explosion | OPEN POST.

You went to too much trouble.

[Pietro waves her efforts off as unnecessary, hesitating just a split second before blowing out the candle. It could extinguish as expected, or blow up the kitchen, her unpredictable weird magic could have any imaginable outcome. When nothing happens but a small black trail of smoke rising from the wick, he looks back at Wanda.]

It's not what you give me that's special.

[He looks uncomfortable after saying something so sappy, and digs into the cupcake frosting to distract from it, taking a large glob of it to suck off his finger like a child.]

It's good. Think what a disaster it would have been if you'd made it yourself.

[ Wanda rolls her eyes. If it wasn't his birthday, perhaps she'd shove him. She'd like to shove him as her own birthday wish, but his happiness is enough to fight the urge.

Instead, she follows him, swiping some icing with her finger and sucking it. ]

I can bake! There wasn't any cupcake batter left at the store.

[ And she had been so indecisive about what to get him when she did see batter at the store. Did she get chocolate? Vanilla? It had been easier to simply request it made than to potentially ruin it.

When she swipes at the cupcake again, she holds out her finger for him. ]

Lucky for me they ran out.

[He can't resist poking further, his smile this time more of a smirk, though in truth Pietro doesn't think her baking is bad at all. Wanda knows his tastes and he expects that she doesn't experiment or deviate from them too often in case he wouldn't like any strange concoctions, despite also knowing he'd eat anything she made, whether he complains about it or not. For a birthday though, something has to be 'special' and 'perfect', not typical, at least according to Wanda. Gently grabbing her wrist, Pietro leans in to lick the icing from her finger, ostensibly lingering just to be thorough and get all of it off, but his teeth graze and his tongue curls and slides over her skin after there's nothing left of the frosting.]

[ While Wanda narrows her eyes playfully at him, she drops her gaze to his mouth. Maybe this had been a bad idea, but she'd wanted him to enjoy the majority of this cupcake as she had gotten it for him and not herself.

But it's also her birthday… and she much likes Pietro's attention. ]

Pietro…

[ She warns, but she clears her throat gently and gently pokes the cupcake with the index finger of her other hand. She pushes it toward him so that he doesn't forget there's more than just the icing to enjoy. ]

You should try it. Unless you want me to feed it to you?

[ That'd be dangerous. Perhaps another birthday gift for her? ]

[He looks like he's considering that for a half a second as he pulls back from her finger. Releasing her wrist, he shakes his head.]

You'd take forever.

[Very dangerous. Pietro turns his attention to the cupcake, cutting off less than a quarter of it, but a portion where most of the icing remains, and holds the fork out to Wanda. She did only want a small piece and he is obliging.]

That's yours.

[He has the rest of the cupcake in his hand already, going to eat it in two bites... followed by that piece on the fork if she doesn't take it quickly enough.]

[ Thankfully, Wanda's learned from her previous dawdling mistakes, especially when it comes to food. She's quick to bow her head and bite that piece of cupcake on the fork so Pietro doesn't have it. Holding her hand over her mouth, Wanda smiles at him.

She frowns. ] You don't have enough icing.

[ But she's always liked the eat the icing off of any cake and hand him the rest to eat. She lifts her small portion and bites off the icing before holding the cupcake out to him.

Perhaps she got that a little mixed up? Oh, well. She's older now; her memory isn't what it was yesterday. ]

[He smiles as she offers the cake and not the icing, but it's to be expected.]

That's part's good too, you know.

[Pietro doesn't hesitate to grab that discarded piece though - she doesn't want it, it's his, and that simple rule is how he'd ended up eating far more than his fair share of birthday cakes over the years. When he's finished, which doesn't take long, he licks the crumbs off the bottom of the candle too, just because it was there sitting on the table.]

It was a very good surprise, and-

[He stops suddenly, looking mildly concerned, and leans closer to Wanda, his thumb going for the side of her mouth.]

You've got icing everywhere. It's embarrassing.

[She does not, and it's solely an excuse to touch.]

I do n—

[ Wanda catches herself quickly, but perhaps not as quickly as Pietro. Smoothing out her frown, she stays still beneath his touch as she watches him. If he's looking for a gift to give her, this one suffices well enough.

She does her best not to move her face or part her lips too much in case she dislodges his thumb from the corner of her mouth. ]

Are you just moving it around my face? It feels like you're not even wiping it away.

[ Honestly, Pietro. That's embarrassing. ]

[He makes a dismissive 'pfft' noise - of course that's not what he's doing, even if would be had she actually had icing on her face.]

I got it. I got it.

[Pietro brings his thumb back too fast, to lick off nonexistent icing that Wanda won't be able to prove wasn't there. Pushing his chair away from the table, he stands, leans down to kiss the top of her head, and returns to the bedroom.]

I'm getting dressed, then I have something for you too! Don't think I'm not three steps ahead of you planning surprises!

[ Wanda sighs in exasperation as she smiles at him fondly. Pietro always has to be first. The first born, the first to win a race, the first to do anything. Wanda's only victory is being the first one to speak. ]

You are always three steps behind, Pietro.

[ She remains where she is, expecting that he'd much prefer she doesn't follow him on his heels and ruin his allegedly three steps ahead surprise. ]

You were the one who was still asleep. I think you are getting slow in your old age.

[ She clucks her tongue in disappointment. ]

I didn't sleep in, you got up too early!

[When Pietro exits the bedroom again, it's not with an elaborate plan in place or a flashy surprise, only holding a small package in his hand. Thin and square wrapped in plain brown paper and tied with a frayed piece of twine that had likely been discarded from something else. It's been sitting inside one of his old worn-out shoes in the closet for the last few days, one place he was fairly certain Wanda wouldn't stick her hand into, even for present hunting. He holds it out to her with a small smile.]

Happy Birthday, Wanda.

[He'd already said it, but that been simply to get it out before she did, and his words hold more sentiment the second time. Unwrapping the present, she'll find a leaded glass trinket, recognisable as the type of suncatchers Izak sells at the market - usually abstract with whatever colours the man had on hand from collecting broken bottles and other assorted shards from rubble piles, this design is distinctly the head of a sunflower. Mottled brown centre, the petals partially darkening to orange in one section when he'd run out of brighter yellow, outlines in both black and grey, bent from what metal pieces had been available and the easiest to work with, the far more common traditional green glass used only for the background. A small wire loop is attached to the top, so Wanda can hang it in a window and let the light filter through.]

[ Pietro could wrap a small empty box for her in brown paper and she would think it's the best thing in the world. But what he ends up giving her is better than anything in the world he's given her.

Wanda gasps, her eyes widening almost comically at the gift. While she may drop the brown paper and frayed twine onto the floor without too much care, she holds the gift delicately like it's the most prized thing she owns. Aside from Pietro and her DVDs, it is. ]

Pietro…

[ She smiles brightly as she gently holds it up by its wire and watches it spin as though there's a gentle breeze twisting it around. ]

It's beautiful. [ More than that. Wanda smiles widely, brighter than the sun, and looks at him past the bright yellow petals. ] I love sunflowers.

[ Something he knows, given she's always loved them. If she had her choice, their apartment would be covered in them, but they've become so hard to find given the war.

Carefully placing it down on the table, she launches herself at Pietro and hugs him tightly. ]

[Wanda's reaction is everything Pietro wanted, and even though he complains about her tight hug, there's quiet laughter in it.]

You're going to crush my spine.

[He makes no move to let go of her either, holding her almost as firmly. Pietro's gifts have never been things he'd truly put much thought into, as neither of them cared enough about material objects over the meaning behind gestures, not since that day everything changed irreparably and all they'd had left was each other. It's why he steals mostly for other people and not himself, not things that aren't essential. They'd gotten by with almost nothing sometimes for years in a row and that had always been okay, because they were together.

Only now, they're living more dangerous lives, have done things they can't come back from, involved themselves in serious and risky endeavours, and it's hit him that it might not turn out well. HYDRA experiments could have gone terribly and fatally wrong, and had for everyone else. Separating them had done nothing but fuel more possessive tendencies in Pietro, knowing Wanda was right there on the other side of that wall, so close and he was unable to touch her or even look at her see for himself that she was alright.

Every moment has become more important, and he wants to make her smile like this whenever he can, allow her every back-breaking hug she wants, give her something special on their birthday because maybe they won't be together for the next one. He can't give her a field of sunflowers to look down on instead of the dirty snow out in the street, but Wanda has a vivid imagination and can do the rest herself.]

I'm glad you like it. It was a lot of work.

[For Izak, but Pietro had gone glass hunting for him and technically helped, so he's sure to make it sound like it was a personal effort.]

[ Wanda doesn't ease up on her spine-crushing hug. Perhaps she should show him some mercy, but Pietro should have thought of that himself before gifting her something that she'll go to the ends of the earth to defend. If his spine is crushed, then it is his fault, not hers.

Pietro gave her a sunflower. This is her sunflower. Of all the things he could've gotten her, never in her wildest dreams did she think he'd give her the one thing she wished Sokovia would allow to flourish.

She presses her cheek against his chest and scrunches her nose in happiness before she stands on the tips of her toes and kisses his cheek. She breaks the spine-crushing hug to cup his cheeks and pepper his face with kisses. Perhaps those of the face-crushing kind? Wanda's not gentle. ]

Telling Izak to make this for me was a lot of work? [ Her laughter bubbles out of her as she leans back but keeps her hands on his cheeks. ] Tsk, tsk, Pietro. You outdo yourself.

[In a good enough mood not to get annoyed by the over-enthusiastic kisses, Pietro only continues to smile for a moment, and what was supposed to be irritated scoff on principle is just a light chuckle. He brings one hand up to gently grab Wanda's wrist, but doesn't move her hand from his face.]

You're worth the extra effort.

[He furrows his eyebrows and looks like he might be wanting to take that back the second after he'd said it, an accompanying dismissive hand gesture as he corrects himself.]

Sometimes.

[ He's so transparent.

Wanda rolls her eyes, unable to stop smiling. She gazes up at him like he's hung the sun for her—and, in a way, he's done just that. What he's given her can never be trumped by anything else, even when he's leaning heavily into his Pietroisms. He can't ruin this.

Squishing his cheeks to annoy him, Wanda lifts up onto her feet and presses a quick kiss to his mouth. ]

It's perfect. For once, you are the best gift giver.

[Pietro finally moves her hands from his cheeks, Wanda's gone too far with the squishing. Keeping his fingers wrapped around her wrists, he looks down at her in feigned disappointment.]

'The best' and that's all the appreciation I get?

[He drops one of her wrists to cup her jaw and leans down for an example of a better 'thank you' kiss - lingering and insistent, running his tongue along her bottom lip as he pulls back.]

That is for the cupcake.

[ Ah. She likes it when he's like this.

Wanda lets her hand hang, not wishing to place it back on his face and possibly draw his attention away from the path he's travelling down now. This is another present for her, even if he doesn't see it. She smiles up at him, wishing that he'd kiss her once again as another 'thank you'.

There's a way she can have that birthday wish come true.

She cocks her brow as she gazes up at him haughtily. ] The whole cupcake? You ate my piece, too. You don't seem very grateful for that at all.

No?

[He's quite willing to accept that assessment, though, letting her other hand go and snaking his arm around her as he goes in for another kiss. Harder and more focused, exploring her mouth thoroughly, just to be sure it's appropriately appreciative.]

That grateful enough?

[ Wanda knows she's sporting a rather dumbfounded expression as she peers up at him. Ah, yes; this is what it means when the girls say they know when a boy knows how to kiss. It's something she's always known about Pietro, but sometimes she finds herself gobsmacked by it. She licks her bottom lip absently and wonders if she's still breathing at all. ]

No. [ She says it too quietly. Her face is flushed and the apartment's starting to feel a little warmer than before.

That kiss had been more than grateful, but Wanda wishes to be selfish on her birthday. Even more selfish, given everything he's given her already. ]

I had that cupcake especially made for you. That was like you were thanking me for having gotten any other cupcake.

[Pietro snorts, but it turns into more of an amused huff of a noise.]

You are pushing it.

[He runs his fingers along the side of Wanda's flushed face, studying her expression and debating whether he should give in this early.]

But... it is your birthday, and it was especially made.

[After that statement, his hands are at her sides and he lifts her without warning, turning to set her down on the edge of the table. He slides the suncatcher out of the way, careful not to do so hastily. Leaning over her, he braces one arm on the table and kisses her again, abruptly but as long and slow as he can manage. Before he's done, his hand is wandering along her thigh.]

[ Quietly incredulous, ] I am pushing it.

[ But Wanda presses her hand back against the table, glancing over her shoulder to ensure that the sun catcher is nowhere where it could possibly break. It's the one thing in Sokovia aside from Pietro that Stark's bombs are not allowed to destroy.

She slides a little along the table to get comfortable, parting her legs even more so she can hook her feet beneath his ass and capture him. She ignores her shiver at his hand on her thigh. She wishes that she'd opted to wear just her underwear without the little pyjama shorts Inessa hadn't lifted for her. It'd make for a better landing for Pietro's hand. ]

I merely state facts, Pietro. [ She declares it with an upward tilt of her head. Brushing her other hand against his face, Wanda wonders when he'll grow tired of her legs trapping him in one spot. ] It is a very special cupcake. No one else will ever have that cupcake. I think you can be a little more grateful in your old age, hm?

[His fingers just starting to creep under the edge of Wanda's shorts, Pietro pulls them back with an annoyed sigh as she continues harping. He can't really make as big of a scene as he wants to with her trapping his legs and her hand on his face while he leans on one arm, but he's going to try. He settles for waving his free hand wildly and leaving his arm outstretched like he would have done with both of them, one half of a 'what now?' gesture, and rolling his eyes in exasperation.]

This is not grateful enough for you? What is it you want, hmm?

[He shrugs and levels an expectant gaze at Wanda.]

I'm waiting.

[And Pietro hates waiting, he's being very patient with these antics this early in the morning.]

[ Pietro must mean it if he's waiting. Wanda thinks to stall, but it's his birthday and he's twelve minutes older than he was last night, so she considers it a kindness that she shows him mercy on such a day. Reluctantly unwrapping her legs from around him, she lets them hang off the edge of the table as she withdraws her hand from his face. Resting her other hand behind her, she peers up at him and sighs dramatically. ]

I want kiss here. [ She taps the corner of her mouth before she smiles knowingly up at him. If he wants to know how he should show his gratitude, then she'll encourage him to do it at her pace: nice and slow. Appreciative. ]

[His initial smugness over getting her to tell him what she wants is short-lived. Pietro scoffs, mostly to himself, after she brings her finger to the corner of her mouth and smiles like that. It's going to be slow, and not more of something like he'd expected, but less. Pushing Wanda into being direct was a bad and poorly thought out move.]

Really.

[It's not even a question, he's just resigned to the fact that Wanda can always find a way to undermine him, and Pietro will go along with it the majority of the time, no matter how much he might protest first. She has so much power over him and he doesn't think she even knows.]

And you always get what you want, don't you?

[It's chiding, but rhetorical. Even though her legs are no longer wrapped around his, Pietro feels just as rooted to that spot as before. One gentle hand on her neck, twirling a strand of her hair idly in his fingers, he gives her that kiss - too light and slow, and with more reverence that he'd ever admit to thinking Wanda deserves.]

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