Wanda laughed. It was a bright sound that echoed in the quiet yard.

  "You name all of them?"

  "Of course," I said, grabbing the green garden hose. "If you name them, they grow better. It's science. They feel the pressure of expectation."

  I uncoiled the hose.

  "Alright," I said. "Watering time. It's a delicate art."

  I turned the tap on. The water hissed through the pipe.

  "Here," I said, holding the nozzle out to her. "You try. Sir Drinks a Lot is thirsty."

  Wanda hesitated. "I have never... watered."

  "It's easy," I promised. "Just point and shoot. But gentle. Don't blast the petals off."

  She took the nozzle. She gripped it like a phaser.

  "Relax the wrist," I instructed, stepping up behind her. "Like the naan flick, but with water."

  I reached out and placed my hand over hers to guide the aim.

  Her hand was small under mine.

  "Squeeze the trigger gently," I murmured near her ear.

  She squeezed. A soft spray of water arched out, catching the sunlight. It created a mini rainbow in the mist.

  "Oh," she breathed, watching the water hit the thirsty leaves.

  "See?" I said. "Life. You're giving them life."

  We stood there for a moment, the water hissing, the rainbow shimmering. I was standing right behind her, my chest almost touching her back.

  "It is... peaceful," she said.

  "Yeah," I agreed, looking at the back of her neck where stray hairs had escaped her bun. "It is."

  "Aryan?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Why is the Sunflower looking at us?"

  I looked over at the giant sunflower in the corner. Its head was indeed turned toward us.

  "That's Frank," I said. "Frank is a gossip. Ignore him."

  Wanda chuckled, leaning back slightly against me. Just for a second. A subconscious seeking of support.

  "You have a strange family, Aryan," she said.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  "Well," I said, moving my hand away so she could take full control of the hose. "It got a little bigger today. We added a Witch."

  She turned her head to look at me over her shoulder. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes were soft.

  "Does the Witch get a funny name too?" she asked.

  "No," I said, looking her in the eyes. "The Witch gets the best room in the house and first dibs on the ice cream. She's the VIP."

  She smiled, turning back to the hydrangea.

  "I like that status," she said.

  I stepped back, letting her water the garden. I watched her move from plant to plant, talking to them softly.

  "Hello, Robert," I heard her whisper to the rose bush. "Do not stab him again, or I will turn you into a dandelion."

  I stifled a laugh.

  I'm in trouble, I told the audience, leaning against the porch railing. I am deep… deep in trouble. She's threatening the vegetation on my behalf. So this is how it starts. First, it's threatening the plants, then it's rearranging the furniture with her mind and finally, it's absolute domestic tyranny. And honestly? I think I might be okay with that. Don't tell her I said that.

  I looked up at the sky. The first stars were appearing.

  "Okay, universe," I whispered. "You win. This is nice."

  [Perspective: Wanda Maximoff]

  The water felt cool in the evening air.

  She moved the spray over the flowers, feeling a strange sense of power. Not the power to destroy, which she knew too well. But the power to nurture.

  Sir Drinks a Lot, she thought, smiling at the hydrangea. Aryan is ridiculous.

  She could feel him watching her from the porch. His gaze was warm. Like the sun.

  She thought about the movie. The way he had held her. He had created a safe space in the darkness and invited her in.

  And now, he was sharing his "friends" with her.

  She looked at the sunflower… Frank.

  "He is right, Frank," she whispered to the flower. "You are staring."

  She moved to the cactus. Karen.

  "He is trying his best," she told the cactus sternly. "Be nice to him. Or else."

  A tiny spark of red magic danced at her fingertips, invisible to Aryan. She touched the soil of the cactus.

  Heal, she commanded silently.

  The brown spot on the cactus faded. The green deepened. A pink flower bud pushed its way out of the top.

  "Better," she decided.

  She turned off the hose and coiled it up.

  She walked back to the porch. Aryan was waiting for her.

  "Good job," he said. "Sir Drinks a Lot looks satisfied for once."

  "I had a talk with Karen," Wanda said, keeping her face straight. "She has agreed to be more cooperative."

  Aryan looked at the cactus. He squinted.

  "Is that... a flower?" he asked, walking over to inspect it. "Wait. Did it just bloom? In ten minutes?"

  "Maybe she just needed a woman's touch," Wanda shrugged innocently. "Or maybe she was afraid of the VIP."

  Aryan looked at her, then back at the cactus. He shook his head, laughing.

  "You are magic, Wanda Maximoff," he said.

  "You have no idea," she whispered.

  "What?"

  "I said, I'm hungry," she lied smoothly. "Is it time for the top bread?"

  "Top bread?" Aryan asked, confused.

  "The sitcom," she reminded him. "To cleanse the palate."

  "Ah right! Yes. The Brady Bunch awaits."

  He opened the sliding door for her.

  "After you, Lemon Queen."

  "Thank you, Plant Whisperer."

  They walked back inside, leaving the garden darkening in the twilight.

  Inside, the house was warm.

  Wanda sat on the couch. Aryan sat next to her.

  He didn't put his arm around her this time. But he sat closer than he had at the start of the day. Their knees were almost touching.

  Wanda picked up the remote and handed it to him.

  "Aryan," she said.

  "Yeah?"

  "Thank you. For the horror movie."

  He looked at her, surprised. "You hated it."

  "I did," she admitted. "But... the hug was nice."

  She said it simply. Matter of factly.

  Aryan turned bright red. He coughed, fumbling with the remote.

  "Oh. Uh. Yeah. Glad to be of service. Anytime. Hugs are... part of the roommate agreement. Section 4, paragraph B."

  Wanda smiled, leaning her head back against the cushion, watching him fluster.

  "I will memorize the contract," she promised.

  As the upbeat music of The Brady Bunch filled the room, Wanda closed her eyes for a second.

  She listened to the heartbeat next to her.

  Thump thump.

  It was happy.