Chapter Text
Wanda tucked her hands under her armpits and blew out a breath.
"Cold?" Sam shot her a small grin.
"No, just like home," she smiled. Sam shrugged.
"Whatever floats your boat. You still don't seem dressed for November. Sure you don't want my jacket?" Wanda gave him a look.
"Aight!" He laughed and held up his hands. "Just offering. Arizona can get feet worth of snow in the winter."
She raised a brow. "Russian. Still Russian, Sam." She took a quick glance around as they approached the pine green door of an unassuming suburban complex. "Sure this is it?" She asked skeptically.
"Yeah, I'm sure. I'm pretty sure she hasn't moved."
"Why do we have to be out here? Why could we not stay with Clint?"
Sam rolled his neck, wincing at the loud pop his spine made.
"Wan, you know Steve wants us to lay low in the smallest groups we can manage. Barton has his family to worry about. And besides, we're safe here, she's about the best person I could imagine for this, and I know people. We'll be in beyond capable hands. Ready?"
Wanda nodded tersely and Sam reached out to knock. He made it through one repetition before a loud crash came from the other side.
"JUST A SECOOOOOND." the other side of the door shouted. More crashes and muttered cursing followed.
Wanda gave Sam a look. "Capable?"
"Maybe she has moved."
The door flew open and a mop of crazy corkscrew curls came flying out.
"No, we already have a church parish, we don't want to buy any candles and we don't do business with solicitors thank you, if you're UPS there are instructions, leave it in front of the garage, sorry, and have a nice day!" A dark, graceful hand flailed wildly and the door started to slam close. Wide-eyed, Sam braced himself against it to stop it from closing.
"Whoa! Mo, hold on a sec!" There was a short pause, and then the head poked back out.
"Sam? Sam Wilson?!"
He twiddled his fingers in a hello.
"Hey, Mo."
"What the HELL, what are you doing here, why do you never call me?!" She reached out and grabbed him by the front of the shirt. "Get your ass in here now! Oh, hello, you brought a friend, come in both y'all! Make yourselves at home, do you want anything?"
Boxes and painting supplies were strewn all over the hallway. "Watch your step, we're redecorating!" She called as she danced off towards the kitchen.
"We?" Wanda whispered through the corner of her mouth. Sam shook his head, dubious.
"Not since I can remember. Royal, maybe?"
"Didn't sound it. Could be a problem?" A bark sounded from the kitchen
"Maybe she means the dog." They stepped into the living room to be confronted by a towering hutch shifted perpendicular to the wall, draped in sheets to protect it from stray droplets of paint. The walls adjacent to it were in the process of being painted a soothing, cornflower blue. There were no ladders or wheeled moving dollies to be seen anywhere. Wanda eyed the hutch.
"The dog could not move that."
"No," Sam agreed. "You're right."
Mo, as Sam had called her, wandered into the room at that moment, carrying a tray stacked with four mugs and a kettle. She trailed a happy looking Alsatian wolf dog behind her.
“Neither of you said what you wanted so since I had just made some tea..” she made a face and gave them an effortless little shrug. “I could use the break and the caffeine.” She laughed a moment. The German Shepherd padded over to Sam and laid its paw on his knee expectantly.
“Oh, this is Lincoln!” Mo finally acknowledged. “He’s just a fluffy sweetie.” Sam gave the pup’s ears a ruffle and Mo grinned.
“He’s my mostly companion, to borrow a turn of phrase. He’s blind in one eye, but he’s been so good with all the crazy mess. Especially since we just knocked in a wall-”
“We?” Wanda’s query jolted Mo out of her ramble. Sam shot Wanda a warning glance, but she just shrugged, unaffected.
“Someone you forgot to tell me about, Mo?” Sam interjected as smoothly as possible.
Mo’s eyes blew wide.
“Oh!” she then laughed. “Not in the way you’re fishing for, Sammy. Just my neighbor, Kamala. We’ve been doing a major overhaul of this place.”
“Your neighbor is helping do a major remodel of your living room.” Sam flatly asked.
“Yeah, well it’s hers too, dummy. This is a duplex, did you miss the second door?”
Sam blinked. He glanced over his shoulder towards the door. He stared at his lap for a second.
“I noticed?” Wanda offered.
Mo grinned. “Bless your heart,” she said before giving herself a little shake. “And what a host I am. We haven’t even been officially introduced yet!” Sam snapped out of his haze.
“Actually, that reminds me. Mo, we’re not just here for a social call.” Mo sat up straighter, her eyes a little sharper and her gaze more calculating.
“Tell me what you need, Sammy. What can I do?”
“We need a place to stay. To lay low for a while until a friend of ours gets into town and we can find a more permanent place.” Mo opened her mouth to consent, but Sam speedily talked over her. “No, you need to understand. We’re… in a bit of trouble-”
“Stop,” she held up a hand and fixed him with a hard look. “You know better than to tell me what you’ve gotten yourself into. You’re welcome to the couch as long as you need it.” She turned her gaze to Wanda, her lips quirking up a bit at the corners. “ You can have the guest room.”
Sam threw up his hands. “You just met her and you’re already playing favorites!”
Mo grinned at Wanda, who smiled in return.
“My name is Wanda Magnus. Thank you for your hospitality and for making Sam act like a small boy.”
Their host threw back her head of Medusa-like curls and laughed.
“It’s what I live for, sweetie.” She clasped hands with the pale woman and gave her brightest smile. Wanda could’ve sworn the newly painted walls lightened a shade with the force of it.
“And I’m Monica. Monica Rambeau.”