—it was red and gold, and it had the word "GRYFFINDOR" printed on it. Along with the shirt, she seized a Gryffindor scarf—and got a Slytherin one for Pietro too, although she had something else in mind for him—and went to the check-out.
The clerk noticed her from before and was kind enough to give her a discount, which made her grin.
After she was done impromptu shopping, Esca rushed out to rejoin her friends, determined not to let Wanda see what she had bought.
She wanted her gift to be a pleasant surprise—the same went for Pietro. But she didn't quite know what to get him… while Wanda was one of her best friends, Pietro was another matter entirely. Esca loved him, and because of that, she wanted to do something special.
Of course, she was already planning the surprise party; unfortunately, Wanda had discovered that ruse. But she didn't think that was enough. She wanted to do something she'd never done before, just for him.
As she walked the streets, a smile grew across Esca's face. A brilliant little idea had just popped into her head…
Esca hustled back to Schwarma, humming to herself…
She knew exactly what to do for Pietro.