Archive of Our Own ^beta

Janet had never cared for fundraisers, and this one was particularly boring- Hank hadn’t arrived yet, and therefore hadn’t caused any trouble she needed to smooth over.

She swirls her champagne around her glass, casting her eyes around the ballroom once more, hoping for some spark of recognition, or at least excitement that meant her partner had arrived. The company continued to quietly mingle, and she snagged another flute, sighing as she shifted her weight from one hip to the other.

“Hank still not here?” she looks up at the question, and nods in answer when she recognizes their office secretary Rosemary rounding the table towards her.

“He said he’d be late,” she answers, checking her watch out of habit- nearly quarter to ten, which was later than she’d been out in ages. Her social life had changed drastically since she’d started at Pym Industries; not that she minded in the slightest.

Rosemary hums, amused.

“That man needs a wife. Keep him on time,” she observes, and Janet feels her shoulders tense involuntarily.

“Rosemary you’ve been trying to marry me off for a decade now,” Hank’s voice floats up from behind them, and Janet feels something settle inside her as he touches her elbow lightly, coming to rest beside her.

“And I’ll keep trying until it happens,” Rosemary replies, taking a sip of her champagne, winking. “I have some lovely daughters, you know.”

“I don’t doubt that, but I’m fine just where I am, Rosemary,” Hank says, nudging at Janet slightly. “C’mon, Janet- there are a couple of folks I want to introduce you to. Nice to see you again, Rosie.”

Rosemary lifts her glass in farewell as Hank guides Janet towards a swarm of men; her eyes feel like they might glaze over at just the sight of them, but she forces herself to stay awake as Hank rattles off their names and departments. They all chitchat about the latest project- the introduction stages of a new accelerator had just been initiated, and it was bringing the entire company together.

When they walk away, Hank leans in close, his lips nearly brushing her ear.

“You couldn’t tell me half of their names, can you?” there’s amusement in his voice, and Janet sticks an elbow in his ribs.

“They all look the same! You can’t blame me!” she defends herself, snagging herself another flute of champagne from a passing waiter.

“I’m getting another whiskey- want anything stronger?” Hank asks, nodding towards her champagne, and Janet considers for a minute before nodding.

“Gin martini’d be great,” she says, and Hank nods before disappearing off towards the bar.

"So, how long have you and the doc been together?"

Janet blinks at the question, coming from a woman she vaguely recognizes from the lab. And then blinks again.

"Henry and I aren't dating," she replies when she finally finds her voice, and woman lifts an eyebrow, amusement curving her lips.

"If you say so, honey," she pats her hand before she wanders off, leaving Janet alone once more. Did the whole company think she and Henry were dating? How long had this been going on? They were just partners. That was all.

Right?

_

The question stays with her long after Henry has the company car drop her off at her apartment.

Pouring herself two fingers of scotch, she lingers on her balcony, watching the city wind down for the night as the moon shines brightly above.

Did she want to date Henry? It was something she couldn’t stop turning over in her mind, the sheer idea of it.

Because of course, she cared for Hank- they were friends. They’d grown to be best friends over the last year of working together, and she couldn’t imagine her life without him; without his gruff jokes or secret smiles he only allowed her or the takeout dinners in the lab, just the two of them.

And then she realizes, abruptly- no wonder everyone thought they were dating. She was the only person in the entirety of Pym Industries that Hank showed any affection to on a regular basis.

And…Janet liked it.

She liked being the only one that say the softer side of Henry Pym- that made him laugh and saw him when he was tired and worn out, and so many other sides of him that she had yet to discover. But she wanted to be the one who saw every side of him, and only her, and she’s realizing, as she reaches the bottom of her glass of whiskey, that this now meant she had to tell Henry how she felt.

(It shouldn’t feel so daunting, because they already told each other so much- but could she stand to potentially lose the most important relationship she’d ever had?)

She’s startled from her thoughts by a knocking at her front door- she realizes it must have been going on for a while, she just hadn’t heard it from her place on the balcony.

“Coming- I’m coming!” she calls out, making her way through her apartment, depositing her now-empty whiskey on the island and reaching the front door. Yanking it open she comes face to face with Hank, his hand still hovering, poised to knock again. In his other hand is a bouquet of roses, and her voice is suddenly thick in her throat. “Henry.”

“Janet,” he returns, and shuffles in place for a moment before he lifts the flowers, presenting them to her. Janet takes them with a small smile, shaking her head fondly.

“Where on earth did you find a flower shop at this hour?” she asks before stepping aside, allowing him into her apartment. “And, Henry- why are you bringing me flowers at midnight?”

“Why shouldn’t I bring you flowers at midnight?” he asks back, and Janet swallows hard at the look in his eyes. “According to half the company we’ve been dating for the past year without my knowledge.”

Janet snorts in amusement.

“I heard something along those lines as well,” she says, setting the roses on the counter and moving to grab a second glass, pouring them each two fingers of whiskey. “But funnily enough, I don’t recall you ever asking me out.”

At that Hank arches a thick eyebrow, and the air thickens between them as he accepts the glass from her, their fingers brushing.

“Ms. Van Dyne,” he murmurs, in a voice so low it makes Janet tremble. “How can you not see I’ve been courting you all this time?”

Feeling bold, Janet invades his space, tilting her head until their noses nearly brushed as she met his gaze.

“Sometimes, a girl just likes to be asked,” she whispers, and their lips nearly touch, they’re so close. Hank’s eyes study hers, the silence thick, until he whispers his next words against her mouth.

“Janet- would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner?” he asks, and before she can even answer, he’s kissing her- it’s deep and sweet and she loses herself in it, kissing him back desperately. “And perhaps every dinner for the rest of our lives?”

At that Janet laughs, allowing him to wrap her up in his arms, her own finding their way into his hair easily, holding him close.

“We’ll start with one- but your chances are pretty good at forever.”