#Immune modulation

[tanistates]

Lactoferrin Benefits: Immune Support, Gut Health & Post-Viral Recovery

What Is Lactoferrin?Top Benefits of Lactoferrin (Backed by Research)1. Immune System Support2. Gut Health and Iron Regulation3. Post-Viral Recovery & Fatigue4. Energy and Mitochondrial SupportCan Lactoferrin Help With Long COVID?How to Use Lactoferrin SafelyWho Should Consider Lactoferrin? If you’re searching for a supplement that supports your immune system, gut health, and recovery from viral…

[nursing-and-wellness23]

Unlocking the Healing Powers: Exploring the Benefits of Ozone Therapy  

Ozone therapy is a medical treatment that involves the therapeutic use of ozone, a gas composed of three oxygen molecules. Widely recognized for its disinfectant properties, ozone therapy has expanded to various medical applications. Studies explore its effects, safety, and potential toxicity, with emerging evidence highlighting its role in wound healing, immune modulation, and treatment for conditions like wounds, pain, postoperative issues, and infectious diseases.

Ozone therapy, a natural treatment for medical conditions, involves the administration of ozone gas to stimulate the immune system and promote healing. This therapy improves oxygen delivery throughout the body, increasing blood circulation and enhancing the body's ability to heal itself. It activates antioxidant enzymes, reducing inflammation and supporting tissue regeneration. Ozone therapy has shown promise in treating chronic pain, arthritis, infections, and cancer, improving energy levels and boosting the immune system. It is non-invasive and has minimal side effects when administered correctly. Patients often report feeling rejuvenated and increased vitality after treatment. However, it is essential to consult a qualified healthcare professional for proper evaluation and individualized treatment plans to maximize the benefits of ozone therapy.

Here are some additional resources  Scientific article that you might find helpful

Journal of Ozone Therapy (uv.es)

[emster-kat]

Siblings......

[relentlessgrief]

Despite being undead, Connor is not immune to the cold. Because his tendrils are wet and … self lubricating (realistically they need to be—i’m genuinely trying to think of anything with tentacles that ARENT moisturized), and Connor is the tentacles and NOT the skeleton, he runs the risk of getting dried out. Chapped tentacles, I guess.

[cbccindia]

Understanding Immunotherapy for Autoimmune Diseases

Introduction

Immunotherapy, a groundbreaking approach primarily recognized for cancer therapy immunotherapy, is now making significant strides in treating autoimmune diseases. This article delves into how immunotherapy is applied beyond cancer immunology immunotherapy to manage and treat autoimmune conditions.

The Mechanism of Immunotherapy in Autoimmune Diseases

Immunotherapy works by modulating the immune system, enhancing its ability to fight diseases. Unlike in immunotherapy cancer treatment, where the goal is to target and destroy cancer cells, in autoimmune diseases, the therapy aims to recalibrate the immune system to stop attacking the body's tissues.

Types of Immunotherapy for Autoimmune Diseases

There are various types of immunotherapy used to treat autoimmune diseases. These include monoclonal antibodies, cytokine inhibitors, and immune checkpoint inhibitors, each designed to alter specific immune system pathways. While some of these therapies overlap with those used in cancer treatment, their application in autoimmune diseases focuses on immune regulation and suppression of overactive immune responses.

Immunotherapy Medications and Treatments

Immunotherapy medications for autoimmune diseases are tailored to reduce inflammation and curb the immune system's erroneous attacks on healthy cells. The precise medication or combination of therapies depends on the specific autoimmune condition being treated, highlighting the personalized nature of immunotherapy.

The Role of Immunotherapy and Vaccines

Exploring the intersection of immunotherapy and vaccines reveals potential for preventative strategies in autoimmune diseases. Vaccines designed to induce tolerance in the immune system are under research, potentially preventing autoimmune diseases from developing or worsening.

Managing Side Effects and Costs

While immunotherapy offers new hope, it's crucial to consider immunotherapy side effects and immunotherapy cost. Side effects vary widely, from mild to severe, and must be carefully managed under medical supervision. The cost can also be significant, necessitating a discussion about healthcare resources and insurance coverage.

Conclusion

Immunotherapy for autoimmune diseases represents a promising frontier in medical treatment, offering hope for millions suffering from these conditions. As research progresses, it could redefine the therapeutic landscape for autoimmune diseases, much like it has for cancer.

Discovering Excellence in Cancer and Autoimmune Disease Treatment at CBCC India

At the forefront of medical innovation and care, CBCC India stands as one of the leading Cancer Hospital in India, dedicated to eliminating cancer and advancing treatment for autoimmune diseases. Our commitment to innovative research and exceptional care ensures that every patient receives personalized, state-of-the-art treatment. Discover the pinnacle of healthcare excellence at CBCC India, where we strive to conquer cancer and improve the lives of those with autoimmune diseases through cutting-edge immunotherapy and comprehensive care.

[nsnpl]

 Do you cherish pizza, burgers, and fries? Certainly, they’re yummy! But, eating an excessive amount of low-quality food can bring on some issues and it is one of the primary causes of fatty liver disease. These food varieties are in many cases high in fat and sugar. At the point when you eat them a ton, your liver starts accumulating additional fat. Over the long haul, this can make your liver health deteriorate.Know more: https://www.nsnpl2health.com/

[cassandralexxx]

I don’t think I’ll ever get over how expensive my medication is…

$81,000

Pre insurance is actually absurd

[boulevardpharmaceuticalcompoun]

Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) is gaining attention for its potential in treating various medical conditions. Let’s delve into how LDN works and why it’s becoming a popular choice. If you're considering Low-dose Naltrexone (LDN) in Boston, Massachusetts, understanding its mechanisms can help you make an informed decision.

[reasonsforhope]

"People living with diabetes might have a new hope. Scientists have tested a new drug therapy in diabetic mice, and found that it boosted insulin-producing cells by 700% over three months, effectively reversing their disease.

Beta cells in the pancreas have the important job of producing insulin in response to blood sugar levels, but a hallmark of diabetes is that these cells are either destroyed or can’t produce enough insulin. The most common treatment is regular injections of insulin to manage blood sugar levels.

But a recent avenue of research has involved restoring the function of these beta cells. In some cases that’s started with stem cells being coaxed into new beta cells, which are then transplanted into patients with diabetes. Researchers behind this kind of work have described it as a “functional diabetes cure.”

Now, scientists at Mount Sinai and City of Hope have demonstrated a new breakthrough. Previous studies have mostly involved growing new beta cells in a lab dish, then transplanting them into mice or a small device in humans. But this new study has been able to grow the insulin-producing cells right there in the body, in a matter of months.

The therapy involved a combination of two drugs: one is harmine, a natural molecule found in certain plants, which works to inhibit an enzyme called DYRK1A found in beta cells. The second is a GLP1 receptor agonist. The latter is a class of diabetes drug that includes Ozempic, which is gaining attention lately for its side effect of weight loss.

The researchers tested the therapy in mouse models of type 1 and 2 diabetes. First they implanted a small amount of human beta cells into the mice, then treated them with harmine and GLP1 receptor agonists. Sure enough, the beta cells increased in number by 700% within three months of the treatment. The signs of the disease quickly reversed, and stayed that way even a month after stopping the treatment.

“This is the first time scientists have developed a drug treatment that is proven to increase adult human beta cell numbers in vivo,” said Dr. Adolfo Garcia-Ocaña, corresponding author of the study. “This research brings hope for the use of future regenerative therapies to potentially treat the hundreds of millions of people with diabetes.”

The results are intriguing, but of course being an animal study means there’s still much more work to be done before it could find clinical use. So far, harmine alone has recently undergone a phase 1 clinical trial in humans to test its safety and tolerability, while other DYRK1A inhibitors are planned for trials in humans next year.

Perhaps most importantly, the team will soon experiment with combining beta-cell-regenerating drugs with others that modulate the immune system. Ideally this should help overcome a major hurdle: the immune system will continue attacking new beta cells as they’re produced.

The research was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine."

-via New Atlas, July 14, 2024

[thebibliosphere]

Are you familiar with any connection between mast cell issues and type 1 diabetes? I have a family member who developed and got diagnosed with diabetes when he was a kid, and his mother is convinced it was because of his childhood vaccines. Now i'm aware enough that vaccines could cause an immune system reaction like what you were talking about about before, with people who are predisposed to certain conditions that could suddenly self destruct when something like vaccines or a cold just tips the condition over. Unfortunately his mother went full anti-vax after this happened :/ anyways your post made me wonder if there was a connection between diabetes 1 and mast cells

Oh, hey I actually read something about this recently:

Tl;dr:

Mast cells are highly differentiated, widely distributed cells of the innate immune system.

The involvement of mast cells in diabetes is corroborated by findings indicating that these cells are associated with inflamed adipose tissue, the development of certain diabetes complications such as diabetic nephropathy, and reduced wound healing in the case of diabetic foot lesions [70,71,72,73].

In the present review we have discussed the role of mast cells in the diabetic pancreas. Their increased presence in the pancreas of human subjects with type 1 diabetes raises the possibility that these cells could be implicated in the pathophysiology of this form of diabetes, which is due to autoimmune destruction of the insulin-secreting beta cells.

However, it is not clear if and why mast cells could be dangerous or protective in this regard. More studies are needed to determine whether and how manipulation of these cells might impact on the natural history of type 1 diabetes, which could allow the development of a strategic approach targeted to modulate mast cell function

- - -

Basically, damned if we know, but they’re studying it.

As for whether a vaccine caused him to develop type 1 diabetes, personally, my money is on no. It’s primarily (though not always) a genetic autoimmune disorder that’s waiting to go off. The vaccines might have caused an inflammatory response that drew awareness to existing symptoms that resulted in diagnosis, but the pre-disposition was likely always there.

Viruses on the other hand can promote autoimmunity, (though there’s some debate about whether or not the link between viruses and the development of diabetes type 1 is valid. More research is needed) so that’s an even more important reason to vaccinate imo.

Like fuck messing with that. You get rubella AND an autoimmune disease potentially triggering early because of it? Fuck that.

[dendroseelie]

sweet distractions | alhaitham x reader

alhaitham doesn't appreciate being disturbed while he's trying to work and if you don't stop bugging him just because you're distracted, he'll simply have to take matters into his own hands and take his own sweet revenge.

word count - 2k+

pairing - alhaitham x reader; afab!reader

warnings - smut (mdni), oral sex (f!receiving), does this count as public sex lol? i think so

author's note: took longer than i wanted because i got super busy with irl stuff but here it is!! hehe :3 smexy time with alhaitham and as always, i would love it if you leave your thoughts :)

masterlist

request here | rules

When you agreed with Alhaitham to have a late-night study session in a secluded corner at the Akademiya’s grand library, you didn’t think you would be in this position. Three hours ago you both had your noses buried in the books and now, well - Alhaitham had his nose buried in you.

Assignment season was in full swing at the Akademiya. The dreaded middle-of-the-semester workload had students consuming way too much caffeine and staying up way too late. You were not immune to this. This week you had already turned in a total of ten assignments and you were working on your eleventh one which you had to turn in tomorrow. You had been putting this one off the longest as it was for the module you disliked the most. You couldn’t help but leave it for the last minute, something rather unlike you.

Alhaitham had kindly offered to keep you company - that is, study at the same table in the library - for the night as the two of you worked on your separate tasks. The first hour or two went by in relative silence before you started getting antsy. You hated this assignment, I mean who would in their right mind write five thousand words about “The Cultural and Socioeconomic Effect of Growing Radishes instead of Carrots”? You weren’t even sure it was relevant to what you were majoring in, let alone studying. It was frustrating, You generally weren’t the kind to slack off and not put in effort into the work you turned in. You were someone who cared about the quality of assignments you turned in and what you were learning. But this damned paper… What could you possibly write about radishes and carrots that could be invigorating to read? 

You sighed frustratedly, pushing away the books you had gathered earlier as if it would make your assignment magically disappear. Your mind felt completely numb after working on this for hours at a stretch - one could only read so much about root vegetables.

Alhaitham, on the other hand, was completely engrossed in whatever he was writing about. His unwavering attention to the task at hand made it seem like it was interesting…But, well, you were not finding your own task very appealing. At least, not as appealing as the sight in front of you. Alhaitham was clad in a cream-coloured shirt, his sweater thrown over the back of his chair. His brown pants complimented his long legs and his shoes were halfway kicked off. By some miracle, his headphones were off today. His thin-rimmed glasses were perched upon his sharp nose and you couldn’t help but admire how the few strands of his ashy hair fell over his forehead. You almost wanted to reach out and tuck them back in place.

“Quit staring you creep.”

You feel your face flush, gaze immediately flickering away. You clear your throat. “I wasn’t staring.”

Alhaitham’s lips curve into a barely-there smirk. He looked smug - somehow, that pissed you off and charmed you just the same. “Sure, darling. You absolutely were not staring holes into my skull just now.”

“I wasn’t!” You insist indignantly, eyebrows bunching up into an ingenuine frown.

He still doesn’t look up from his assignment as he continues working. “Whatever, Y/N. Get back to your work and let me be in peace too.”

You scowl at his steady focus. You were mind-bogglingly bored and here he was, writing away - his sleeves rolled up to expose his forearms, hair falling over his eyes just… so perfectly.

You try and turn your attention back to your work, you really do. But it was all…Alhaitham’s fault - him and his insufferably, stupidly handsome face. You try to continue writing your assignment, highlighting how switching between carrots and radishes will essentially affect culinary practices and in turn, affect the culture in the long run. But. But Alhaitham’s lips pursed between his teeth, the pink tips of his pale fingers, the rings clad on the length of them, the slow blinks of his gorgeous green eyes…were so much more interesting. So much more inviting.

It truly was as if you were captivated; eyes following the smallest of his movements like a kitten learning to hunt. 

Alhaitham’s deep sigh and the clatter of his pen as he drops it pull you out of your trance. You return his sharp gaze with a blank gaze, blinking dopily. “Okay Y/N, what’s up with you? What’s got you so distracted tonight?”

“You,” you answer, only half-consciously.

He arches his brow, a thinly veiled simper stretched on his lips. “Me?” he enquires, voice dripping with a teasing lilt.

You flush at his words, internally cursing yourself for your loose lips - but also him, because that was also his fault! 

“What? Cat got your tongue, darling?”

You roll your eyes at him, huffing. “Don’t bug me!”

“Bug you? I’m not the one gawking at you instead of working.”

“I was not gawking!” You protest - uselessly at that because it only makes Alhaitham chuckle cockily.

For a few seconds, Alhaitham watches you carefully, eyes taking in your flushed cheeks and your short breaths, and your tongue peeking out to wet your parted lips. He slowly tilts his head to the side, eyes drinking in the sight in front of him like a predator studying its prey. Then he smiles wolfishly. Your heartbeat stutters.

Alhaitham stands up from his seat, stalking toward you. His arms cage you in as you lean back against the chair. “What is it, hmm?” He bends towards you, words spoken softly right into your ear. “Finding the sight a little too distracting, perhaps?”

“N-no.”

“Really?” He asks, his hand coming up to tuck your hair behind your ear, trailing down the side of your cheek. His thumb brushes over your lips. “I could help, you know? Ward off the distractions… You just have to admit it.”

“Th-there’s nothing to admit,” you fumble over your words, tongue staggering at the feeling of his lips trailing the path of his hand like a phantom of his touch.

You swear you can feel his tongue on your ear as his fingers find their way into your hair. “Sure about that, darling? I could simply satisfy you, have you twitching in a much more interesting way.”

A sound somewhere between a whimper and a moan escapes you as Alhaitham places a wet kiss to your jaw, teeth grazing the side of your neck. He has the audacity to laugh. “Hmm, maybe I should also get my revenge for how you keep distracting me…What do you say?”

At your soft words of consent and a nod, Alhaitham does not waste a moment before his lips press into yours. His lips are softer and more pillowy than you had imagined. And… well you had imagined it embarrassingly often. His mouth coaxes yours open and the kiss turns sloppier, messier in a way that has you whining into the heated press of flesh.

Alhaitham’s hands shift down from your neck to the dip of your waist, grip squeezing. He nips at your lips before breaking apart, a line of spit stretching from your mouth to his. Both your eyes seem to be glassed over, minds a little too cottony.

He presses another fleeting kiss to your lips before he mutters, almost as if in a stupor. “Taste so sweet…”

He shoves the books on the table to the side, before yanking off his glasses. His grip on you is strong and unforgiving as he pulls you up from the chair and perches you onto the table. He presses wet kisses down the expanse of your neck. “I need you to be quiet for me, darling. Can you do that?”

You nod. Words seem to have left you. Alhaitham’s hands skim down the fabric of your dress as he kisses you, ghostly touch leaving goosebumps in its wake. His hands massage the soft flesh of your thighs, the skirt of your dress riding up as he stands between your legs.

His kisses are feverish over your skin as he slowly sinks down to his knees in front of you, between your limbs. “Remember to be quiet, okay?" He instructs you, as he props your legs over his shoulder. We don’t want anyone coming down to this section.”

A breathy agreement later, Alhaitham is nibbling at your thighs as he nears where you need him most. He follows his bites with a lick of his tongue and simply this has you trembling in his hold. Before you know it, his fingers are hooking on the elastic of your underwear and tugging it down in one, swift motion. The cold air that hits your core barely has a moment to make you shiver before his lips are on you.

What a sight to see indeed. Hours ago the two of you were occupied with your books and assignments. Wouldn’t one agree this kind of preoccupation was much more welcome?

He had you seated on the edge of the library's opulent mahogany table while your skirt was bunched up around your hips and your legs were thrown over his shoulders as he diligently ate you out. His tongue was skilled in its movements, swirling over your sensitive nub in a way that had you twitching. His palms had your thighs in a vice grip, fingers flexing over it as you shook under him.

Your vision swims. It’s as if there are sparks under your eyelids, your own personal star shower that Alhaitham has brought right to you. At least, that’s what his mouth on you feels like; an experience ethereal and cosmic enough to have you whimpering his name like a prayer. Reverent echoes of ‘Alhaitham’ bounce off the bookshelves and back within the sanctity of the moment. Alhaitham hums, acknowledging your pleas, the sound sending shivers through you. If your whispers of his name were a prayer then what was he, if not a deity on his knees, consuming nectar so divine that it could rival the heaven’s ambrosia. 

“S-shit Alhaitham,” your voice comes out high pitched, sounding nearly unfamiliar to you.

Alhaitham nips you in response before he looks up from between your legs. His mouth is glistening — from spit and your arousal, and the mere sight of it has you clenching. “M’not done, sweetheart. Be good and let me finish, hmm?”

He dives back in before you can answer, his tongue prodding at your entrance in a manner that has you grabbing a fistful of his hair. Alhaitham’s hands tighten around the supple flesh of your legs, pulling them apart as you close your thighs around him. He groans, mouth still on you, and the vibrations of the sound hit you straight in the core. The feeling of your impending orgasm only grows as his finger joins his ministrations, the cold press of his rings urging you on. The knot in your stomach keeps tightening and tightening until a particular curl of his tongue and the bite that follows it sends you over the edge. You thrash in his hold as your orgasm washes over you, biting the back of your hand to curb the wanton moan that escapes you.

Alhaitham is still lapping at you, helping you ride out your high until you finally push his head away out of over-sensitivity. He presses scattered kisses to the inside of your thighs, before he looks up at you, a Cheshire grin resting upon his lips. “Doing okay?”

“Huh…? Shit.” Your words are thick with the lingering pleasure, your mind fuzzy and your eyes hooded as you raise yourself on your arms to take a peek at Alhaitham who is still on his knees. His fingers knead the flesh of your hips, the feeling of it grounding and comforting. “Yes. Yes, I’m okay.”

“You sure?” He chides cheekily. “You still look plenty distracted to me, Y/N.”

“Fuck you,” you whisper, voice still breathless. Your cheeks are burning and your heart is still racing from the exquisite taste of pleasure that he brought to you. He had made a mess of you with just his tongue, and you couldn’t help the anticipation that shot through you at his suggestive insinuations. 

Alhaitham’s smirk deepens and he arches his brow. “Oh? I'll be so honoured Y/N, but are you sure you want our first time to be on the library table?”

author's note: phew okay guys this is actually the first time I've written smut like this so I'm a bit?? I'm not sure if it's up to standard but I tried TT would love and welcome any constructive feedback you may have :) most of all though, i hope you enjoyed!

[gotta-winwin]

squidgame!wonwoo x reader

cw/tw: references to squid game, blood, guns, dark!wonwoo, lost!reader, angst, ambiguous ending a/n: squid game s2 has been living rent free in my head these past few weeks (yim siwan has reentered the serena residence as well) and i couldn't help but think... wonwoo frontman angst?

frontman!wonwoo feels immune to the gore and pain. He barely bats an eye now, watching the games run from his spot on the couch, observing through a large flat screen tv. It no longer feels real, as if he was just watching a movie. The sounds of those gunshots used to deafen both his heart and his ear, but now they’re strangely silent, missing his hearing altogether. 

frontman!wonwoo remembers how he used to cry over losing you, body shaking as he begged to the sky, his chest aching with love that had nowhere to go. A past long forgotten - until he’d wake up covered in sweat, his hands shaking, cupping an invisible face he could touch but not see. He barely remembers the reason he lost you - but he sees your face clearly. 

frontman!wonwoo, who never planned to have the job he had now. You had always praised him for being a hard worker, always able to climb his way to the top - even if he had to crawl to get there. It felt like a curse now, as he oversaw the games, a mask replacing his usual glasses. He wore contacts now - the feeling of your hands fixing his glasses that would always sit crooked against his face haunted him, even to this day. 

frontman!wonwoo, who justifies his actions by telling himself it’s not really his fault. It’s not like he’s physically killing those people, and they did give consent! He argues with the better half of himself that life was never especially kind to him, so why should he? In fact, life had been rather cruel - taking you from his reach and trapping him in this cold world. 

frontman!wonwoo scoffs at the people begging him to save their lives. After all, why should he? The question only infuriates him: he couldn’t even save the only person he’s ever loved in this life and they’re asking him to save them? Your disappearance and running the games had changed him - he knew, even if you did return, you’d never love this version of him. 

frontman!wonwoo brings in one of the triangle guards below him, prepared to scold them for going against the rules he had set - no communication with players, no matter the circumstance. He finds himself pausing, as he listens to their reasoning: something about the player being sick and needing the bathroom after hours, and for the first time in a long time, he feels his face relaxing. 

frontman!wonwoo doesn’t understand why he had let the guard off so easily. There was just something about the way they spoke, even covered under the heavy voice modulation, the tone and inflections tugged at his stomach and heartstrings. He found it odd and not at all like him. 

frontman!wonwoo, who slowly becomes entranced by the guard, watching their every move on footage, ignoring the games in front of him. His once calculated and orderly days crumble, leaving him grappling with the idea that just maybe, past!wonwoo was beginning to fight his way out again.

frontman!wonwoo, who starts ordering the guard in more often under the guise of ‘maintenance’ or ‘reprimands.’ He never speaks much, asking a few questions here and there - but instead he listens, ordering the guard to speak, to say anything, to tell him anything. He listens, wholly concentrated on their cadence, desperately trying to pinpoint where he’s heard it from. 

frontman!wonwoo, who hesitates to pull the trigger for the first time since he had first started working for the game. He stares at the young woman before him, her eyes quivering with tears, a brave expression on her face - staring death head-on. Lowering the gun, he gestures for her to run. Leave, he tells her quietly, a part of him still amazed at his own actions. 

frontman!wonwoo, who doubles down on the cruelty once he realizes he’s been slipping. As if he were trying to recondition himself, Wonwoo takes it upon himself to be twice as unforgiving, white hot anger directed solely at himself for letting his guard down. 

frontman!wonwoo, who looks at you with bewildered eyes as you take off your mask, dropping it to the floor as you stare down the barrel of his gun. You’ve had enough - unable to watch him destroy both himself and others, stepping in front of him with heartache coursing through your veins. His eyes widen subtly as he stares, mouth open, the muscles trying to remember how to speak your name. 

frontman!wonwoo, who calls out your name with a slight rasp, his throat closing up as he lowers the gun, arms falling uselessly to his sides. You look the same as the last day he saw you, staring at him with helpless eyes as you looked around, the piles of dead bodies staring back at you. 

At the end of the day, it was the stark contrast of seeing you surrounded by blood and death that jolted frontman!wonwoo out of his stupor. The sight was obscene, sinful (not in the good way) and just not right. His arms reached out to grab you as he neared, frantic eyes roaming across your features to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating. 

frontman!wonwoo, who abandons his job and respobsiblites with your miraculous return. He doesn’t care about the target now on his back, happy to fight through fire and ice to keep you by his side - promising you the life he couldn’t give you before: normalcy. Wonwoo yearns for it, to regain the uneventful yet fulfilling life he had once shared with you, leaving the mess behind. 

[hexed-hearts]

Midnight Rendezvous

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x Human Torch!Reader

Tags: Fluff, Slow Burn, Emotional Suppression, Soft Moments

Word count: 1,150

Summary: Quite late night encounters bring Reader and Wanda closer together

A/N: Hey guys! It’s certainly been awhile, I started this but never really finished so this is what I think is presentable right now lol. Thanks for all of your feedback! Enjoy!

The compound is quiet as I lean against the kitchen countertop. A late night bowl of cereal in hand as I take in the tranquility. Since joining the Avengers, everything has been so fast paced and busy. Hardly much time to be alone unless I’m in my room or doing training modules. The team has been welcoming, it’s not everyday a top SHEILD agent gets powers, and it’s even more crazy that I am now immune to fire. Thor calls me the human torch but I think that’s a silly name.

I continue to munch on my bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch when I hear the faint sound of a door opening. Light footsteps slowly make their way towards me. The smell of her shampoo wafts into the room before she appears, her bright red hair pulling me into her green eyes when she finally steps in. “It’s late, what’s got you still up?” She asks, pulling out a mug from the cabinet as she prepares to make tea.

“I like the silence, it feels like everything slows down at night. I can focus better. Besides,” I grab the tea that was hiding behind me and hand it to her, “I can ask the same of you.”

She frowns, “I uh…couldn’t sleep.” She looks away from me, her eyes focused on the water as she waits for it to boil. Her fingers tapping on the rim of the mug with impatience.

“Are you…okay, Wanda? Do you need to talk about i-“

“I’m fine.” She cuts me off quickly, eyes never leaving the still water. Her tense shoulders rising even higher. I don’t respond to her right way, instead letting her words linger in the silence of the room.

“Well, when you’re not fine…I’m all ears.” I drink the last of the milk in my bowl and quickly wash it out. I feel her eyes watching me as I move around the kitchen. Every movement is meticulously surveillanced. I finally pause in front of her, our eyes locking as I take in the state of her exhaustion. Her eyes are red, her hair sticks to her forehead, evident with sweat. I know she’s not fine but I don’t push it, instead I wrap my hand around the water pot and use my powers to bring it to a boil. “Good night Wanda,” I state as I leave her alone in the kitchen.

A week goes by before I catch Wanda in the kitchen again. I get up in the middle of the night for my midnight cereal. As I step into the kitchen, I’m stunned to see Wanda standing with her hands firmly wrapped around a steaming cup of tea. Hair tied up in a messy bun as she stands with her oversized band shirt on, Led Zeppelin. Our eyes lock together, surprise evident on my face, “for once you beat me here, I didn’t expect that.”

“I hope I’m not in your way,” she says sheepishly, “I know you like your quiet.”

“You’re fine, certainly not in my way,” I pour the cereal into my bowl before pouring the milk in, “besides…I’ll make an exception for you anyway.” She sends me a smile over her mug, “still couldn’t sleep huh?”

“Nope,” she says bluntly.

“Are you ever going to tell me why?”

“Nope.” She pops.

“Figured.” She sips on her tea as I eat my bowl in conjoined silence, the faint buzzing of the kitchen light the only sound that fills the room. “How come you don’t conjure up a cup of tea with your magic, why do you always make it by hand?”

“The tea doesn’t taste the same, it tastes like residual magic.” She says.

“What does magic taste like?” I chuckle, sipping on my remaining milk.

“You know what pop rocks are?” I nod, “it tastes like pop rocks and dirt.”

I laugh at her description, “oh come on it can’t be that bad. I remember pop rocks being pretty good when I had them.” I clean my bowl and lean against the counter next to her.

“Probably cause they were filled with sugar and artificial flavors,” she elbows my side, the corners of her eye crinkling with her smile, “you’ll just have to experience it yourself.”

“Well then, I look forward to our next midnight rendezvous,” I give her a light tap on the shoulder, “goodnight Wanda.”

“Goodnight Y/N.”

A few more days go by before I make my midnight walk from my room to the kitchen. The kitchen light is already on by time I make it to the hallway, indicating that Wanda beat me again. I walk into the kitchen to find Wanda leaning against the counter with her tea, a bowl and a box of cereal sitting next to her.

“Took you long enough, I was beginning to think I would spend tonight alone.” She quips.

“No way, you promised me magic cereal and I’ve been dying to taste it.” I sit on top of the counter top across from her, my legs swinging in the open space.

“Alright fine,” with a wave of her hand a pristine bowl of cereal appears, looking like it was plucked out of a commercial. She hands it to me across the empty space and I eagerly take it, using the spoon to push some of the cereal under the milk before taking my first bite. She watches my face expectantly, waiting for my reaction.

“Oh…oh no…” my face contorts in disgust as I slowly chew, “the tingling is certainly like pop rocks.” I jump off the counter and spit out the remnants in the trash, Wanda laughs as she watches me.

“I tried to tell you, maybe next time you should put your listening ears on,” she mocks as she makes the bowl of magic cereal disappear.

“Listen witchy,” she raises her eyebrow at the nickname, “I wasn’t not listening, I just had a hypothesis that I wanted to check out.” I grab the normal cereal and milk and quickly make myself a bowl.

“So your defense is that you chose to ignore me?” She questions as she tilts her head.

“Nooo, how could I ever ignore you,” I pointed my spoon at her before taking a bite of my new cereal, “more like… selective hearing.”

She chuckles, “whatever you say weirdo,” she finishes her tea, staring at the empty mug as she runs her fingers through her hair. She taps the rim with her finger as she contemplates her next move. “I better get off to bed now.”

“Leaving so soon, and here I thought we were bonding, witchy.” She shoots me a glare before rolling her eyes, shaking her head as a small smile creeps on her face.

“Don’t push it there pyro, goodnight Y/N.” She turns and starts walking out of the kitchen.

“Goodnight Wanda, get some rest.”

“I’ll certainly try.”