[There's a very brief moment of relief when he finally hears Wanda back to him, but that sense of relief is quickly replace by worry again as he hears the slight panic in her voice. Stephen struggles with the Cloak, who is still pulling him hard enough that he can't move one inch. But the thing with Western-style clothing he's quickly learned ever since him and Wanda started living together, is that it's rather easy to take off. And so Stephen twists around and slips off his shirt, sending the Cloak flying into the wall at the end of the hallway. It's the opening he needs, and he starts running towards the kitchen, where he's heard Wanda.
He vaults over the railing of the staircase and runs down the stairs, almost skipping the last few ones as he summons his Tao Mandala shields in case she needs help. But the fight in him leaves him quickly as he enters the dining room, stopping his track at the sight of the candle lit table.
Well. Of all the horrible scenarios his overactive brain was conjuring while he was running down to her (including his most nightmarish one of her sending out the Cloak so she has time to usher out a lover when he comes back to the Sanctum), this is certainly not among them. Of course, fear had gotten the best of him when in fact, all Wanda had been doing in his absence is think of him, obviously. He really needs to work on his trust issues.
Oh, how silly he must look now, standing half naked in the dinning room, out of breath as his shields fizzle out when he flexes his hands open, a look of pure wonder at all the work she's done while he was yelling at students. In the background floats in the Cloak, still attached to his shirt.]
[It's fortunate for both of them, then, that she's not in his head or she'd be hurt by that nagging suspicion and it would spoil the entire mood. Wanda really went all-out: the dining room's entirely lit by candlelight, there's a vase of roses as a centerpiece, and there are more rose petals scattered all over the table. Wanda really is a hopeless romantic at heart.
It's at this moment, skidding back from the kitchen, that Wanda realizes she forgot to get candles for the cake. Of all the things to forget...but the sight of her shirtless lover quickly banishes that from her mind.]
What happened to- [She looks from him to the Cloak and laughs. Oh. Oops. She hadn't meant to scare him...but she's not going to complain about the view.
She crosses the room and wraps her arms around him, breathing in the familiar scent of his soap.]
[If she really was looking into his mind, Wanda would see that she's never done anything to justify his worst nightmare, that the fear of losing her to another is born out of his fear of failures. He's terrified of failing her, of not being enough for her, of not being worthy enough of her love. It's a stupid fear, Stephen knows that, especially in the wake of what Wanda has prepared for him. She clearly loves him just as he loves her, but he's scared one day she'll grow tired of his flaws.
But for now, he hears her laugh (still the best sound in the whole multiverse) and feels her arms wrap around him as he takes in all of what she's prepared for him. For his birthday. Looking down lovingly at her, he cups her face and gives her a long, slow kiss.]
Thank you. You didn't have to do anything. You are the best gift I could ever have for my birthday.
[For this one, and many more to come too, he hopes.]
But it's your birthday. [She says it with all the stubbornness of someone who didn't always have the opportunity to celebrate her own, back when she'd still wanted to.] Why wouldn't I want an excuse to spoil you?
[Wanda leans up to kiss his cheek, chaste and sweet, before reluctantly pulling away. Her fingers slide down his arms, lingering as long as she can.]
Come sit down. I'll pour the champagne.
[Wanda rarely drinks, too frightened of anything that might loosen her control over her powers. But Stephen is here, there's no one else to worry about shutting out of her mind, and it's a special occasion. She can afford to live a little.
Dinner turns out to be balsamic glazed salmon, parmesan mashed potatoes, and a side salad. Nothing garlicky - Wanda's assuming they're likely going to continue their 'celebrations' upstairs and garlic breath really isn't the best for that.]
[The childish stubbornness in her tone is endearing and Stephen chuckles lightly at it:]
Then maybe I should use the Eye of Agamotto so that everyday is my birthday? I do like being spoiled by you, [he adds with a telling grin, thinking of everything but food when saying that. Although, he has to admit, the smell of her cooking i delicious and his stomach growls lightly at it. His last meal dates from further than he wants to admit it.
Only once she moves away from him that Stephen grabs his shirt from the Cloak, slipping it back on before he obeys Wanda and sits down. He blinks at her words, his face expressing both how pleasant and surprised he is:]
We have champagne?
[He's not even sure how she managed to get hold of the wine (though he suspects either Natasha or Sam having played a role in that), but it's a nice thought. He hasn't drink since his accident, finding that there hasn't been much of an occasion to do so lately, in between saving the multiverses and training with Wanda.
He watches as she pops the bottle open and serves them each a glass, though his gaze becomes much more interested when he notices how slightly shorter her dress is from what she usually wears, and....is that an hint of a garter belt he's just seen as Wanda leaned over to grab his plate?
Stephen can't help himself and pray that it is so.]
We do now. [Also courtesy of that shopping trip with Natasha, along with some new clothes and several other items Wanda's saving for another day.] I thought it would be nice to have something special tonight. We are always so busy...
[She does feel bad that she can't take him somewhere nice, but she's still a fugitive and his schedule is tied to the needs of Kamar-Taj. There was really no way to know when Stephen would be home, much less trying to coordinate with a restaurant in yet another time zone.
The table's large, clearly meant to accommodate a full staff of sorcerers, so Wanda's taken over one end and set their places facing each other. The table's wider than she'd prefer, but maybe it's better this way. Wanda can sense the desire rolling off him already and they haven't even made it to dessert yet.
And it's just as she's sitting down that she realizes how her previous comment could be taken in a multitude of ways, especially with where Stephen's mind has headed. Oops.]
But dinner first, love.
[It may not be the best birthday dinner in the history of birthday dinners, but she worked hard on this, okay.]
Mmm, true. But then again, I do enjoy keeping you thoroughly entertained.
[He says with a slightly wicked smile. Stephen knows what she meant, but he also never turns down n occasion to tease Wanda, such as this one. He likes the way her cheeks flush too much to keep his retort silent.
He doesn't mind staying in for his birthday: he's done the nice dining and wining in his past and while some part of his old life he misses, he's much to content with his present life to ever want to exchange it again. Wanda's cooking and good wine is all he needs for his birthday. The thought of that draws a small smile on his lips: it's not surprising that it took a witch to domesticate him.
It's almost ironic that she calls him out just at that moment, and Stephen's smiles turns into a slight smirk:]
Yes, darling.
[He reaches for his champagne glass and raises it to hers:]
Thank you, Wanda. For everything you did for tonight. It does mean a lot to me.
[uuuggggghhhhhhHHHHHHHHH don't mind her while she rolls her eyes to the moon and back]
You're impossible. But I love you.
[She's smiling as she raises her glass to clink with his. She'd be lying if she said she didn't like Stephen's teasing, that it isn't the reason she'd first begun to feel at ease with him, and they both know it.
Still, mere months ago it would have been hard to imagine that their gentle back-and-forth teasing would blossom into domestic bliss. They're an unlikely pair, the fugitive Scarlet Witch and the Sorcerer Supreme. But they have both been broken down and remade into what they are now, and who but the other could fully understand how that feels? Wanda knows all too well how important it is to make sure that Stephen knows he is loved and appreciated for who he is, not just what he can do.]
I hope you will still like it after you try it. This is the first time I've tried these recipes...but it is just the beginning of your surprise. I have to make up for the rest of the day.
[Wanda's had all month to plan and get creative and dinner is definitely just the start.]
[he chuckles as she rolls her eyes, still pleased with her reaction none the less:]
I think you meant to say 'charming' instead, [he says with a warm smile calling back on that first time they kissed, finally letting down their barriers and admitting to caring for each other more than just as friends. That day seems an eternity ago, and yet the memory of it is still so very fresh in Stephen's mind.
Stephen serves himself from all the food she,s cooked all day:]
I've lived on hospital food for almost half of my life, I'm pretty sure you can't cook worse than they did back then!
[He's teasing, of course. It's not the first time Wanda has cooked dinner for them, and each time he's enjoyed her cooking.
The mention of more surprises to come causes Stephen to arch an eyebrow with interest, his lips curling into a knowing smirk:]
Just the beginning? Are you saying that I have a gift waiting for me to be unwrapped?
[There's really one 'gift' he wishes to unwrap for his birthday, really.]
[It's practically 'I love you' in Wandaspeak, not that she's ever shy in saying it. He doesn't have her abilities. How else will he know? Besides, it's a sweet callback to their first kiss and a promise of many more to come.
She watches as Stephen helps himself, anxious to see his reaction. It's silly - her cooking is usually up to par - but she was in such a rush to make sure everything was perfect that she can't silence her nerves.]
Two gifts, [she corrects, taking a sip of champagne.] One behind a door. And one to be unwrapped there.
[She might even add a bow, but later. It would have been cute, but there's no way Wanda could sit through dinner with a ribbon around her neck as much as she might want to. Stephen's touch is really all it can tolerate even now, and letting him kiss her there is still the greatest sign of trust she can offer.]
How is it? [Well, as long as he doesn't immediately abandon it for the cake, she must have done something right.]
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He vaults over the railing of the staircase and runs down the stairs, almost skipping the last few ones as he summons his Tao Mandala shields in case she needs help. But the fight in him leaves him quickly as he enters the dining room, stopping his track at the sight of the candle lit table.
Well. Of all the horrible scenarios his overactive brain was conjuring while he was running down to her (including his most nightmarish one of her sending out the Cloak so she has time to usher out a lover when he comes back to the Sanctum), this is certainly not among them. Of course, fear had gotten the best of him when in fact, all Wanda had been doing in his absence is think of him, obviously. He really needs to work on his trust issues.
Oh, how silly he must look now, standing half naked in the dinning room, out of breath as his shields fizzle out when he flexes his hands open, a look of pure wonder at all the work she's done while he was yelling at students. In the background floats in the Cloak, still attached to his shirt.]
I...well. This is quite the surprise.
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It's at this moment, skidding back from the kitchen, that Wanda realizes she forgot to get candles for the cake. Of all the things to forget...but the sight of her shirtless lover quickly banishes that from her mind.]
What happened to- [She looks from him to the Cloak and laughs. Oh. Oops. She hadn't meant to scare him...but she's not going to complain about the view.
She crosses the room and wraps her arms around him, breathing in the familiar scent of his soap.]
Happy birthday, love.
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But for now, he hears her laugh (still the best sound in the whole multiverse) and feels her arms wrap around him as he takes in all of what she's prepared for him. For his birthday. Looking down lovingly at her, he cups her face and gives her a long, slow kiss.]
Thank you. You didn't have to do anything. You are the best gift I could ever have for my birthday.
[For this one, and many more to come too, he hopes.]
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[Wanda leans up to kiss his cheek, chaste and sweet, before reluctantly pulling away. Her fingers slide down his arms, lingering as long as she can.]
Come sit down. I'll pour the champagne.
[Wanda rarely drinks, too frightened of anything that might loosen her control over her powers. But Stephen is here, there's no one else to worry about shutting out of her mind, and it's a special occasion. She can afford to live a little.
Dinner turns out to be balsamic glazed salmon, parmesan mashed potatoes, and a side salad. Nothing garlicky - Wanda's assuming they're likely going to continue their 'celebrations' upstairs and garlic breath really isn't the best for that.]
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Then maybe I should use the Eye of Agamotto so that everyday is my birthday? I do like being spoiled by you, [he adds with a telling grin, thinking of everything but food when saying that. Although, he has to admit, the smell of her cooking i delicious and his stomach growls lightly at it. His last meal dates from further than he wants to admit it.
Only once she moves away from him that Stephen grabs his shirt from the Cloak, slipping it back on before he obeys Wanda and sits down. He blinks at her words, his face expressing both how pleasant and surprised he is:]
We have champagne?
[He's not even sure how she managed to get hold of the wine (though he suspects either Natasha or Sam having played a role in that), but it's a nice thought. He hasn't drink since his accident, finding that there hasn't been much of an occasion to do so lately, in between saving the multiverses and training with Wanda.
He watches as she pops the bottle open and serves them each a glass, though his gaze becomes much more interested when he notices how slightly shorter her dress is from what she usually wears, and....is that an hint of a garter belt he's just seen as Wanda leaned over to grab his plate?
Stephen can't help himself and pray that it is so.]
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[She does feel bad that she can't take him somewhere nice, but she's still a fugitive and his schedule is tied to the needs of Kamar-Taj. There was really no way to know when Stephen would be home, much less trying to coordinate with a restaurant in yet another time zone.
The table's large, clearly meant to accommodate a full staff of sorcerers, so Wanda's taken over one end and set their places facing each other. The table's wider than she'd prefer, but maybe it's better this way. Wanda can sense the desire rolling off him already and they haven't even made it to dessert yet.
And it's just as she's sitting down that she realizes how her previous comment could be taken in a multitude of ways, especially with where Stephen's mind has headed. Oops.]
But dinner first, love.
[It may not be the best birthday dinner in the history of birthday dinners, but she worked hard on this, okay.]
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[He says with a slightly wicked smile. Stephen knows what she meant, but he also never turns down n occasion to tease Wanda, such as this one. He likes the way her cheeks flush too much to keep his retort silent.
He doesn't mind staying in for his birthday: he's done the nice dining and wining in his past and while some part of his old life he misses, he's much to content with his present life to ever want to exchange it again. Wanda's cooking and good wine is all he needs for his birthday. The thought of that draws a small smile on his lips: it's not surprising that it took a witch to domesticate him.
It's almost ironic that she calls him out just at that moment, and Stephen's smiles turns into a slight smirk:]
Yes, darling.
[He reaches for his champagne glass and raises it to hers:]
Thank you, Wanda. For everything you did for tonight. It does mean a lot to me.
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You're impossible. But I love you.
[She's smiling as she raises her glass to clink with his. She'd be lying if she said she didn't like Stephen's teasing, that it isn't the reason she'd first begun to feel at ease with him, and they both know it.
Still, mere months ago it would have been hard to imagine that their gentle back-and-forth teasing would blossom into domestic bliss. They're an unlikely pair, the fugitive Scarlet Witch and the Sorcerer Supreme. But they have both been broken down and remade into what they are now, and who but the other could fully understand how that feels? Wanda knows all too well how important it is to make sure that Stephen knows he is loved and appreciated for who he is, not just what he can do.]
I hope you will still like it after you try it. This is the first time I've tried these recipes...but it is just the beginning of your surprise. I have to make up for the rest of the day.
[Wanda's had all month to plan and get creative and dinner is definitely just the start.]
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I think you meant to say 'charming' instead, [he says with a warm smile calling back on that first time they kissed, finally letting down their barriers and admitting to caring for each other more than just as friends. That day seems an eternity ago, and yet the memory of it is still so very fresh in Stephen's mind.
Stephen serves himself from all the food she,s cooked all day:]
I've lived on hospital food for almost half of my life, I'm pretty sure you can't cook worse than they did back then!
[He's teasing, of course. It's not the first time Wanda has cooked dinner for them, and each time he's enjoyed her cooking.
The mention of more surprises to come causes Stephen to arch an eyebrow with interest, his lips curling into a knowing smirk:]
Just the beginning? Are you saying that I have a gift waiting for me to be unwrapped?
[There's really one 'gift' he wishes to unwrap for his birthday, really.]
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[It's practically 'I love you' in Wandaspeak, not that she's ever shy in saying it. He doesn't have her abilities. How else will he know? Besides, it's a sweet callback to their first kiss and a promise of many more to come.
She watches as Stephen helps himself, anxious to see his reaction. It's silly - her cooking is usually up to par - but she was in such a rush to make sure everything was perfect that she can't silence her nerves.]
Two gifts, [she corrects, taking a sip of champagne.] One behind a door. And one to be unwrapped there.
[She might even add a bow, but later. It would have been cute, but there's no way Wanda could sit through dinner with a ribbon around her neck as much as she might want to. Stephen's touch is really all it can tolerate even now, and letting him kiss her there is still the greatest sign of trust she can offer.]
How is it? [Well, as long as he doesn't immediately abandon it for the cake, she must have done something right.]