"COOL MOVIE, HUH?"
Eszter and Peter are sitting in the car of the drive-in date, only the two of them as themselves, two normal kids. However, neither of them could deny the nervous feeling in their bellies, knowing that their relationship continues to blossom; Peter and Eszter were giddy and filled with such a rush. It was the best feeling the enhanced could ever feel. She loved it, craved it. It continued to block out the bad thoughts, and Eszter didn't want it to go away.
Now, Eszter ignored the movie as she rehearses her lines, practicing how she would ask Peter out.
I know we've been friends for a long time, and I know, and you know that we both have feelings for each other. So, I was wondering that . . . maybe we--
Ugh, no. It sounds horrible.
Peter, I've liked you for as long as I can remember, and I've been working up the courage to finally ask you out--
No, no. That's not it.
These past few months have been hard and difficult for me, and all I feel is this heavy feeling in my chest. But being with you, it's relaxing--
But that's not entirely true. As soon as Peter thinks about Tony, Eszter wants to flee. She hates the feeling she absorbs from Peter, making her want to run away and hide, but at the same time, Eszter loves his presence. It's his emotions that push her away sometimes. Eszter hates this.
"E?"
Eszter blinks. "What?" She hadn't noticed the slight tone in her voice.
Peter looks nervous, but it wasn't a good feeling. "I asked if it was a cool movie," he began to grow panic, which was starting to freak Eszter out. "You don't like it, do you? I'm sorry. I should've let you pick the move."
"It's fine, Peter," Eszter musters the words. Her voice was filled with a void, but the enhanced attempts to add some emotion; however, it was exhausting. "I was just distracted."
"Oh."
"But I do like the movie. Nice pick."
"Thanks."
Something was off about Eszter, and Peter knows it, but he couldn't read her mind, nor could he feel her emotions. Sometimes, he wishes he could. Eszter can be closed-off and shield her expression easily, preventing Peter from understanding what his friend is going through. However, Eszter couldn't hide the monotonous voice as she fills his ears with the broken voice.
However, Peter was in his own broken world, and if he wanted to help Eszter heal, he'd need to heal himself before anything. Sometimes, he's always put others first, and right now, he felt the need to help himself first. Maybe it was selfish, but Peter couldn't help but feel a little selfish.
Nonetheless, the teens were still nervous and maybe a little excited--underneath all that sadness. Eszter couldn't deny the giddiness.
"Are you excited about the trip?" Peter quietly wonders. The movie nearly drowns out his words, but Eszter managed to catch it. "Never been out of the country before."
Eszter hums. "I've never been to Italy or even Paris, so it'll be a fun experience," she nods her head subtly, flashing a gentle smile. "Don't tell anyone, but Pepper had to make me a fake Passport."
Peter furrows his brows. "Why? Can't you buy one?"
"No, not really," Eszter catches the confusion in Peter's stare. "I came to America illegally, and on top of that, I participated in an illegal experiment with a terrorist group." Eszter grins bitterly, and the anger was starting to heat her skin. "I thought my life couldn't get any worse, but each day, I'm proven wrong. Guess that's karma for joining Hydra, huh?"
"You were hurting, E," Peter frowns. He felt terrible for the life Eszter had gone through before he met her. He knew about her past, but she rarely ever talks about it. "Anyone would've taken that offer."
"Yeah, well, it seems like Ross didn't like that."
Peter continues to pout. "Well, how'd everything go with Wanda?" He sounds hopeful.
"It's going . . . somewhere. Our social worker doesn't like us for obvious reason, so, um . . ." Eszter itches her brow bone, pausing for a moment. "Yeah, he pretty much doesn't want us together--I mean, I don't think anyone wants us together."
Peter screws his face in disbelief. "What? Can they even do that?"
She shrugs. "Beats me. I'm just glad she and I can still hang out," Eszter suddenly scoffs, shaking her head, aggravated. "Even if I have to live with a family who's trying to move on, I'm pulling them down with my misery."
Peter didn't see this coming. How can he cheer her up? Okay, think.
"I doubt that." That's not helpful, Peter!
"It's true. Pepper has a real daughter. She doesn't need me to fill that empty dream," Eszter felt a pang to her heart. "Wanda is finally back, and there's a chance that she and I can finally be together. Besides, Pepper shouldn't have to worry about when I'm gonna break."
Peter looks up to gaze at Eszter's side profile, noticing the way the flashing lights from the movie bounce onto the skin of her face. Her green eyes were shimmering with the lights as they dance in them. However, Peter doesn't see the twinkle in Eszter's eyes anymore. It was like there was nothing behind those green eyes.
"I may not know Mrs. Stark as well as you do, but from what I've seen, she loves you even as if you're her own," Peter forms frown lines on his forehead--training his brown puppy-dog-eyes onto Eszter's side profile.
Conflicted, Eszter lowers her head into her palms. "It's not--I'm not saying--ugh! I appreciate Pepper; I do, but . . ." Eszter grumbles. She lifts her gaze again, glancing at Peter. "I love Pepper, but . . . Wanda is my family--my blood family. She's all that I've got left."
"You don't have to prove that to me, E."
"I'm not! I'm not, I'm--" Eszter groans in annoyance. She was growing vulnerable in front of Peter, which was the last thing Eszter wants him to see. "Never mind."
Peter merely stared at Eszter as she pouts at herself, sitting in the driver's seat with her arms crossed as she stares at the movie with a stern glare.
With her mind wandering away from the movie, Eszter doesn't realize Peter subtly turning the volume up as their conversation came to an end. Eszter lost interest in the movie as she stares blankly at the screen, wondering how she plans to ask Peter out. For a while, Eszter wondered if she was making the right choice by diving deep into their relationship. Maybe Eszter is moving too quickly.
Knowing that the movie was nearly ending, Eszter grew anxious once realizing that it was now or never.
Eszter and Peter had hung out many times with their friends but have gone on dates for two of them, but neither can deny the growing feelings that boiled between them. Eszter knows her feelings for Peter are strong and sincere; although the enhanced wasn't mentally stable enough to think about opening her emotions wider for a relationship, Eszter knew this.
Nevertheless, Eszter yearned for a feeling to cover the gaping hole in her chest.
Suddenly, Peter was speaking up before Eszter could muster up the courage to ask the ultimate question.
"Hey, Eszter?" She hums. "There's--There's something that I--that I've wanted to ask."
Eszter's heart badump! against her chest. She likes that feeling, the butterflies that flutter in the wake of the darkness.
Stammering over her words, Eszter looks rather hopeful. "Oh, uh, y--yeah?"
"Will you stand by me at the charity?" That's not what Eszter was expecting. "You know I don't do well with crowds."
Embarrassed and almost disappointed, Eszter scratches the back of her head. "Oh, uh," she grimaces at the thought of how she must've looked--like a dog wagging their tail in sheer delirium, but only to tuck their tail between their legs. "Yeah, I'll be there."
Peter sighs in relief. "Thanks," he smiles in appreciation. "Couldn't do it without you."
So much for waiting on him.
"Peter," Eszter found herself calling.
Focused on the last bit of the movie, Peter responds distractedly. "Yeah?"
"For the longest time, I remember how hard it was for me to finally admit that I had feelings for you--which was really hard because you liked Liz so much," Eszter chuckles awkwardly, scratching the small area on her neck. "And now, we're here, on another date. I guess what I'm trying to say is--"
"What? Hold on," Peter reaches over and turns down the volume as the movie rolls into the credits. "Sorry, it was kind of loud."
"I'm just as gonna say it," Eszter mutters to herself. Then, she turns in her seat and stares Peter straight in the eyes. "Will you be my boyfriend?"
Peter pauses in shock. He wasn't expecting that. To be truthful, Peter didn't think they would start their relationship so soon, knowing neither of them is emotionally ready. However, Peter couldn't pass up the moment, a bit giddy and triumphed to be taking a step into the future with Eszter.
Maybe that's what they need--they should be looking into the future instead of the past. Peter likes that idea, but he wonders how long their fairytale will last before reality grips them by the ankles and yank them down to Earth.
Wait, Peter continued to stare with wide eyes. How long have I been staring?
"Whoa, is this--are you serious?"
Nervously, Eszter fiddles with her fingers. "Yes, I am," she says with a small bit of confidence. "So, is that a no?"
A smile tugs at Peter's lips. "Yeah!" Eszter's lips twitch. She adores her friends tremendously. "I mean, yes, as in, I'll be your boyfriend. I would like that." Peter's grin grew bigger when he couldn't contain the excitement bubbling inside.
Eszter could feel his emotions pouring out at her, easing the enhanced.
Holy crap, Peter is dating his best friend. How amazing is that?
The two giggle in a fit of giddiness, somehow tangling their fingers together with the spontaneous confidence as they embrace their new profound relationship. Eszter swore she felt the weight on her shoulders lift, and the heavy feeling anchoring her heart was released. This proud hope into Eszter's heart; the enhanced never thought she would ever have anything good in her life, but Peter seems always to prove her wrong.
On the other hand, Peter was still flabbergasted; the hero felt like a new person--Peter has a real relationship with no dad trying to kill him.
"Good," Eszter's giggles softly dissipate. Noticing the movie had ended and people were leaving, the enhanced uses her telekinesis to put the speakers away. "We should probably take the car back where we got it." She remembers, glancing at the unfamiliar car. "Otherwise, I'm gonna get grounded."
Snapped out from the delirium, Peter nods in agreement. "Yeah, you're right. After you."
Eszter flashed a quick grin when her eyes flashed a bright violet color that puts Peter into awe. Glancing out of the car, Peter watches as the black shadows swirling at the car's wheels, slowly rising to the hood. An energy orb hums in Eszter's hand as she twirls her fingers about, focusing her energy on the portal beneath them. She merely twists her wrist, and the shadows shoot upward, immediately consuming the car.
In a blink of an eye, the car was parked in the driveway of someone's house with the lights still off--that's a good sign.
Peter glances at Eszter once he realized they had been holding hands since the drive-in, and not once had either of them pulled away. Was it strange to admit how the other's presence was enough to put them into bliss? It must be.
"E?" She hums in response. "Are we ever going to talk about what you said before we blipped away?"
Avoiding the conversation, Eszter and Peter vanish in the starry night, leaving the car with its rightful owner--unaware of their car ever being stolen.