#romanoffomixam

[ginnsbaker]

Before reading your series I was completely on the side of if someone cheats that’s a done deal of ending the relationship however even though I still think that I feel like I would maybe I wouldn’t be so fast to make a judgment. Idk you have me so damn confused because I feel like maybe I feel like this because I like the characters or maybe I’ve actually had a change of heart. Idk you confusing me and I don’t wike it. hah but in all seriousness this is an amazing work of art and I honestly think if you changed the names (for legal reasons) you could have a best seller. This is great pal!

Hiiiiii 👋

I think one of the best compliments ever is hearing you take a double take at cheating and what it means for you... Personally, I went through the same reflection. Before ILGOSS i kept telling my partner of 5 years that im gonna leave her if she ever cheats on me, but like, one night i was watching her sleep and thinking about how much i love her and wondered if i really will leave her right away if she does.

Some might think it's easy to forgive wanda because we are biased to the character and lizzie olsen's perfect face, but i dunno. I try to switch reader and wanda and i still came up with the same ending.

Sorry if you got confused about how you feel towards cheating now, but at the end of the day, cheating really ruins lives and it's best we avoid it at all cost.

Thank you for reading and enjoying ilgoss. Not sure how it would fare if like, i change the names and make them into my own character, i just dont feel like it's very original? I mean, i dont think anyone else hasnt tackled divorce and cheating because it's such a common theme in drama. I just wrote this for my own enjoyment and now for you guys as well. But thank you if you think that :)

Again thank you for sending this ask and reading the story. You take care :)

[thenatashamaximoff]

Whispers In The Dark

Summary: When a casual one night stand develops into a deeper, forbidden love, you and Wanda try to keep your relationship a secret as you navigate the challenges of balancing your growing emotions with the fear of being caught.

Pairing: Wanda x Reader

Warnings: 18+ (no smut)

Words: 6,462

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┌─────────────ᗢ─────────────┐ @diaryoflife @women-am-i-right @creatively-analytical @obsessed-with-wandamaximoff @beforeoursecrets @iliketozoneout @olsensnpm @hoefnagel └─────────────ᗢ─────────────┘ ┌─────────────∞─────────────┐ @myfavoriteficss @pinkytoecrust @cyncity32 @romanoffomixam @peachbear88 @magicallymaximoff @therealmeari @peggycarter-steverogers @ba-romanoff @natashabelovas @morbid-gaymer @reminiscingtonight @when-wolves-howl @idontknownemore @natashasilverfox @sayah13 @fuxk182 @scarletwitchofthewilds @natashamaximoff69 @wuwu96 @jsonebraincell @whendarknessturns​ @marvel4liferz └─────────────∞─────────────┘

⚠️IMPORTANT ARTHOR’S NOTE: The following story (or following chapters) will not include detailed moments of smut. However, it does contain enough sexual content that I feel more comfortable labeling it NSFW/18+/MDNI. With that being said, read at your own discretion. Enjoy.

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The extremely comfortable bed you were laying on beckoned you to stay put, the weight of the covers over your body engulfing you in a warmth you didn't want to disrupt. It was hard to stay awake when you were so perfectly nestled in like a swaddled newborn. You had to find the energy to toss the covers off of you, though your limbs didn't seem to want to really move at the moment. Yet, with the seemingly loud vibration hammering away on the nightstand next to you, you were being signaled that it was time to get up.

Wait a minute… you don't own a nightstand yet.

You turned your head, the confusion evaporating quickly as you realized exactly where you were. You remember the bar, the attractive woman you knew you wanted the second you were aware of her presence, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. And you couldn't help but smile when you remembered just how successful you were in accomplishing that. But now it was almost six in the morning and you had to get ready for work.

You didn't want to wake her up. The slivers of light sneaking past the curtains to show the peacefulness across her face in the midst of slumber was the best thing you've ever seen. You didn't want to be that kind of one-night stand, being unnecessarily loud, not even being thoughtful of the one who doesn't need to wake up at the ass crack of dawn. No, you were going to be considerate and make a quiet move to the bathroom.

You kicked your feet over the bed, but you still weren't entirely used to the fact that a nightstand was present. You bit your tongue when your leg smacked into the front of the bedside table with a loud thump, and you weren't quick enough to catch the falling lamp, flinching when it fell to the floor with a crash.

A peal of light laughter came from behind you as you stood up, bringing the sheet along with you and using your phone to survey the damage done to the lamp. And, boy, that lamp did not survive that fall.

"I'll pay for that," you said, looking toward her. How does that even happen? The one time you wanted to make a smooth exit and the nightstand wanted to put up a fight. An inanimate object was your downfall this early in the morning and there was absolutely nothing you could do about it. "I'm sorry to wake you."

You were defeated.

"Are you getting in the shower?" Her voice was soft with no hint of annoyance in her tone. Was she not mad at you for pulling her out of the pits of her deep slumber? You'd be pretty annoyed that you were woken up by your one-night stand at six in the morning because they couldn't handle the nightstand.

She should at least be mad about the lamp. 

"Uh, yeah?" You wonder if that was okay. This wasn't your place, after all. Yours wasn't completely unpacked yet and you didn't want someone as gorgeous as her to see that storage container apartment you got going on.

She moved to flick on the lamp resting on the nightstand that hasn't embarrassed you (yet), replacing the morning sunrise slipping through the closed curtains with a brighter, artificial light. She ran a hand through her hair, getting some of it out of her face, as she sat up in the bed. You couldn’t help but stare at her - the way she tugged those locks brought memories rushing into your mind as you subconsciously brought your bottom lip in between your teeth in a gentle bite. "I'll join you," she said.

"You'll… what?" The smile she sent you at your confusion made your heart skip more than just a couple of beats. "Uh, we just met last night… in a bar, no less."

She raised an eyebrow, though the smile still remained on her face. "We also just slept together, Y/N. It's nothing I haven't seen."

You swallowed the saliva forming in your mouth so hard that it made the actual gulping noise. Your cheeks flushed with embarrassment once more as you looked away from her, scratching the back of your neck. "That's fair," you confessed. You looked back at her and laughed as she hopped out of the bed with a smoothness that you wished you had earlier. It would've saved you from a lifetime of embarrassment.

She raced you to the bathroom, making you laugh harder at her little victory yelp when she beat you there. You wrapped your arms around her, bringing her close as you used your foot to close the door behind you.

It has been only a few hours since you parted ways. You walked down the halls, your mind occupied by… her. Her face, her hands, her smile and touch and laugh. You remembered every single second about last night and you just wanted to do it all over. Relive it once more. But you know how a one-night stand works, and there's a high possibility that you'll never see that woman ever again.

"Ma'am." You turned your head on instinct to see someone running up to you, holding a clipboard out along with a pen. "Just need a quick signature."

"What's your name?" you questioned as you accepted the items she was holding for you.

"Jennifer, ma'am," she answered, even throwing a little bow in there. You couldn't help but shake your head with a smile, quickly scanning the paper before scribbling your signature over the line, turning your head to meet her gaze.

"It's nice to meet you," you told her. Your eyes were drawn to something over her shoulder like a magnet to metal, your next words getting caught in your throat when you saw her leaning against the wall, focusing intently on the person she was talking to. You handed the woman the clipboard (her name was irrelevant now, you couldn't think of anything coherent at the moment) as you walked past her like a zombie ambling toward fresh brains.

You reached Wanda, looking at the agent she was conversing with. It only took mere eye contact for the man to send you a stiff nod before immediately walking away, turning to look at her.

"What're you doing here?"

She crossed her arms over her chest, almost just as confused as you were. "I work here." The crease in between your eyebrows only deepened with more confusion. "I'm an Avenger." Even with her clarification, it didn't make it any more clear to you. You don't remember her name on the list. She must be a new recruit. "Why are you here?"

You opened your mouth to answer but were interrupted when someone stepped up to you.

"We're ready for you, Director." You looked at the older man, reading his name badge as Phil Coulson. That answered her question for you, your eyes going back to Wanda to see the raised eyebrow and tight lips.

"Director?" She looked away from you, getting herself lost in thought. "Well, that's not going to work well."

You cleared your throat, your jaw clenching tightly as you turned to the agent. "Thanks, Coulson. I'll be there in a moment."

Coulson sent you a nod and left the two of you be, turning back to Wanda. As she tried to wrap her mind around what was happening, you waited for Coulson to be completely out of earshot.

"Why didn't you tell me that you're a new Avenger?"

"Probably the same reason you didn't mention that you're the new director," she countered.

You opened your mouth on instinct to rebuttal but closed it when you realized she had a point. You groaned, running your hands down your face. This is the worst-case scenario. It would've been better if you never saw her again compared to this, though just the thought of that pulled your heartstrings. You don’t really know how to imagine never meeting her.

"You're the boss," she said, once again pulling you out of your thoughts, "aren't you supposed to at least know who the Avengers are?"

"They sent the files, but I didn't read them," you confessed. "I wanted to meet the team members face to face." You did, however, read the names on the files and she wasn't there. You said her name so many times last night, you'd definitely remember seeing it on a folder. She must've been a last-minute addition, SHIELD not having enough time before your first day to compile and send over a file. 

At the same time, would you have been able to stop yourself from approaching her at the bar? No. The way her lips formed a pout made you want to do anything to wipe that away, so you would've ignored logic and spoken to her. You still would've made her laugh. You still would've made her smile for the first time in what seemed like forever. You still would've made her moan and pant your name as your skins melded together underneath her blankets, lightly scratching her back as she made you-

"Where did you just go?" She snapped you out of your thoughts again, but this time you were a bit upset about it. Your cheeks flushed red, burning hot. The smirk on her face told you that she had an idea, but you shook your head and ignored her question. 

"You are aware that this… thing can't happen anymore, right?" As your finger bounced in between you and her, her smile expanded, tinged with a mischievous glint that hinted at something devious lurking beneath. You found yourself needing to bite your tongue harshly in hopes that the pain would distract you from the warmth igniting in your gut.

"Obviously," she assured you and you sighed with relief. Now that the two of you were on the same page, maybe now you can stop stressing out about it. You knew for certain that you wouldn't be able to hold back when it came to her, so it was nice to see that at least one of you had some self-control. Quite honestly, the only thing stopping you from dragging her to your office and feeling her right then and there was the fact that you don't exactly know where your office was located just yet.

Maybe someday…

No. The relationship between you and Wanda Maximoff could not come to be. No matter how strong the connection, how tempted you’d be, it could never come to fruition. The unfortunate reality was that your relationship with the woman standing in front of you had to end before it even began.

That thought abandoned your mind when you watched her teeth catch her bottom lip, raising an eyebrow at you seductively. Your breath caught in your throat and your thoughts immediately became a jumbled, contradicting mess. She laughed as you finally managed to utter, "You're going to get me fired, Wanda."

"Director." You didn't turn, losing yourself in her eyes. You wanted to touch her. To take her face in your hands and connect your lips right at this moment, in front of everybody. New job be damned. And the annoyance that demanded your attention cleared their throat impatiently.

You turned your head to look at the addition to your conversation to see Coulson standing there, nodding his head at Wanda, a sign for her to skedaddle.

"I'll see you later, Director," Wanda hummed as she walked away, your head turning back so you could watch her leave.

"It's been more than a moment," Coulson pointed out, forcing yourself to tear your eyes away from Wanda's retreating figure to look at him.

You blinked. "What?"

"You're late," he clarified.

Your eyes widened. "Oh, right! What are you waiting for, Coulson? Let's get a move on." You gestured for him to lead the way, patting him on the shoulder when he rolled his eyes and turned his back on you.

"It's a good thing you're getting acquainted with the Avengers," he said as you walked alongside him. "You two know each other?"

"Not at all," you stated.

He hummed thoughtfully, clearly not believing you in the least bit. "That was Wanda Maximoff. She's got magic hands."

The snort that escaped your nose was involuntary. "She does indeed." You hadn't realized you said it until Coulson stopped moving to stare at you, his eyebrows bunched together, bewildered. You cleared your throat, your back straightening as you clarified, "That's what she told me earlier. She just didn't really tell me what she meant by it." You were right, there is no longer any more doubt in your mind that she was definitely going to get you fired. "Why don't you tell me more about Maximoff?" Though phrased as a question, he knew it wasn't one.

He continued forward and you easily matched his speed, walking alongside him. "She has a long list of powers," he started. "Telekinesis, energy and mind manipulation, and she can read thoughts. I’m willing to bet there’s more, she just hasn’t unlocked them yet."

You stopped walking this time, trying hard to keep your composure. "Mind reading?" So, she definitely knew what you had been thinking about earlier. "That's… nice to know." 

Observing your reaction to the subject being discussed, he quickly decided to switch gears. “Well, she’s not the only one on the team. There are other Avengers you have yet to meet. We’ll start with…” He gestured for you to follow as he led you through a set of doors, revealing a sprawling laboratory that occupied most of the floor.

Pausing at the entrance, you watched as Tony Stark worked intently on a holographic keyboard. It was only when Coulson began walking deeper into the lab that you followed, cautiously advancing until you stood in close proximity to the brilliant inventor.

"Who's disturbing my bubble?" The hologram vanished as his fingers moved away from it, turning his head to look at you.

"New director," Coulson explained. "We're just making the rounds and you're the first stop."

"Y/N," you extended your hand towards him. His gaze shifted from your hand to your eyes and, in that moment, it became abundantly clear that he was not going to meet the handshake. You quickly withdrew your hand and let it fall to your side.

"Tony Stark, but you already knew that." He smiled at you, though it seemed a bit forced as his eyes assessed you from head to toe, sizing you up. "You're a bit young to be a director of something like SHIELD, aren't you?"

You couldn’t help but feel a surge of annoyance at his comment. Without thinking, the words slipped out before you could sensor yourself, "You're a bit old to be playing dress-up, aren't you?" As soon as your response left your mouth, you realized the potential consequences of your remark. Insulting the man who was throwing a lot of his money into this agency was not the smartest move. All it would take is a simple “adios” and you’d be out of a job.

To your surprise, Tony simply smiled widely and extended his hand toward you. Stunned, you accepted the strong handshake. “It’s refreshing to have someone bite back," he said, glancing at Coulson. "Take notes."

"Yes, sir," Coulson agreed, nodding with a forced smile. You couldn't help but grin, crossing your arms over your chest.

As Coulson gestured for you to follow him, you lingered for a moment to watch Tony go back to work, biting on a pen when he watched a small simulation of his suit taking on a battle, to which the suit loses. He huffed in exasperation, taking the pen out of his mouth and tossing it aside. It made you wonder how long he had been tirelessly working on this project.

"I know someone who specializes in nanotech if that's something you're interested in," you confidently suggested, capturing the billionaire's attention. Ignoring Coulson’s constant attempts to guide you away, you continued, "I can introduce you to her if you'd like."

A spark of curiosity ignited in Tony’s eyes as he reached for the pen he had just thrown, handing it to you along with a scrap of paper. With a grin, you swiftly scribbled down the specialist’s name, eager to offer a valuable connection. Tony glanced at Coulson with piqued interest, “Where’d you find this one?”

“She found us, sir,” Coulson replied, monotonously, before subtly guiding you out of the lab with a hand on your back. "The rest of the team would be a lot easier to please."

"I'm not looking to please them." Well, not all of them, at least. There was one person you found yourself wanting to please more than most. She did things to you that you just can't ignore. "My job is to lead them. I'm not here to make friends." Or lovers, but you refrained from adding that.

"Nice to know," he stated, leading the way into the training room. "Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff, meet your new director."

The pair, entangled in a fierce sparring session, paused and separated as Coulson made the introduction. It was evident that they were skilled fighters, evenly matched and fully engrossed in their training. Or they were just taking it easy. Friends normally don’t beat the shit out of each other just for fun. You shook their hands.

“Directors usually don’t properly introduce themselves,” Clint remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice as he rested his hands on his hips with a heavy breath. “They just read our files and assume they know us.”

“They sent the files, but I didn’t bother with them,” you confessed, shrugging loosely. “Bonds grow stronger when everybody’s on the same page, not reading personnel off of a piece of paper.” Glancing at Coulson, you added, “I’m making this guy walk me around the building to introduce me to the team face-to-face.”

Natasha raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile playing on her lips as her arms folded over her chest. “Did you meet Steve yet?” Coulson fidgeted for a moment beside you, and one of your brows quirked up with interest at the sound of her teasing tone.

“I’m sure he’s next,” you replied, a faint smirk lifting a corner of your mouth when the redhead’s smile only grew wider. “I’m sensing an inside joke here.”

“Coulson is a bit of a fan of Rogers,” she explained.

“I have all his trading cards,” Coulson interjected, cutting the conversation off before it went much further. “We should get to it.”

“Can’t wait to see him, huh?” she joked, her grin turning sly as she stepped back. While they returned to their sparring, you and Coulson made your way out of the room.

“All of his trading cards?” you asked. “Do you have them laminated?”

“Each and every one of them,” he confirmed, and you could sense the pride hiding in his words.

He led you into the war room, where Steve Rogers stood, engrossed in a discussion with other agents about an ongoing mission. As the two of you entered, the captain’s attention shifted, and he straightened up, displaying his characteristic posture.

“Captain Rogers, this is Y/N, the new director,” Coulson announced, adopting a more professional demeanor in front of the patriotic hero. Natasha’s description of him being a fan seemed under-exaggerated, but maybe that was the point. You’re relieved to see that the team wasn’t all as serious as Coulson here.

“Good morning, ma’am,” Steve greeted respectfully, offering a small nod from his position across the table.

You pressed your lips together, a mischievous grin forming as his eyes traveled up and down your figure. “I know you all think I have big shoes to fill,” you began, acknowledging the weight of the previous director’s legacy. “Nick Fury was one of the best, but I’m here to bring about change. I’m not looking to repeat history.”

“I can respect that,” Steve commented, crossing his arms over his chest. A slight smile tugged at his lips, and you could feel Coulson’s subtle restlessness next to you. He was clearly worried you might embarrass him.

“What’s your current mission?” you asked, leaving Coulson’s side to join Steve at the table, studying the scattered papers.

“We’re dealing with drug dealers hijacking ambulances for narcotics,” he explained, arranging the papers to give you a better view. 

You looked up at him, a hint of surprise on your face. "I didn't expect a big-time Avenger to be doing a simple drug bust," you commented.

"You’re not the only one around here looking to make changes," he said. 

You grinned. "I can respect that."

Coulson cleared his throat and you both looked over him. "If you'll excuse us, Captain. We have a busy day ahead.”

"Of course," Steve said. "It was a pleasure meeting you."

"As you, Cap." You accepted his hand when he offered it over the table, giving a strong, brief handshake before releasing you. You walked behind Coulson as you left the room, grinning widely as you moved to his side. As soon as you were clear from Steve's earshot, you spoke. "You're jealous." It wasn't a question, and Coulson didn't show any expression in the statement. What did it take to coax a genuine smile out of this stoic guy?

"Thor is off-world dealing with some other stuff," Coulson said, ultimately ignoring your comment. “Banner has been MIA since the incident in Sokovia. And, since you’re already acquainted with Maximoff, I’ll show you to your office.”

Your heart fluttered at her name, immediately looking away from him to hide the faded blush forming on your cheeks. Why did her name make you feel this way? You had just only met her last night, so there weren't any long-time feelings between the two of you. But just thinking about her is taking away your ability to breathe. You didn’t struggle to follow your tour guide, but you did have trouble straightening your mind. You had hoped these introductions would last longer, giving you more time to avoid having to deal with everything. But without any distractions, you were forced to succumb to the realization that Wanda Maximoff was going to be in your life for as long as you were the director.

"Here." You released a deep sigh when Coulson finally stopped to gesture towards a door, giving you the distraction you needed to catch your breath. “This is your office.” You released a puff of air at the closed door, your name engraved on a plate nailed in place. You couldn’t let the emotions get to you - not in front of Coulson, at least - but this seemed to have made your title a lot more official. “The door’s unlocked.” If you didn’t know any better, that was a passive way of rushing you. “We also left you a little treat as a welcome present.”

Your hand pressed down on the handle, pushing slowly against the door with the agent right on your heels, and you managed to look up just in time to see something in your office that was most definitely not Coulson’s “little treat.” You quickly backed out of the room, bringing the door with you as you turned to face him. A nervous laugh nearly crawled out of your throat, but you managed to swallow it just in time. “I’m pretty sure I can handle this part on my own, Coulson.” The man didn’t argue with you, shrugging and walking away without another word as you slipped into your office. “What are you doing?”

“This isn’t the kitchen?” Wanda sat at your chair, not even bothering a glance in your direction as she casually ate what looked like a croissant (most likely the treat Coulson was referring to). You huffed, glancing over your shoulder as you made your way to the desk. Finally, she looked toward you, a smirk tugging a corner of her lips. “I could’ve sworn it was…”

With every step you took, your heart raced harder and faster. You couldn’t deny the intense attraction you felt towards the woman occupying your desk, even though it seemed so sudden and unexpected. She leaned back in your chair, crossing her legs and taking another bite of the croissant, slow and drawn out as she maintained eye contact with you. You couldn’t help but notice how the crumbs fell onto her lap, biting the inside of your cheek rather harshly as your breathing hitched in your throat.

“Is there something you need, Agent Maximoff?”

She quirked an eyebrow at you, though that smirk still lingered on her lips as she hummed thoughtfully before saying, “Agent Maximoff?”

You cleared your throat, trying to regain your composure. “That’s your name, isn’t it?” you replied.

“It is,” she answered, shrugging as she added, “but it’s a much different turn from what you were calling me last night.”

Her words hit you with surprising calmness, as if she were merely commenting on the weather. You struggled to hide the impact they had on you, the way they made your stomach twist and turn in a way that would make a professional dancer jealous. You had a job to do, and engaging in whatever this was with one of your employees was definitely not part of the job description.

You took a deep, steadying breath and reminded yourself of the boundaries that needed to be maintained. This was the type of position people would kill for (literally) and you didn’t want to blow it away by fraternizing. No matter how tempting the allure of a forbidden connection might be, you had to separate yourself from the matter. “I apologize if I gave you the wrong impression,” you expressed, your voice composed but firm. “Our interactions last night were outside the scope of our professional relationship. Neither you nor myself could’ve predicted this kind of… predicament. As of now, we need to focus on our respective roles within SHIELD.”

Wanda’s smirk faded slightly, and she leaned back in the chair. “Is that what you want?” she questioned, her tone holding a hint of defiance. “To just pretend like it never happened?”

You met her gaze - the way her eyes were soft nearly made you take back everything you had just said - but you maintained confidence in the matter, your expression determined to just rip this Band-Aid off and toss it in the garbage. “We have to be realistic, Agent Maximoff. We can not carry a personal relationship. It’s for the best if we maintain a professional distance moving forward.”

She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly, and a flicker of disappointment passed through her eyes. “I understand,” she said quietly. She stood up, popping the rest of the croissant into her mouth, chewing it thoughtfully. “You want to carry on like strangers.” A friendly smile lifted her lips, and you could feel a tug against your heart at the sudden loss of warmth.

You nodded, standing your ground. “It’s the right thing to do,” you affirmed, but your voice wavered slightly as you cleared your throat. As you spoke, you couldn’t help but notice how slowly Wanda was approaching you, as if she were a lioness hunting a gazelle. Panic fluttered in your chest, causing you to take a small step back. You made the mistake of meeting her intense, dangerously hungry green eyes. “I’m the Director, you’re an Avenger,” you stammered, your confidence suddenly faltering. The realization of the inappropriate proximity between the two of you struck you like lightning as the back of your legs bumped into a couch you didn’t bother to notice when entering the office, stepping to the side so your back hit the wall behind you instead. Wanda was now mere inches away, her presence enveloping you. Panic and desire wrestled within you, making it hard to form coherent thoughts. “I’m your boss. We…” You trailed off, a sharp breath catching in your constricted throat.

At that moment, Wanda’s grin transformed into a wicked smirk, her eyes seemingly penetrating your very soul. The air between you crackled with tension, and you could feel the heat radiating from her body, or perhaps it was the fire building up behind your flushed cheeks.

You were torn between the weight of responsibility and the magnetic pull of desire. The line between professional boundaries and personal longing blurred as the intensity of the moment consumed you both. The electric pressure hung in the air, captivating you and her in a web of conflicting emotions. Time seemed to slow down as you battled with the overwhelming desire and the consequences of succumbing to it.

“We can’t…” you managed to utter, your voice barely above a whisper, the words feeling feeble against the mounting temptation. Every fiber of your being yearned to give in, to explore the forbidden depths of this connection with Wanda. But the weight of your position as her superior, the potential repercussions, and the need to maintain professionalism weighed heavily on your conscience.

Wanda’s smirk only grew more wicked, her eyes gleaming with mischief and raw hunger. She leaned in closer, her breath brushing across your lips as she whispered, her tone dripping with seduction, “Who says we can’t? Sometimes rules are meant to be broken.”

Your heart pounded in your chest, torn between reason and desire. You could feel the fire burning within you overwhelming any remnants of restraint. With a surge of courage, you closed the gap between you, surrendering to the intoxicating pull of her presence. The world around you faded away as your lips met in a fiery embrace, unleashing a torrent of passion that had been brewing beneath the surface. Walls crumbled, and the pressure of responsibility melted away as you both embraced that forbidden desire that had blossomed between you. In that stolen moment, you chose to abandon caution and surrender to the allure of a love that defied expectations. 

Wanda didn’t hesitate to return the kiss, making it more intense, more fervent. You were ultimately pinned against the wall by her body when she moved to get closer to you, feeling the tip of her tongue swipe your bottom lip, silently asking for permission, and she swallowed your moan when you granted it. Her hands gripped your hips to tug you flush into her, sparking a burning sensation in your core, and it only seemed to get hotter when her fingers danced up your body, slipping under your shirt to surf the smooth skin of your curves.

You pulled away breathlessly, your head falling back to the wall as her lips landed on your neck with no mercy, licking and sucking any spot she could touch. You attempted to say her name, to bring these overwhelming feelings to an end, but the only sound you could produce was a groan when her nails dug into you to leave crescent-shaped imprints on your shoulder blades. 

“You’re not doing a very good job at keeping things professional, Director,” she whispered, her lips suddenly brushing against your earlobe. She laughed, and your stomach tightened at the breathy sound so close to your ears. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were enjoying what I’m doing to you.” You gasped when her knee squeezed itself between your legs, pressing against you in a way that nearly had you whimpering. “I love the sounds you make for me, Y/N.”

“W- Wanda,” you whispered. “Ple…”

“That’s it, baby,” she breathed, laughing gently as she pulled away slightly to meet your gaze. Her eyes were dark with desire, hooded by a smoldering intensity that mirrored your own. “Tell me what you want.” She smirked, thoroughly enjoying this moment. “Do you want this?” She picked her knee up higher, pressing into you harder, causing your body to jerk forward at the feeling of her touch. Everything inside of you burned painfully, desperately. One of her hands descended across your spine, bringing it around to drag a finger down your gut until it reached the hem of your pants. Chills covered your arms when you felt her dive in without a second thought, an inhuman sound getting caught in your throat. The wide smile crawling on her face told you she found exactly what you wanted.

The sound of a knock on the door shattered the fragile bubble of intimacy that had enveloped you and Wanda. Time seemed to slow down as she moved away from you, your hearts pounding in sync. The handle turned, and your chest tightened with a surge of panic, fearing that your secret would be exposed.

With a casual nonchalance, Wanda stepped aside, effortlessly transitioning into a composed state. She sauntered over to the couch you had already forgotten about, settling herself as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, you seemed to struggle to regain your composure, attempting to mask any signs of the passionate encounter that had just taken place.

The interrupter entered the room without a second knock, Phil Coulson pausing at the door when his eyes landed on Wanda before they flickered to you. He cleared his throat, crossing his hands in front of him as he said, “Am I interrupting something?”

“Just a meeting, Coulson,” you claimed confidently, fully collected at the sight of your deputy, raising an eyebrow at him as you folded your arms over your chest. “We just finished.”

“Not really,” Wanda countered, and you didn’t need to look at her to know there was a teasing smirk faintly tugging a corner of her lips, “but I’m more than willing to wait to thoroughly finish later on, Director.” You managed to fight the shivers that rode your body, but the chills that erupted across your spine were a different story. You wondered if Coulson could hear the way she calls you Director, or if it was all in your head. She stepped into your field of vision when she made her way toward the door, giving Coulson a happy smile as she rested her hand on the door handle. She looked at you over her shoulder, and you could feel your cheeks flush when you saw the darkened look in her eyes.

The door seemed to echo when she closed it behind her, sealing you and Coulson in the room. His words cut through the lingering tension, bringing your attention back to him. “I apologize for interrupting, ma'am,” he began, his voice laced with urgency, “but we have a bit of an emergency.” He stepped closer, holding a tablet that illuminated with an image on the screen. “It seems that Thor’s notorious brother, Loki, has returned to Earth.”

The weight of the situation settled upon you, dispelling the remnants of desire and reminding you of your responsibilities as a leader.  As Coulson played the video, you watched a seemingly ordinary scene: Loki calmly walking down a sidewalk. It felt odd to watch. Loki’s presence seemed to always bring a catalyst for chaos and destruction, so you find it difficult to believe that his return could just be taking a stroll, enjoying the sunshine.

Coulson’s gaze met yours, and you could see the faint colors of concern clouding his eyes. “We need to assess the situation and determine his intentions,” he expressed. “While it may seem inconspicuous now, we can’t underestimate the threat he poses.” The memory of Loki’s previous misdeeds lingered in your mind, a vivid reminder of the destruction he had wrought. It was clear that immediate action was necessary to prevent another catastrophe.

“I don’t want to waste time waiting for him to make a move,” you declared, your arms crossing firmly over your chest. Your gaze shifted back to the tablet, a sense of urgency seemingly squeezing your heart. “Loki didn’t return just to enjoy the scenery. Bring him in.”

Coulson nodded, tucking the tablet under his arm. “I’ll mobilize our resources and initiate the necessary protocols,” he affirmed, determination steeling his expression. “We’ll do everything in our power to locate and apprehend Loki swiftly.”

You strode purposefully past him, making your way to your desk. With a swift motion, you brushed away the loose croissant crumbs from the chair before settling down. As you took your seat, your voice carried an air of authority, “I trust you understand the importance of conducting this mission covertly.” Your attention moved away from the man standing in front of the door to one of the papers resting on the surface of your desk. “We cannot afford to have the public become aware of Loki’s presence, not after the chaos that ensued during his previous visit to our planet.”

He nodded in agreement. “I will assemble a team that can operate discreetly,” he replied.

“Make sure Maximoff is included in the roster,” you stated unequivocally, your voice firm and decisive as you reached for a pen.

Coulson hesitated, stepping forward to stand on the opposite side of your desk. He cleared his throat, attempting to voice his concerns, but you were quick to shut him down, “She may be fresh, but, from what you’ve told me about her, her powers have the potential to match Loki’s.” Your eyes locked onto his, and the next words that came from your mouth held a hint of a challenge. “Did you mislead me about her abilities, Deputy Coulson?”

His head shook vigorously. “No, ma'am,” he responded quickly, his tone filled with conviction.

“Then what seems to be the problem?” you pressed, a brow arching with curiosity.

He squirmed under your scrutinizing gaze, his discomfort palpable. “She hasn’t fully gained the trust of the others,” he claimed. 

A smile played at the corners of your lips as you leaned back in your chair, assessing Coulson intently while tapping the tip of the pen against your palm. “This mission presents the perfect opportunity for her to earn that trust,” you countered. “I don’t recall my orders being up for debate.”

“Understood, Director,” he responded, resolved. You could see the way his jaw tightened in irritation, but you chose to overlook it as he added, “Agent Maximoff will be included in the mission.” You nodded, acknowledging his commitment, and watched as he walked away, disappearing through the closing door.

As soon as the door clicked shut, you released a heavy sigh, feeling the full weight of being director bearing down on you. Exhaustion crept through your body, and you sank deeper into your chair, running a hand over your face in an attempt to dispel some of the weariness that had settled upon you. You tossed your pen back onto the desk when a realization dawned on you…

Today was just day one.

[imnotasuperhero]

Drabble nºX (set somewhere in the beginning of SB) -W.M

Wanda Maximoff x Reader.

Summary: After almost two years away from the life you had built, you returned to your hometown at your parents' request. But what happens when one Wanda Maximoff is involved in the family retreat?

Or, a quick drabble for day 5 of Promptober that I was forced (by my muses) to set in my ongoing baker!Wanda AU.

-

The autumnal season has arrived with a ton shit of emotions you weren't ready to unpack. Not because they were too difficult to decipher or anything… but because you had to endure the whole weekend at your family's cabin in the mountains with no other than your ex.

You see, time ago you were considered the couple of the year among your friends and family. With all the love and secrecy only two souls linked together were available to share, it was no brainer that you and Wanda would be together forever. But as time passed, the love you had created started to die little by little as the routine had gotten in between you two, making it harder to fight, no matter how hard you tried to put the extra part in the relationship.

"Change that face or you'll have wrinkles before you're forty," your dad had spoken, bringing you back to the present.

"Sorry," you sipped on your hot cocoa.

"What's happening in that head of yours?" The big man leaned over the island separating you both, with his brown eyes inspecting you. For a moment you considered lying, but then you'd have to face the never-ending interrogation that was bound to happen, knowing your dad's insistence.

But before you could answer, her energy gravitated towards you once again, like a warm blanket on a cold day.

"Morning," Wanda walked toward the cabinets, focused on making herself her morning tea, oblivious to the tumultuous thoughts.

"Morning," you greeted her, ignoring the burning itch in your body under your dad's look. You could feel his knowing smirk without looking at him.

Torn between the feeling of gratitude to Wanda for having saved you from your dad's inquisitions and the way the peace in your soul seemed to flicker whenever she was around you, the morning had left you with a bittersweet taste. The memories of a better time and endless comfort had set camp in your heart, making it impossible for you to be at ease in this cabin that held so many events. Each one of them was as vivid as if it were happening all over again. But despite the lesson you've learned about boundaries and applying as much of your no-contact rule from the things that interfered with your inner calm, you hadn't in you to refuse your parents' invitation to retreat to the mountains together, with the excuse to discuss some family business than involved you and Wanda, and by extension, Pietro.

Ruffling the small mountain of leaves that had started to fall, you prayed to the Universe to give you the strength needed to bear these next 48 hours.

Taglist: @wandabear @red1culous @xxxtwilightaxelxxx @when-wolves-howl @sunsol-22 @romanoffomixam @casquinhaa @fxckmiup @snowtrova (if you wanna be added to the Promptober days or in my fics in general, let me know)

[jedi-luca]

Because of you I’ve fallen into a glee hole. NOW IM READING A QUINNXREADER STORY WHILE I WAIT FOR YOUR NEW ONE AND REWATCHING ALL OF GLEE. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?!?!?!?!?

Oohhh nooo @romanoffomixam I’m so sorry you are putting yourself through that! Lol I’ll write like the wind and save you from the heartache that is glee 😝

[writingintheshadowsforever]

Imagine being Natasha's daughter and time traveling to the past by accident

"Billy a escape plan would be nice right now. You yelled at your teammate knocking a demon away with your staff. Three more replaced it though backing you into a tree.

"Why do I always have to come up with the escape plans." Billy complained firing off some energy blasts at the demons surrounding him.

"Because you're a wizard can't you teleport?" You cried blocking the demon trying to bite you. The momentum of the attack knocking you to the ground. "Billy come on."

The desperation in your voice made him turn around. He didn't realize just how bad the situation was especially for someone who didn't have his magical capabilities. "That power is new I can't control it yet." He pointed out flying over to help you. Using his telekinesis Billy pulled the demon off of you, and sent it crashing into the other one.

"Well use a spell or something I don't care what you do just get us out of here. We're outnumbered and while I'm usually more confident I'm feeling pretty outgunned here." You told him climbing to your feet.

Billy pulled out a the pocket-sized spell book Dr.Strange gifted him for his birthday, and started flipping through it. You stood guard in front of him swinging your staff around in a wide circle to keep the demons at bay. Eventually one of them got a pretty good hold on it, and snatched it away. You let out a yelp reaching for your gun, but before you could prepare for the last stand. Billy wrapped around your waist pulling you to him. His eyes were closed and he was chanting a spell as fast as he could.

The wind started to pick up, and blue energy was swirling around the the two of you creating a barrier. "Billy what exactly does this spell do?" You asked a little freaked out.

"I don't really know but it is a transportation spell" He answered back. Once he was done chanting, and the blue energy started to enclose on both of you. He tightened his hold on you as the energy grew so bright it blinded him, and then it was over.

You opened your eyes to take in your new surroundings. The spell had teleported the two of you to a familiar looking room. It was definitely a base of some kind but it didn't belong to the Young Avengers.

"Hey this looks like the-" Billy started staring in awe

"The original Avengers tower" You finished for him turning around just as a door opened, revealing two Avengers.

"That's because it is and we don't take kindly to random strangers just popping in." Natasha said training her gun on both of you.

"Dude it's Black Widow and Captain America like alive and young." Billy exclaimed grabbing your shoulder in excitement despite the seriousness of the situation.

"So you know who we are that's not really comforting" Steve said in confusion. His arms were crossed but other than that his shield stayed on his back.

You didn't share any of Billy's excitement instead all of your attention was focused on Natasha. Your mother the last time you saw her she had left you behind with Pepper to go save the world. You were twelve years old when she kissed you on the forehead promising to return to you. But she sacrificed herself breaking her promise, and leaving you alone.

"That must have been a time traveling spell y/n we're so screwed." Billy was shaking your shoulders now trying to get you to say something.

Him calling you by your name didn't go unnoticed. Natasha's eyes snapped towards you to really take your looks in, and the gun in her hand clattered to the floor. Once she realized it really was you her daughter from the future. "Y/N how is this possible?"

"Billy" You spoke up for the first time trying to not to cry.

"Yeah?"

"We need to get the hell out of here" You choked out.

Taglist: @wandanatvoid @yelenabelovasgf @romanoffomixam @xxromanoffxx @xxxtwilightaxelxxx @mellowladyangel @musicinourlips @shayzulia @cyberbonesworld

[ginnsbaker]

PLEASE NO. IM DONE WITH THE ANGER THAT TURNS TO HURT. WHY?!?!?

People wanted to read this and I wanted a writing exercise so... :/ sorry sorry sorry

[ginnsbaker]

I’m so scared to read your new story. I don’t know if I’m ready to be hurt again

you'll be angry more than hurt i think

[thenatashamaximoff]

Whispers In The Dark; Ch. 2

Summary: When a casual one-night stand develops into a deeper, forbidden love, you and Wanda try to keep your relationship a secret as you navigate the challenges of balancing your growing emotions with the fear of being caught.

Pairing: Wanda x Reader

Warnings: 18+ (nsfw), mentions of death

Words: 6,174

✎ | ❁

┌─────────────ᗢ─────────────┐ @diaryoflife​ @women-am-i-right​ @creatively-analytical​ @obsessed-with-wandamaximoff @beforeoursecrets​ @iliketozoneout​ @olsensnpm​ @hoefnagel521 @chasingmaximoff  └─────────────ᗢ─────────────┘ ┌─────────────∞─────────────┐ @myfavoriteficss @pinkytoecrust @cyncity32 @romanoffomixam @peachbear88 @magicallymaximoff @therealmeari @peggycarter-steverogers @ba-romanoff @natashabelovas @morbid-gaymer @reminiscingtonight @when-wolves-howl @idontknownemore​ @natashasilverfox @sayah13 @fuxk182 @scarletwitchofthewilds @natashamaximoff69 @wuwu96 @jsonebraincell​ @whendarknessturns​ @marvel4liferz @red1culous​  └─────────────∞─────────────┘

“Yes, sir.” You seemed to have stopped listening for a while now. You weren’t sure what he had said. The words had jumbled in your mind, making it difficult to comprehend the meaning behind them. You wondered if you had even articulated your response clearly, or if it had come out as unintelligible gibberish. It was as if the random noise in the back of your throat had escaped, mimicking speech without conveying any coherent message.

On the desk in front of you, Alexander Pierce’s face appeared on the computer screen. As your boss and the higher authority within the organization, his presence demanded attention and respect. Yet… you were struggling to do just that. For what was probably the gazillionth time in the span of twenty minutes, your eyes slowly shifted away from the virtual meeting to land on the folder resting amidst the scattered papers that littered the desk’s surface. Wanda Maximoff’s name was emblazoned in bold, black ink on the tab, enticing your curiosity. It seemed that the comprehensive dossier on her had arrived just before this unexpected meeting commenced. You hadn’t had a chance to explore its contents, as other pressing matters took precedence. 

You had hoped that it would’ve faded into the recesses of your mind, much like the other neglected folders resting amidst the sea of unpacked boxes in your apartment. Yet, its persistent presence refused to be ignored, exerting what felt like a gravitational pull on your thoughts, compelling you to explore its hidden contents.

The allure of the folder became too enticing to resist any longer. With a mix of curiosity and trepidation, you reached out… but the moment your fingers grazed it, you were snapped back to attention by the mere sound of her name rolling off of Alexander Pierce’s tongue. “It has come to my attention that you sent Wanda Maximoff on a highly sensitive operation this morning.”

“Yes, sir.” The fog that had clouded your thoughts began to dissipate, replaced by a renewed sense of alertness. You recalled the mission you had assigned her earlier, a covert operation of significant importance. “The assignment involved retrieving Loki Laufeyson, Thor’s brother,” you explained, making sure your words were clear and coherent this time. “Agent Maximoff’s unique abilities made her a valuable asset for the task. As far as I’m concerned, she executed it with precision and achieved the objective successfully. The man in question is sitting in one of our… rigged capsules.”

Pierce’s scrutinizing gaze remained fixed on you, his expression unreadable. “I hope you understand the gravity of the situation, Director,” he stated sternly. “Not only are Maximoff’s powers still relatively unknown and untested, but she also has a past that makes it difficult to trust her. We cannot afford any mishaps or breaches in security.”

You maintained a composed demeanor, acknowledging the seriousness of Pierce’s concerns. “I understand the gravity of the situation, sir,” you assured in a steady voice. “While Agent Maximoff’s powers may be unfamiliar to us, she has demonstrated her loyalty and commitment to the mission. Her past may raise questions, but she has been thoroughly vetted and deemed fit for the task.”

Pierce’s expression remained wary, but a hint of curiosity flickered in his eyes. “Vetting can only provide limited assurances,” he cautioned. “We must tread carefully when dealing with individuals of such complex backgrounds. Their loyalties can… shift unpredictably.” His eyes were guarded behind a steely look as his words hung in the air, underscoring the delicate nature of the situation and the potential risks involved.

You met his gaze head-on, unyielding in your resolve as a determined spark ignited within you. “I’m well aware of the risks, sir,” you responded firmly, your tone brimming with conviction. “Agent Maximoff’s past may be complicated, but her actions thus far have shown dedication and commitment. She successfully apprehended Loki under the radar. I entrusted her with a mission, and she exceeded all expectations.” Leaning forward, you rested your elbows against the top of the desk, emphasizing your earnestness. “I understand the need for caution, sir, but how can we expect someone to earn trust if they’re never given the opportunity?”

You could’ve sworn you caught Pierce’s expression softening, but he was quick to catch it, steeling himself once more. “You have an optimistic view of her,” he remarked, though his wariness remained visible in his tone. “Just ensure that your optimism doesn’t blind you to potential threats. Keep a close eye on her, Director.”

“I will exercise vigilance, sir,” you assured him. “The safety and integrity of this organization are my utmost priorities. We will monitor her closely and act accordingly should any concerns arise.” As you spoke, your attention was momentarily captured by the sound of your office door swinging open and then closing. Your heart quickened its pace when you watched Wanda confidently stride into the room, maintaining eye contact over the top of the laptop while sitting against the arm of the couch, a subtle smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. The intense energy between you was palpable, and you couldn’t help but feel a surge of anticipation.

Pierce’s voice brought you back to the present, jolting you out of the spell Wanda’s presence had cast. “Very well, Director,” he acknowledged, his tone authoritative. “I trust your ability to handle this matter with the necessary caution. Keep me informed of any significant developments.”

You nodded in response, slightly struggling to keep your voice steady and determined, “Yes, sir.”

With those parting words, the screen flickered and Pierce’s presence dissipated, ultimately allowing you to turn your gaze back to Wanda, who was still resting against the couch, a small, enigmatic smile playing on her lips. You closed the laptop slowly, deliberately, allowing yourself a moment to collect your thoughts. The room seemed to buzz with an electric charge, and the intensity of the connection between you and Wanda lingered in the air. 

No matter how hard you tried, no matter how much you knew you had to… you couldn’t deny the magnetic pull between the two of you.

“I wasn’t aware I had an open-door policy, Miss Maximoff,” you remarked. As you casually adjusted your position, leaning back in your chair, your arm subtly slid across the desk with your movement, purposefully disrupting the already-scattered pile of papers to conceal the folder containing her dossier.

She chuckled softly, lowly, yet you heard it all too well. “Well, Director, I couldn’t resist the temptation to see you in action,” she replied, her voice carrying a teasing undertone.

A playful spark seemed to ignite within you, and you found yourself leaning forward just as she was slowly moving to stand. “Is that so?” you retorted, a glimmer of excitement unwillingly dancing in your eyes. “Perhaps I should enforce stricter rules then.”

Wanda’s smirk grew more pronounced, and she began closing the distance between you with calculated steps. “Or maybe,” she offered, her voice low and suggestive, “we can find another way to bend them just a little.”

Your eyes darted to the laptop, remnants of the video call with Alexander Pierce slipping into your mind. The weight of your responsibilities bore down on you, reminding you of the delicate balance you had to maintain within the organization. The lines between professional conduct and personal inclinations blurred in the presence of Wanda Maximoff.

The air crackled with suspense as she rounded the desk, pushing against the top of your chair until you were fully facing her. Once again, the weight of responsibility is completely forgotten. Your jaw dropped open, a word on the tip of your tongue, yet no sounds could be heard when Wanda gently lowered herself onto you, straddling your lap as her fingers gripped the back of your neck. Your movements were automatic, your hands resting on her hips as you seemed to have trouble looking away from her emerald irises. 

“Wanda…” You were trying to say her name with authority, trying to warn her that she shouldn’t be doing this, but your body sold you out. Instead, you said her name wanton, as if you were begging for more because, fight as hard as you can, Y/N, you did want more.

And her low, breathy chuckle told you she knew that, too. “I told you,” she whispered, bending slightly so her lips brushed your ear. “I was more than willing to wait to finish thoroughly.” She took your earlobe in between her teeth just as she drove her hips against you, pulling a gasp from your throat while your stomach twisted like a coil.

Your grip on her waist tightened with need, and you gave in to the feeling pushing against you. With one quick maneuver, your lips were pressed into hers, swallowing her moans as your hands guided her rutting. Your insides throbbed with desire, your fingers danced up her shirt as she took over her own motions, and the way she moaned your name into your ear had you gasping. You turned in the chair, Wanda bracing herself against the desk behind her, and the movement seemed to brush some of the scattered papers off of your desk and to the floor.

“Touch me, Y/N,” she whispered, panted, begged. It sent shivers up your spine.

You obliged, allowing the tips of your fingers to ride the supple surface of her abdomen until they reached the hem of her bra. The skin under the garment was warm, and she was groaning the moment your touch skirted over the area she desired to be touched the most. Her chin tilted back as you leaned forward, exposing her neck to give you more access as your lips brushed across it like a feather. 

“Wanda, I’m…” Your words trailed off as a sudden clap of thunder reverberated through the air, jolting you back to reality. The sound seemed to echo in your ears, its intensity leaving you slightly unnerved, yet Wanda appeared unfazed by the disturbance. The moment you pulled back, she pushed forward, pressing her lips to the soft skin just underneath your jaw. It was like flipping a switch, plunging back into the captivating allure of Wanda’s touches and the sensations they bring. However, reality wasn’t going to let go of you that easily, reclaiming its hold as a series of sharp and loud knocks resounded throughout the room.

Unlike earlier, Wanda wasn’t as willing to part ways this time. She released a deep, irritated breath as she swiftly climbed off your lap mere moments before the door opened. A woman popped her head into the room, her eyes bouncing back and forth between you and Wanda for a moment before finally settling on you. She looked familiar, her name making an uncomfortable itch appear in the back of your mind as she fully entered the room.

“Ma’am,” her voice broke through the hazy enchantment, serving as a reminder of the woman’s identity. You recalled her from earlier in the day, realizing that she had requested your signature for… something, yet her name seemed to elude your memory. “There’s an urgent matter that requires your immediate attention.”

You pressed your lips together, scratching the back of your neck before you moved to stand up. Now that Wanda’s body wasn’t pumping adrenaline through you, exhaustion seems to be sneaking up on you pretty quickly. It was evident in your eyes, but your movements didn’t lack confidence as you followed the woman (whose name you can’t remember for some awful reason).

As she guided you down the corridors of the compound, the clamor of raised voices grew louder. Surely this was the urgent matter the woman had mentioned.

Rounding the corner, a scene unfolded before you - a swarm of SHIELD agents surrounding a central figure, their attention fixated on the source of the commotion. It was none other than Thor Odinson, radiating an unmistakable aura of anger and frustration at the heart of the gathering.

“I demand for my brother to be released at once!” he commanded, his furrowed brows displaying deep frustration and determination. His body turned, eyes searching the growing crowd, seeking an authoritative figure. “Loki belongs in the prisons of Asgard, not held captive in some mere human penitentiary! Show me to him!”

“That’s not happening,” you declared, the sea of agents parting at the sound of your voice. It was instant that Thor’s piercing blue eyes snapped onto you, eyeing the way you stood as tall as you could with your hands gripping your hips, projecting an air of superiority. “Your brother stands accused of grave crimes against humanity. He is required by law to face consequences, whether or not he is a god or the adopted brother of one.”

“And he shall see to those consequences on Asgard.”

“He didn’t seem to last very long in your prison,” you countered, your arms firmly crossing over your chest as you held your ground. The tension in the hall thickened as your words hung in the air “Considering he’s here and not there, did he get early release for good behavior?” Thor’s eyes narrowed, his gaze intensifying, while faint chuckles floated from the onlookers. Your focus remained on his intimidating presence. The soft laughter ceased just as quickly as it came to be, swallowed by the weight of the situation when he took a small yet heavy step forward, his expression becoming sterner.

“Where’s Fury?” Thor’s voice was laced with a mix of suspicion and urgency. The mention of the former director’s absence seemed to ignite a spark of concern within him.

You cleared your throat, your tone unwavering as you met Thor’s fiery gaze. “He’s no longer with us. Unfortunately for you, Mr. Odinson, that puts me in charge.” Authority floated around you as you stepped forward with confidence despite the anger displayed on his face. “Loki stays here.”

The area grew quiet, the anticipation hanging thick in the air. All eyes were fixed upon the clash of wills between you and Thor, the atmosphere crackled with tension as the two of you stood locked in a silent battle of determination. The fate of Loki hung in the balance, and it was clear that both of you were determined to defend your respective positions.

“Loki is my brother. My responsibility,” Thor announced, his voice growing deeper and more forceful. “I’m not leaving until he is at my side, and anyone who stands in my way will face their own consequences.” The agents in the room exchanged uneasy glances, recognizing the potential for conflict that loomed before them. Some even slowly moved their hands to rest on their sidearms, and you could feel your stomach twisting tautly with nerves. Hopefully, it doesn’t come down to that.

You took a deep breath, steeling yourself against the mounting pressure. It was clear that Thor’s determination had escalated, and finding a peaceful resolution would be an uphill battle. But you couldn’t allow the situation to escalate into violence or compromise the safety of those nearby. “I understand the bond you share with Loki, Mr. Odinson,” you finally said, your tone steady despite the growing tension, “but we cannot allow personal attachments to undermine our duty and the security of innocent lives. We must consider the results of releasing Loki into an environment where he has proven to be a threat.”

Your decision was met with an intense gaze, his grip on Mjolnir tightening, sparks of electricity crackling around him. The crowd held its breath, awaiting his next move.

“Stand aside,” Thor growled, his voice filled with anger and resolve, “or face the full fury of a god.”

Your heart raced rapidly, beating against your chest as he seemed to stand taller before you, but you stood your ground, refusing to be intimidated. “Violence is not the answer.” You lifted a hand in an attempt to calm him down as you added, “We must find a way to resolve this without causing harm to anyone.”

The air seemed to tremble with the unspoken clash between the two of you. The agents watched on, their loyalty divided between their duty and the power emanating from Thor. At that moment, you realized that finding a compromise would be even more challenging than anticipated. The fate of Loki, the security of the organization, and the potential for a confrontation hung in the balance, awaiting a resolution that could satisfy both duty and familial bonds.

Heavy silence suffocated you as Thor’s gaze bore through you, his muscles tensed and ready for action. It wasn’t a debate anymore, it was a standoff. A battle of wills that threatened to tip over into chaos. The weight of the decision rested upon your shoulders, and the outcome would shape the course of events to come.

It was a moment of unexpected intervention. As Thor attempted to wield his hammer, a surge of red energy surrounded his wrist, hindering his progress. His mighty strength rendered ineffective against the force, causing his brows to knit together with rage, his pupils narrowing even further to mere crumbs. His gaze shifted behind you, and you turned to witness Wanda, her eyes ablaze with a fiery crimson hue, exerting her own power to counter Thor’s aggression. You found your stomach uncoiling when she met your stare with a soft, easy smile.

Hushed whispers filled the air as the two powerful beings struggled against each other, the agents watching in awe and apprehension, unsure of how this unexpected turn of events would unfold.

“Release me!” Thor’s voice boomed, his demand filled with indignation and defiance.

You felt a renewed sense of empowerment surge within you, a willful smirk curling your lips. The tables had turned, and you held the upper hand for now. With a determined gaze, you stood your ground, undeterred by Thor’s wrath. “Not until you calm down,” you declared, voice steady and commanding. It was a bold move, challenging the god of thunder himself, but you were resolute in your stance. The safety of everyone involved and the preservation of order was paramount.

Thor’s expression shifted from anger to incredulity, his eyebrows furrowing deeper as he grappled with the unexpected resistance he faced. The room crackled with charged energy, the clash between power and authority hanging in the balance. “I’m calm,” he finally said.

Wanda’s crimson eyes locked with yours once more, a silent understanding passing between you. She released her hold on him, and Thor straightened his form as his eyes danced back to you. He stared at you for a moment, feeling as if he were sizing you up, or as if he were forming another plan in that brain of his to get his brother back. Either way, you didn’t back down.

“Very well,” he conceded, his voice tinged with disappointment. “But know this, Director, I will be watching closely.” He turned on his heels, the crowd of agents instantly parting to give way as he marched away. The presence of the Asgardian gradually faded, his departure leaving behind a lingering sense of tension in the room.

You nodded, clapping your hands together while you announced, “Back to work, everybody.” As the agents returned to their normal rhythm, dispersing to resume their duties, the weight of the confrontation slowly lifted from your shoulders. You turned to fully face Wanda, but your gaze slowly drifted to Coulson lingering behind her in time to catch his small nod before he left.

“That was very impressive,” Wanda mused, struggling to hide the mischievous smirk that played upon her lips. With each sly step she took towards you, your heart quickened its pace, climbing up to your throat, unable to escape the intensity of the moment. The darkening depths of her eyes added an electrifying allure, casting a spell upon your senses. “It takes a special kind of courage to challenge a god, especially one consumed by anger.”

The surge of pride coursed through your veins, straightening your posture and bolstering your confidence. With a casual shrug, you maintained an air of nonchalance, even as you found yourself drawn closer to her magnetic presence. “I wouldn’t be a very good director if I cowered away at mere inconveniences, Miss Maximoff.”

She responded with a whimsical hum, her playful head tilt accompanied by the tantalizing sight of her teeth capturing her bottom lip. Her eyes glistened with desire, casting a bewitching spell that ensnared your senses. Lost in the haze of her allure, your arm instinctively reached out, compelled to gently sweep away the stray strands of hair that adorned her cheek. For a fleeting moment, you forgot your surroundings - that you weren’t in the solitude of your office, nor the seclusion of her apartment - until an abrupt chirp shattered the illusion. Your phone, a stark reminder of reality, jolted you back to your senses. Like a switch being flipped, full control over yourself snapped back, causing your breath to hitch in your throat as you hastily stepped away from her. The passionate darkness in her emerald irises wavered, replaced by a tinge of disappointment as you cleared your throat, forcing yourself to avert your gaze and reach for your phone.

The spell was broken, and the weight of your responsibilities crashed back down upon you when you read your boss’s name on the screen, serving as a harsh reminder of the boundaries that needed to be maintained. The boundaries you are constantly neglecting.

“Excuse me, Miss Maximoff, but duty calls,” you uttered, your voice betraying a hint of reluctance. As you lifted your eyes to meet hers once more, a strange sensation washed over you, causing your legs to momentarily falter. Lost within the depths of her captivating gaze, you found yourself trapped in a trance unlike any before. The usual desires, seductive playfulness, and mischievous glints were replaced with something different - something softer, more powerless.

In that brief instance, vulnerability danced in the depths of her eyes, as if revealing a hidden side that had previously remained concealed. It tugged at your heartstrings, stirring a mix of emotions within you. The allure remained, but it was laced with a yearning for connection and understanding. It was a vulnerable invitation, silently pleading for you to acknowledge the unspoken depths of her being.

However, duty compelled you to tear yourself away from the enchanting pull. With a resolute sigh, you mustered the strength to regain control over your legs, willing them to move forward. Yet, the memory of that moment lingered in the recesses of your mind, leaving an indelible mark upon you.

You could feel her eyes on the back of your head as you walked away.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ᗢ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“Come in,” you announced automatically, barely lifting your gaze from the papers scattered across your desk. The routine had become second nature to you: someone knocked, you acknowledged their presence, signed whatever document they presented, and swiftly dismissed them. Your hand instinctively reached out to receive the clipboard, expecting the familiar weight of papers to land in your palm. But the footsteps approaching your desk seemed unusually slow, causing a flicker of curiosity to interrupt your monotonous rhythm.

Lifting your head, you found yourself locking eyes with Coulson. To your surprise, his hands were empty, folded neatly across his chest as he fixed an expectant gaze upon you. The absence of paperwork left you momentarily puzzled, prompting a question to escape your lips. 

“Am I missing something here?” He maintained his composed stance, the air in the room growing heavy with unspoken revelations, and the gravity of the moment enveloped you. “Out with it, Coulson,” you pressed.

“Mr. Pierce is waiting for you in the conference room.” He met your gaze steadily, clearing his throat as he patiently waited for your mind to process his words.

Confusion furrowed your brows for a brief moment before surprise widened your eyes as you frantically sifted through the papers on your desk, searching for your phone. Desperation laced your voice as you hastily denied the imminent arrival. “No, he’s not due until tomorrow,” you protested, a touch of desperation seeping into your words. “It’s-”

“Ten in the morning.” Coulson interrupted your frantic search, his head tilting to the side as he observed your panicked movements. The unspoken thoughts that passed between you were evident in his expression. No, you hadn’t gone home. No, you hadn’t slept. Yes, you were doing all this paperwork Pierce sent over last night. Yes, your mind had been consumed with thoughts of Wanda Maximoff. The weight of your responsibilities and the unanticipated turn of events collided, leaving you reeling with a mix of exhaustion, longing, and apprehension.

In the corner of your eye, a glimmer caught your attention, obscured beneath the papers on your desk. Relief washed over you as you successfully fished your phone out of the chaotic pile. However, any fleeting sense of triumph swiftly dissipated when you glanced at the screen. Coulson’s words echoed in your mind, confirming Pierce’s untimely arrival and a wave of anxiety surged through you. The details of this meeting eluded you as if shrouded by a foggy haze.

Without a second though, you sprang to your feet with such haste that your chair careened into the wall behind you. The loud thud punctuated the urgency of the situation, emphasizing the disarray that mirrored your racing thoughts. Time seemed to accelerate as you quickly gathered your composure, determined to face the impending meeting, even if you couldn’t recall its purpose.

You exited the room, the door slowly sliding shut behind you, leaving your deputy director alone. However, it didn’t take long for a realization to dawn upon you, prompting a swift about-face. Sheepishly, you poked your head back into the office, a contrite smile adorning your face. “Where’s the conference room?” His finger pointed in the direction you needed to go, and with a nod of gratitude, you swiftly disappeared once more, determined to find your way to the meeting.

Upon reaching the conference room door, the sound of laughter emanating from within caused your muscles to tense up. One laugh was unmistakably Pierce’s, characterized by its gruffness and rigidity. However, the other laughter resonated deep within you, igniting a warmth in your gut that was undeniable. The mere sound of her laugh had the power to captivate you, making you hesitate to open the door and disrupt the harmonious melody unfolding on the other side. But you quickly snapped out of your daze, remembering that Wanda Maximoff should not be engaged in friendly conversation with your boss.

With resolve, you entered the room and confirmed your instincts. Wanda was indeed immersed in a cheerful conversation with Alexander Pierce, both of them sporting smiles. You forced one of your own, but as soon as you met those sparkling green eyes, your grin became authentic. “What’s going on in here?” you inquired, closing the distance to the occupied table.

“There you are, Director. Please, take a seat and join us,” Pierce greeted with unexpected cheerfulness, a major difference from the stern man you’d spoken to through the computer not that long ago. He gestured toward the seat next to Wanda, and you reluctantly settled into the chair while attempting to maintain a noticeable distance from the woman. “Where have you been hiding this one from us?” He looked toward Wanda, whose face had grown brighter when she saw you. “She’s an absolute delight! And she’s already ours for the taking.” Soft laughter lingered in his voice, leaving you intrigued about their earlier conversation.

The sight of Pierce’s ease and comfort with Wanda - as if they were old friends - immediately after issuing a strict order for you to monitor her due to a lack of trust in the new Avenger sent waves of unease rippling through you. It was disconcerting to witness such a stark contrast in his behavior, as if the order had been mere words with no real significance. Your mind raced with questions, trying to comprehend the motives behind his contradictory actions. Did he genuinely trust Wanda more than he let on? Or was there a hidden agenda at play? Doubt gnawed at you.

Wanda chimed in playfully, answering on your behalf while keeping her eyes trained on you, “Oh, Y/N just loves keeping me for herself.” However, as she spoke, Pierce’s demeanor shifted abruptly, returning to his usual strict professionalism. He studied Wanda intently, causing her to divert her gaze from you to meet his scrutinizing one. A knot of anticipation formed in your stomach as you watched him silently analyze her.

He cleared his throat, shaking his head for a moment before turning to you. “I’m impressed by how you handled the Loki situation,” he confessed. A glimmer of pride shone in his eyes, contrasting with his rugged expression. “It was your first assignment, a significant one at that, not to mention. To be honest, I wasn’t sure you had what it took, but I’m not one to shy away from admitting I was wrong.”

Leaning forward, Wanda placed a gentle hand on your shoulder and spoke, her voice filled with admiration, “It’s only been a day, but I think Y/N’s been doing a wonderful job so far.” This time, your smile remained forced as you subtly shifted your shoulder, discreetly removing her hand from your touch under Pierce’s watchful eyes.

“I can handle anything thrown at me, sir,” you commented in an attempt to divert his attention.

He cleared his throat, his eyes dancing back and forth between you and Wanda for a quiet, tense moment before asking, “Do you let all your agents call you by your first name?”

“No, sir-”

“I don’t see how that’s really relevant here,” she interrupted, not mincing her words. You swallowed the thick saliva that had formed in your throat, the knot in your gut beginning to grow tighter. “I believe that she-”

“Agent Maximoff,” you interjected swiftly, your voice firm, trying to regain control of the situation. You avoided meeting her eyes as they flickered toward you. “That’ll be all for now.” The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, with Wanda watching you, Pierce observing her, and you staring at the table, desperate to dodge all eyes.

“Yes, Director.” You winced subtly at the tone of her voice, ultimately telling you that she was not pleased with your dismissal. Surely she wasn’t one to hold a grudge over something so minute… right? 

Pierce adjusted his suit jacket as she made her way out of the room, leaving the two of you alone. The sound of the door closing resonated in the quiet before his voice finally cut through it, “I’m not questioning your ability to do this job, Director.”

“Hasn’t even crossed my mind, sir,” you assured.

“I mean, you’re the first female lead since the fifties. I have the right to be cautious.” His smile appeared forced, lacking the sincerity it held when you first entered the room. The tension returned, and he seemed to fully revert to his usual self. “I came here to ask about your plans with Loki.”

“We have him contained in a specially designed confinement capsule aboard the Helicarrier,” you began, your voice steady and composed. “The cell is equipped with a failsafe. Any attempts to escape or breach the containment will trigger a rapid descent mechanism, dropping whoever is in the cell a significant distance.” You glanced at Pierce, ensuring that he was following your explanation. His eyes narrowed slightly, indicating his focus on the matter at hand. “I made it clear to Loki about the consequences of any efforts of escape,” you continued. “The knowledge of imminent death should serve as a deterrent and discourage any further disruptions or attempts to regain his freedom. My plan for Loki is to keep him imprisoned to prevent any further damage to Earth.”

Pierce nodded, slow and precise movements, but you sensed by the way he leaned back that he was ready to voice his concerns. “You want to keep him locked up for the rest of time?” He scoffed, a humorless laugh crawling out of his throat as he shook his head. “Loki has caused substantial damage to New York, costing us billions of dollars.”

“He has also taken just as many innocent lives,” you quickly claimed. “It’s not about the money, sir. People-”

“That’s beside the point,” he interrupted. “Keeping him locked up isn’t enough.”

Your eyebrows knitted together deeply as you eyed him, trying to get a good read on his face, but he was a closed book with no chance of getting it to open. “I’m sorry, sir, but I’m not sure I understand what you’re implying.”

Pierce’s gaze solidified, his tone growing more serious. “What I’m implying, Director, is that simply containing Loki isn’t a long-term solution. We need to consider more permanent measures to ensure he can never pose a threat again.”

A flicker of concern crossed your face as you contemplated the weight of his words. “Are you suggesting…?”

He leaned forward, his voice lowered. “I’m suggesting we explore options for a more definitive resolution,” he explained.

Your breath caught in the back of your throat, the earnestness of his proposition sinking in. “You’re talking about… terminating Loki?”

His expression remained impassive, but there was an underlying intensity in his eyes. “I didn’t propose such an extreme measure, Director.” He shrugged loosely, a sly smirk playing at the corner of his lips. “Loki is a prideful god. He views humans as insignificant and feeble creatures. It’s only a matter of time before his arrogance is bound to make him disregard your warnings and… attempt to escape his rigged prison. If he chooses that path, we cannot be held accountable.”

You paused, allowing his words to sink in, fully aware of the subtle subtext beneath his statement. It was a strategic maneuver to absolve himself and the organization of any responsibility. By framing Loki’s demise as a consequence of his own pretentious choices, he aimed to keep your - and his own - hands free from the stain of his blood.

The knot in your stomach - the one you had thought had dispersed at Wanda’s departure - reappeared, only this time it launched itself into your throat. The way his eyes gleamed with a sinister glint made you feel nauseous. “Sir, I understand the severity of Loki’s actions, but we must also remember our duty to uphold the principles of justice and due process. We cannot become judge, jury, and executioner,” you argued.

His gaze bore into yours, his voice unwavering, “We can’t afford to let sentimentality cloud our judgment. Loki has proven time and again that he is a danger to global security. We must be willing to consider all options, even if they are difficult.”

The weight of his words pressed upon you, and you knew you weren’t going to convince him otherwise no matter how hard you fought. Still, you didn’t plan on giving in so easily just yet. “Then we must exhaust all alternatives, explore advanced containment methods, and leverage our resources to ensure the safety of both our agents and the world.”

Pierce’s face hardened, the lines etched deeper into his features. “Director,” he began, folding his hands on top of the table between you and him, “there will come a point where we have exhausted all options. Don’t you think it’d be a waste of time, resources, and money to only end up at the same outcome?” He smiled lightly, a wicked tinge to the expression. “We cannot shy away from that possibility.”

Your eyes locked with his, a silent battle of principles and pragmatism. You had gone head to head with the God of Thunder and won. Yet, here you were, butting heads with a mortal man and on the verge of losing. “I refuse to believe that we must sacrifice our values is the only path to achieving the greater good. It is our duty to explore other solutions, to seek justice and preserve life - all lives. We cannot embrace the mindset that justifies shedding blood. There must always be a line we will not cross.”

His gaze softened ever so slightly, a flicker of begrudging respect crossing his features. “I must admit, Director, your unwavering dedication is commendable.” However, the smile that lingered on his lips revealed his underlying satisfaction. It was evident that you had officially lost this battle, succumbing to his ability to see to it that you would never step foot inside a SHIELD building for the rest of your life. “I expect a comprehensive report in my email by the end of the week.” He swiftly rose from his seat, adjusting his jacket with deliberate movements. “An autopsy report,” he clarified his tone laced with a chilling edge. A twisted smile played on his lips, the sinister glint in his eyes sending a shiver down your spine. It was a reminder of the darkness that lurked beneath his polished exterior.

With that final unsettling gesture, he exited, leaving you alone with the weight of his demands.

[thenatashamaximoff]

Piece Of Mind

Summary: Running into strangers while on a shopping trip with your girlfriend seems to leave you with a lot of questions. But, don’t worry... Wanda has a way to answer all of them at once.

Pairing: Wanda x Reader

Warnings: mind manipulation

Words: 3,323

✎ | ？

┌─────────────ᗢ─────────────┐ @diaryoflife​ @women-am-i-right​​ @creatively-analytical​​ @obsessed-with-wandamaximoff @beforeoursecrets​​ @iliketozoneout​​ @olsensnpm​​ @hoefnagel521 @jsonebraincell​​  └─────────────ᗢ─────────────┘ ┌─────────────∞─────────────┐ @myfavoriteficss​ @pinkytoecrust​ @cyncity32​ @romanoffomixam​ @peachbear88​ @magicallymaximoff​ @therealmeari @peggycarter-steverogers​ @ba-romanoff​ @natashabelovas​ @morbid-gaymer​ @reminiscingtonight​ @when-wolves-howl​ @idontknownemore​ @natashasilverfox​ @sayah13 @fuxk182​ @scarletwitchofthewilds​ @natashamaximoff69 @wuwu96  └─────────────∞────────────��┘

It was that time of year again. The time when farmers' markets open up to let your beloved girlfriend splurge for fresher herbs and spices. You enjoyed watching her snoop around, the concentration etched on her face was beauty in your eyes. You could look at her all day, every second, every heartbeat. And when she found a perfectly plump apple or a ridiculously deformed sweet potato, holding it up to show it to you with the biggest, brightest smile… you'd only fall deeper in love with her.

You rested a hand around her waist and pulled her into your side as she asked the vendor questions, not paying any attention to the conversation as you stared at her, a small little smirk resting on your lips as your eyes soaked her up. She rubbed your back absentmindedly, chills racing up your spine underneath her touch. But the conversation soon bled through your trance, the vendor's voice cutting into your daydream.

"I actually sold my last batch of paprika," the vendor claimed sadly. "There's another booth a few yards that way that sells it. It's a bit pricier but just as good."

Wanda looked at you with a little pout and you were already stepping away from her, the slight smirk growing into a wide grin on your face. "Don't worry, darling, I'll go get it. You finish up here." Anything to get rid of that frown, no matter how small it was.

"Four ounces," she clarified as you planted a kiss on her cheek, "and don't get anything else, Y/N. Just paprika!" You gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, taking the small wad of cash out of her other hand and shoving it into your jacket pocket.

You sent her a sloppy salute as you walked away from her, your eyes scanning the area for the booth the vendor suggested. The market was crowded today, and you normally weren't the type to do large crowds like this, but you'd do anything to see that smile on Wanda's face. The way her nose scrunches, the way she squints her eyes, the crinkle in her cheeks. There was no word worthy enough to describe the feeling you get whenever you look at her.

You caught sight of a sign sitting in front of a booth, listing off some spices they were selling and you were already making a beeline toward it when you saw the exact thing Wanda required. "Paprika?" You sighed with relief when the vendor nodded his head, handing you a small glass bottle of paprika. 

"Last one," he stated. "Paprika, very popular spice."

"Trust me, I'm aware," you promised with a soft smile, reaching into your pocket to pull out the money due.

He cleared his throat. "It's buy two, get one half off," he claimed as you looked up from the money in your hand. You sighed at his offer, knowing he was only handing out the deal after he spotted the amount of cash you had pulled out. "Nutmeg is popular, too. And cinnamon."

"I'm sorry, but I only need paprika," you expressed. "How much-"

"Please," he begged. "Buy two, get one free. Please, ma'am, business is not good. My family…" He trailed off, his eyes glossing over with unshed tears and the man suddenly looked so exhausted. His hands shook as he rubbed them together, nervous that you were going to deny his offer once more, and you couldn't help but feel bad for this man. "I can't…" He shook his head, his chin falling to his chest in shame. You saw the look in his eye, the look of desperation. This man was anguished, willing to do anything to help his family, just like how you’d do anything to make Wanda smile.

You glanced over your shoulder towards Wanda, but the thick crowd of people blocked you from being able to spot her. If she truly didn’t want you to spend the money, she wouldn’t have given you so much. You looked back at the man and cleared your throat. "I'll take that offer."

He picked his head back up, a smile brightening his features as a single tear slid down his cheek. His shaky hands held onto the cinnamon and nutmeg as he dropped them into your opened palm and, in exchange, you gave him the whole wad of cash in your possession. His eyes widened with shock and gratefulness, moving away from him before he could try to give some of it back. “Very kind!” he claimed and you laughed softly, waving him off.

"Have a good day, sir," you said before turning your back to him.

You looked down at the spices in your hands, already trying to form a story as to why you bought more than necessary, and why you no longer had all the cash she had given you. You absentmindedly took a step forward, so lost in your thoughts that you were completely ignorant of the figure running towards you despite the commotion he was causing. He bumped into your shoulder when he tried to avoid hitting you in general, but the sudden impact caused the bottles in your hands to fall. You flinched when the sound of glass shattering reached your ears, your chin slowly falling to your chest to stare down at the mess at your feet. The only one you needed was the only one that didn’t survive the descent. 

You knelt to pick up the two spices that survived the fall, sliding them into your jacket before you carefully started picking up the broken glass off the ground, not wanting someone to get hurt. Now you have to start thinking about a story to tell her about why you no longer have any paprika to give her, standing up with your hand cupped gently around the glass. You turned, planning on making your way back to Wanda, but were immediately cut off by yet another person smashing right into you.

Your hand instinctively clenched tightly around the glass shards, hissing at the sting it brought as the pieces fell out of your hand when you shook it as if shaking the pain away. You stared at your hand, no obvious signs of injury could be seen on your skin, but it didn’t make your hand sting any less. You weren’t aware that the person who had bumped into you was still present until they spoke.

"Y/N?" You looked up on instinct at your name, furrowing your eyebrows when you saw a redheaded woman look at you with hopeful eyes, a sad smile on her face. She looked ecstatic to see you, yet she seemed tired, short of breath from seemingly chasing the running man that had passed you earlier. "I can't believe it." Her grin was wide despite it seeming to be troubled, her shoulders relaxing as she maintained eye contact with you. She released a long, steady breath as if breathing for the first time in a long time.

You tilted your head in confusion. This woman treated you like a friend, someone she considers close. Yet, you don’t think you’ve ever seen her in your life. Surely you would’ve remembered someone like her, there was no denying her beauty even if your heart does belong to Wanda. She wasn’t a face you’d forget, not for a long while. But she knew your name, that wasn’t a coincidence. And she didn’t give you any major stalker vibes, feeling a sense of solace and security in her presence. You weren’t… scared. You felt… fine. 

The woman shook her head, disbelief was written on her face. “You just… disappeared, Y/N. Ever since the whole thing with-”

"I lost him." A man jogged up next to her, his eyes scanning the area to see if he could find his target, his face pinched into frustrated anger… until he looked at you. "Y/N?" His face softened, his eyes filled with worry and happiness, mirroring the redhead standing next to him. He, too, reacted to you like a close friend.

"We've been looking everywhere for you," the redhead said. Looking at the two side by side, they had a familiarity with them. A feeling of friendship and… comfort. Their names were on the tip of your tongue, you could feel it. You knew these two, but there was something in your brain that was forbidding you to connect them to your memories. As if that piece of your mind was missing, preventing you from remembering. And though your face was contorted into pure confusion, it seemingly evaporated once you mentally snapped yourself out of your own thoughts.

"I… don't know you," you said, laughing a little bit as you continued to coddle your stinging hand. "I'm sorry, but… you might be confusing me with someone else." They got your name spot on. There were more than enough different names in the world and they had somehow managed to get yours exactly right? 

Surely you'd remember these two.

"Y/N, it's… it's us," the man stated, pressing his hands to his chest as you slowly shook your head. "It's-"

"Clint. Natasha." They turned to look towards Wanda's voice coming from behind them, her arms crossed over her chest with a bag dangling from her wrist. The look on the witch’s face would send any sane person running for the hills, the way her jaw locked prominently, the way her pupils narrowed to the size of a crumb, and the tilt of her head. Yet, her glare didn’t send these two away with their tails between their legs. No, the strangers stood their ground against your peeved girlfriend. But when Wanda noticed the way you were holding your hand, all anger had evaded her face. She marched forward, moving to stand next to you protectively. "What happened, baby?" She took your hand away from you gently, glancing towards Clint and Natasha before inspecting the minor injury as she decided to blatantly ignore the two people in front of you. She was careful with you, double-checking to see if you were seriously injured, and you let her examine your hand for the invisible wound.

"I'm fine," you assured, shrugging nonchalantly as you looked down at the pieces of glass at your feet, the small pile of red dust. Hopefully, she didn’t see the waste of paprika on the ground. You always hated a sad Wanda. "Just a little incident. Nothing to be worried about, sweetheart." You shot her a cheeky grin when she looked up at you, not being able to hold back a smile of her own when she saw the unwavering brightness on your face. The stinging in your hand was immediately forgotten.

"Wanda." The way Natasha said her name made her look away from you and to the redhead, her eyes darkening with anger once more and the smile wiping off her face instantaneously. "What did you do?" Natasha, as you had learned, gripped her hips, eyebrows pinched together with fury as she stared Wanda down. You could sense the tension between the two women. The same tension was radiating off of Clint, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, but he was quieter about it. You seemed to be the only one confused about what was going on.

"I bought some fruit and vegetables," she answered casually, though there was a hint of hostility in her voice that you detected just as easily as the other two did. Her face still showed the annoyed anger, her jaw clenching whenever she wasn’t using it to speak. "As nice as it was seeing you two again, we should go get her hand fixed."

"Wait-" Clint stepped forward, grabbing onto your wrist that she wasn't holding, his grip strong and secure. It felt as if he was trying to keep you away from her, feeling him begin to tug you towards him, but Wanda was quick. She placed a hand against his chest and pushed him away from you, a puff of crimson smoke evaporating at the contact as her eyes glowed a dark red to match. A sign that she wasn't going to be so gentle the next time either of them tried to lay a hand on you.

"Leave us alone," Wanda warned through clenched teeth, "and stop looking for us. We’re fine." With her hand still firm around the wrist of your injured hand, she pulled you back in perfect sync with the moving crowd, Natasha and Clint almost losing the two of you immediately.

"I'm sorry," you stated as she continued to drag you, the crowd not hesitating to part, forming a perfect path for her as if they knew just how much of a threat she could be when she was enraged. You knew she was heading to the parking lot, trying desperately to get away from Natasha and Clint.

"It's not your fault," she said softly. "It's-" You pulled yourself free from her grip, making her stop. She turned to take a step toward you, her head tilted slightly with confusion. Her hands twitched by her side, wondering if you were about to make a scene right now, in the middle of a crowd. The only thing on her mind at the moment, though, was getting you out of here.

"No, I'm sorry I lost the paprika," you told her, reaching into your pocket with your good hand to bring out the cinnamon and nutmeg. "But, according to the vendor, these are pretty good." You sent her a smile, clearly unfazed by what had just gone down between her and the other two. "And I also gave him all the money you gave me."

"Y/N-"

"We can stop at the store on the way home!" you expressed, hearing the disappointment in her voice. "I know it's not as good as it would be from a farmers market, but it's better than nothing, right? I mean, he needed the money, Wanda, and-"

She stepped forward, bringing your face into a gentle hold, and the bag around her wrist softly tapped against your shoulder. Her smile was soft and genuinely happy. No sign of disappointment advertised on her features, no sign of the anger she had displayed earlier, her thumbs running circles on your cheeks. You felt yourself calm down under her green eyes, a crooked smile tugging her lips. “I couldn’t care less about the paprika, Y/N, as long as you’re okay.”

“I’m fine.” Your reply was automatic. You couldn’t even hear your own voice, too lost in the hypnotic trance her eyes locked you in. Your knees were weak, your heart was pounding, and when she slowly pushed her lips against yours in a deep kiss, warmth spread through you as red colored your cheeks. You didn’t want her to break away from you, feeling as if her lips were the reason why your heart was beating, but she eventually did pull away from you and a soft whine came from the back of your throat.

Her hands left your face, plucking the two bottles out of your hands to drop them into the bag. “Come on, darling, there’s a first aid kit at home.” She intertwined her hand through your good one, pulling you close to her as the two of you walked side by side to the parking lot. 

“It doesn’t really hurt anymore,” you assured her absentmindedly, looking at your palm. 

But you couldn’t stop your thoughts from wandering back to Natasha and Clint, as Wanda had referred to them. There was something in the deep depths of your mind that told you you knew them. They clearly knew you. And what did Natasha mean when she said that they’ve been looking for you? You weren’t missing. You were with Wanda.

You climbed into the passenger seat of the car as the engine roared to life, Wanda glancing at you before pulling out of the parking lot. She didn’t bother with the radio, enjoying the muffled music instead as she drove down the streets, but it wasn’t much longer after that she was intercepting the silence with her words, “What’s on your mind?”

You slowly turned your head to look at her, eyebrows knitted together. “I knew them,” you said, unaware of her grip tightening around the steering wheel. “They… seemed familiar. Clint and Natasha. They knew me. I… can’t remember them. Why can’t I remember them?”

You watched as her lips pursed together, her eyes intent on the road in front of her. She knew them, and you thought that you know everybody she does. That's apparently not the case. Is she… lying to you?

"Wanda," you expressed, clearing your throat. She didn't look at you, her eyes straight ahead as if she was avoiding confrontation. "Who were they?"

"Old colleagues," she answered, finally glancing at you to send you a soft grin. "I told you I used to work with the government."

"You did," you confirmed, nodding slowly. "They worked with you?"

"Yes."

“But they know me.”

“I bragged about you all the time to them, Y/N,” Wanda expressed casually, shrugging as a smile tugged her lips. “It’s not hard to deduce what an angel looks like.” She laughed gently as you pursed your lips together for a moment, turning to look away from her.

You released a soft breath. "You should invite them over," you offered, suddenly perky. "I think it's healthy to rekindle old friendships." You smiled widely at her, earning a subtle shake of her head and a small laugh. "It'll put the stuff you bought from the farmers market to good use." And, maybe, whatever had happened between the three of them to cause such tension could be resolved.

She chuckled but shook her head subtly once more. "They're very busy, Y/N," she explained. 

You rolled your eyes, resting your head against the headrest behind you as you looked at her, taking a moment to soak in her beauty as the sun reflected her features in a brilliant light. You hummed softly along with the quiet music rolling off the radio for a second before saying, "We don't have to invite them over today. That's a bit last minute, Wands."

"Sweetheart-"

"Oh, c'mon, baby," you pleaded. She kept her eyes forward, her jaw clenching tightly at your request, knowing you were sending her a pout that would make her fold. "The house gets so empty. We never have anybody over. Not even our own neighbors!"

Her grip on the steering wheel tightened, her knuckles bone white as her stare remained front and center. But then she released a heavy breath, nodding her head as she said, “Alright. I’ll call them when we get home and we can plan dinner for this week.” She couldn’t help but chuckle at your giddiness as she slowed the car upon reaching a red light, taking the moment to look at you.

She could see how quickly your thoughts were racing, already laying out all the details for the dinner in that brain of yours. She sighed softly through her nose, sending you a wide grin as she reached over to rest her palm against your cheek. She felt her heart skip a beat when you leaned into her touch on instinct, a hum emitting from the back of your throat. But the excitement didn’t last long because, as Wanda pulled her hand away from you, swirls of red vapor escaped her fingers and disappeared into your skin.

You blinked, looking at Wanda for a moment before you broke out into a sheepish smirk. “I dozed off again, didn’t I?” You sighed in disappointment as she sent you a faint smile letting you grab her free hand to give it a squeeze as she continued driving. 

As much as she hated taking pieces of your mind, she can’t have you finding out the truth.

[thenatashamaximoff]

Broken Love; Ch. 8

Summary: You and Natasha break up after finding out about her secret affair. Wanda’s there to comfort you.

Pairing: Natasha x Reader; Wanda x Reader

Warnings: mentions of cheating, mentions of death

Words: 8,951

✎ | ❦

Please keep in mind that this is a reimagined version of Dangerous Love and it goes a completely different route. Please do not expect anything to be the same aside from the love triangle aspect. I hope you enjoy!

┌─────────────❦─────────────┐ @madamevirgo @causeitswhatjesuswouldfreakingdo​ @stephanieromanoff @helloalycia @generouslyfadingtimemachine @aimezvousbrahms @upsidedowndanvers @tomy5girls @shelby-victoria7 @chasethemoon @therealmeari @women-am-i-right @kas0925 @catching-up-with-kayla @1-800-maximoff @obsessed-with-wandamaximoff @wandascumslut @coxmicbabygirl @waltzingin1698 @lesbianmothership @im-in-demilesbians-with-you @wtrpxrks @theperfectlovestory @grxvitye @marvels-bitch-boy @misspurple1419 @evenbeingcrazy1998 @jsonebraincell  └─────────────❦─────────────┘ ┌─────────────∞─────────────┐ @myfavoriteficss @pinkytoecrust @cyncity32 @romanoffomixam @peachbear88 @magicallymaximoff @peggycarter-steverogers @sushi0989 @ba-romanoff @natashabelovas @morbid-gaymer @reminiscingtonight @when-wolves-howl @idontknownemore @natashasilverfox @natashamaximoff69 @wuwu96 @scarletwitchofthewilds @sayah13  └─────────────∞─────────────┘

“You’re not going to win,” you claimed, breathing out heavily. He stared down at you from his spot at the top of the hill, rocks crumbling around you as the ground shook. The lava pooling around you nipped at your heels, but you held no concern for the molten liquid as your hands clenched into fists by your sides. “This world… It’s going to crash and burn. And it’s too late for you to save it, Iron Man.”

He lifted his arm up, his gauntlet as bright as the eyes of his helmet. “I didn’t want to do this,” he declared, shaking his head softly, “but you left me no choice.” The high-pitched squeal of his repulsors reached your ears, and your eyes widened as he jumped off of the hill…

You were pulled back into reality, your arms stretched wide to bring the little boy into your arms as his giggles echoed through the room. You huffed as you looked at him through his little toy helmet, cradling him against your hip as you used your free hand to move the mask off of his face. 

“You caught me, mommy!” he laughed, wrapping his arms around your neck to steady himself. “I knew you would.” He flashed you a toothy grin, and you couldn’t help but chuckle softly as you shook your head. 

“Of course, sweetie,” you stated. “I’ll always catch you.” You plopped him onto the ground, taking the toy off of his head gently as you sent him a warm smile. “But let’s not jump off the top of the stairs again, okay? It’s dangerous.”

“But I’m Iron Man!” he expressed. “I live for danger!”

“Oh, yeah?” He nodded with a proud smile, large swoops of his chin up and down with smug confidence. You pulled the elastic band around your head, positioning the mask over your face as you looked down at him through the slim eye holes. “I’m Iron Man now.”

“No!” he squealed, laughing as he started to run away from you. Your movements were instinct, chasing after him into the other room, zipping around the corner only to come to a halt when you saw a pair of legs through the mask. You cleared your throat, ripping the toy off of your head as you met her green gaze, an amused smile tugging the corner of her lips with her arms crossed over her chest. The little boy hid behind her legs, looking at you with a grin of victory.

“I hope the two of you are having fun,” she said, raising an eyebrow with mock curiosity, “because we’re late.” She looked down at the boy, running a hand through his short hair as she said, “Go get cleaned up, T.”

“Yes, mama.” He stepped away from her, sending you that smug grin once more as he left the room. You laughed softly as you placed the toy down, running a hand down your face and around your neck to grip the back of it, looking down as you chewed the inside of your cheek.

“Hey…” She stepped towards you, bringing your face into the palms of her hands gently. Your head lifted at her touch, meeting her warm gaze as she smiled lightly at you. A thin layer of tears covered your eyes, biting your cheek harder to fight against the urge to cry. 

“I don’t think I can do it,” you said, your voice a low whisper.

“I know it’s hard. Just because so much time has passed doesn't make it any easier, but I’m here for you, okay? And I’m not going anywhere.”

You nodded against her hands, breathing in softly as you said, “Promise?”

“I promise.” Her smile was warm and kind, it caused your stomach to twist as you stepped closer to her.

“I love you, Nat.”

“I love you, Y/N.”

You leaned forward, your lips just mere centimeters away from hers to the point where you could feel them brush against each other, but the moment was quickly interrupted when a small human squeezed himself in between the two of you, cutting you off from her as he expressed his readiness to leave. Natasha laughed when you rolled your eyes, ruffling the boy’s hair as you said, “Alright.” You reached for Natasha’s hand, meeting her loving gaze once more as she accepted it. “Let’s get this over with.”

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You peeked through the curtain, eyes wide as you looked at the number of people in attendance. Reporters mainly filled the first two or three rows, while everybody else was simply there for the service. Monitors hanging around the room held the Avengers logo. What was once a symbol of hope was now only a memory of loss.

You felt your stomach twist uncomfortably, nausea working its way through your body as you swallowed your mouthful of saliva harshly. But when you saw your little boy at the front of the crowd, talking Dr. Woods’s ear off, you felt a bit better. Even so, you had to force yourself away from the view, turning your back as the curtain swished close behind you. You ran your hands down your thighs in an attempt to rid the sweat building on your palms, but it didn’t seem to work no matter how many times you wiped them.

“Are you okay?” Steve stepped up to you, his arms crossed tautly over his chest as he raised an eyebrow at you. His face was filled with concern. Was it that obvious you weren’t?

“I am fine,” you lied, nodding as you shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s just, y’know… the one-year anniversary of the day we lost everything.”

He pursed his lips together, moving his arms to grip his hips as he said, “To lose everything you had grants you everything you need.” You couldn’t help but scoff, yet you did manage to fight the urge to roll your eyes at his fortune cookie quote. He was only trying to help ease your nerves, and - though it wasn’t doing anything to make you feel better - you were grateful for his attempt.

A woman stepped up to you before you could make a comment. “You’re all up.” She gestured towards the curtain, sending you both a soft, pitiful smile as you turned back around to face the music. “Good luck.”

You sucked in a deep breath, shaking your hands as the curtain parted in front of you. Natasha was already on the stage, sitting in one of the three seats lined up behind the podium. Her eyes were that same loving warmth she displayed earlier, and it helped ease your stomach as you made your way to her. She reached for your hand, giving you a comforting squeeze when you met her as the flashes of the cameras started going off the moment you stepped into view. “We’re just going to say some things and then we can go,” she whispered into your ear. She, too, was trying to ease your nerves, but the judging gaze of everybody in the crowd seemed to lock onto you.

Your stomach started doing nauseating flips once more.

You sat down next to Natasha, refusing to release her hand as Steve took a spot at the podium. He cleared his throat, tapping his finger gently against the microphone as he laughed nervously. All eyes were on him now, giving you a moment of reprieve as you leaned against the Russian, listening carefully as the patriot began his speech.

“One year.” You chewed the inside of your cheek, averting your gaze to your occupied hands. “On this very day one year ago, we were unfortunate to witness the fall of the Avengers. Today will be known as Avengers Day.” Pictures of the people you had always felt privileged to call family illuminated the monitors as Steve continued, “Clint Barton. Tony Stark. Bruce Banner. Pepper Potts. Wanda Maximoff. These are just a few names of the many lives lost that day.” Your breath caught in your throat as you stared at the screen displaying Wanda’s photograph. Her big smile, her shining eyes. Your best friend, how close the two of you had gotten throughout the years.

You were so transfixed by the image that you hadn’t realized Steve’s speech was finished until Natasha released your hand. You looked at her, distress glinting in your irises, but it was ultimately subsided by the small smile she was sending you. She was gesturing for you to step up to the podium as it was your turn to give a speech, and you were hesitant to do such a thing. Though you had practiced your speech a million times in the mirror after hearing about the event, all of it managed to disappear in your mind as you cleared your throat into the microphone.

“Hello,” you expressed softly, squeezing the edge of the wooden podium. Yet the next time you opened your mouth, not a single word could be heard. You could see everybody’s eyes piercing through you as if you were just… nothing. But you looked over, meeting the bright, hopeful gaze of your little boy, watching his face stretch out into a smile as he held up a thumb. You returned his grin before looking back to the crowd, feeling a bit more confident than you did five seconds ago. “Today’s just a grave reminder of all the people we’ve lost. And we’re here to honor the lives of-” 

“May I interrupt?” Your eyes landed on the source of the voice - a young woman had stood up, holding a pen and paper as she flashed you a cocky smirk. “Hello, Mrs. Romanoff.” Your gaze averted down to your left hand, staring at the ring as the reporter continued, “Karen Delroy from the Times. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?” You picked your head up at her question, eyebrows furrowed with confusion. You weren’t informed that you were going to be interviewed, that you were just coming in to make a speech on behalf of the fallen and then you were more than welcome to leave. But, considering you couldn’t really recollect your entire speech to begin with, you figured this was your way out of making yourself look like a fool in trying to remember.

“I don’t see why not,” you expressed softly, nodding as you gestured for her to carry on with a hand.

“What do you remember?” She held her pen poised over the notepad, prepared to write down whatever words came out of your mouth.

“Oh, well… I-I remember all of it,” you claimed. “I remember the…” But you trailed off, eyebrows pinching together with confusion once more as you looked down. Your eyes squeezed shut, nerves causing your body to shiver. You had to think. Remember. You had to remember.

“Y/N?” Natasha’s voice was low behind you, a soft whisper so the rest of the room wouldn’t hear, but you chose to ignore her calls.

Remember.

“Maybe we should put an end to this,” Steve suggested just as quietly.

Just remember.

“Just think, detka, it’s okay.”

I don’t remember.

“Why don’t I remember?” you asked faintly, eyes wide as you looked back at the woman. Dread struck you when you saw the brown in her eyes glow an ominous purple as she seemingly stared right through you. But, within the next blink, her eyes went back to normal yet the fear that floated in your veins remained. Everything in your brain told you to move, to walk away, but nothing in your body was listening. You were frozen to your spot at the podium, a ball forming in your throat threatening to take away your ability to breathe. Your grip on the podium tightened, causing your knuckles to turn bone white. You can’t remember…

“How did you defeat the Matriarch?” Your eyes snapped onto another person - it seemed to be the only part of your body that was capable of moving - to witness an older man standing up with a microphone aimed towards you. “Lyle Davies, Channel 6. Wanda Maximoff had converted to the Church of Truth as their Matriarch when the Avengers Tower collapsed. You had a pretty close relationship with her according to my sources. Even got to the point of intimacy.” He grinned smugly, proud to have known that much information. “So, how did you manage to take her down?”

You could feel the knot in your stomach tightening.

“You seem to be having difficulty recollecting the downfall of the Avengers, Mrs. Romanoff.” Another reporter stood up, not even bothering with the introductions at this point. 

You shook your head, soft, subtle movements that could only be seen if one was paying close attention and, surely, everybody in the room was.

“Do you even remember how they died?” It was another reporter, another question, yet the voice was familiar. You could pinpoint that Sokovian accent at a concert if you were so inclined to. Your eyes scanned the crowd, searching for her face. Searching for any sign that she was here, in the same room as you, living and breathing and not lying six feet under the surface. But you couldn’t find her. And it only seemed to overwhelm you, the combination of flashing lights from snapping cameras and reporters who seemed to have no more room for manners as they started overlapping each other to ask their own questions. You couldn’t even make out what they were asking, and her voice was no longer ringing in your ears.

“Come on.” Natasha’s breath fanned across the side of your cheek as she whispered into your ear, feeling her hands fall onto your shoulders as she started to guide you away from the interrogation. Steve didn’t hesitate to take your place, his hands in the air in an attempt to calm the crowd as you disappeared behind the curtain.

“I can’t remember, Nat,” you expressed, panic only causing that knot in your gut to tighten. You stopped walking to turn around, eyes wide with fright. Was this a dream? You could only hope it is, interlocking your fingers behind your neck as you tried to control your breathing. “Why can’t I remember!”

“Y/N-”

“What happened to Wanda?” Your eyes snapped onto hers within an instant. 

“She was the Matriarch, Y/N,” Natasha explained calmly. She stepped closer to you, bringing your face gently into her hands as you moved to grip her wrists softly. “The Church got to her. And her powers combined with theirs… It made her a worthy candidate to become the Matriarch.” She sighed, a breath full of sorrow as her thumbs made gentle circles across your cheekbones.

You could feel the knot in your stomach tightening one last time, causing you to break out of Natasha’s comforting hold to get to the nearest trashcan to dispose of whatever was in your gut. Sickness drove through you like a river, goosebumps crawling up your body as you sank to your knees. Sobs wracked your chest, fingers clenched at your head. 

It didn’t feel like much time has passed before you were staring at the ceiling in the comfort of your own home. Whatever happened between the event to now was all a blur. But the queasiness that lingered in you remained to the point where Natasha made you keep a bucket next to you.

The door creaked open slowly after what felt like an eternity of being stuck in your thoughts. You didn’t find the energy to pick your head up to look at whoever was entering the room, the footsteps were quiet as they made their way to you. “Mommy?” It was an instinct, ignoring the fatigue plaguing your body to give your child the attention he demanded.

“Yes, T?” 

“Mama said you needed some alone time because you’re not feeling good,” he claimed, standing at the edge of your bed as his fingers twiddled together nervously. “But when I get sick… You’re always there to hold me and that makes me feel better.” You couldn’t stop the smile from twitching your lips, lifting an arm up to signal that he was more than welcome to join you on the bed. And he didn’t hesitate to do so, climbing onto the mattress and crawling over to you so he could cuddle into your side. Though as much as you enjoyed the silence and cuddling, his voice was always music to your ears. “You named me after Iron Man, right?”

“And Hawkeye,” you confirmed. “Anthony Barton Romanoff.” You smiled, staring up at the ceiling as his eyes trained on you. “Some of the most amazing people me and mama have ever known.” You tilted your head down to meet his gaze. 

He ran a finger up and down the sleeve of your shirt, chewing the inside of his cheek for a moment before he asked, “How did they die?”

“They were in the Avengers Tower when it fell, sweetheart,” you answered, your voice a soft whisper as if you were fearful to speak any louder than that. 

“Why did the tower fall?”

“That-” Your voice caught in your throat as memories flashed through your mind, how terrified the woman looked as you held up a small device, the vision shrouded in a faint, purple glow. Your eyebrows pinched together, head tilting to the side as you blinked yourself back to the present. “That was the Church’s doing.”

“You survived the fall,” he claimed, beaming brightly. “You and mama.” You nodded, smiling sadly as you looked back at him. “I’m glad you did. I don’t want a different family.” You breathed out slowly, your stomach lurching in your chest when that ominous, purple glow returned to color your boy’s eyes. 

Panic took over your body, causing you to quickly climb out of the bed and stagger away from him as confusion painted his features. “I… I don’t…”

“Mommy?” He sat up on his knees, his bottom lip quivering as you shook your head. He watched you carefully, no trace of purple remained in his eyes. But you weren’t willing to take the risk, keeping your distance from him as you pressed your back against the wall.

Laughter emitted from your throat in a humorless tone, realization dawning on you as your eyes snapped onto Anthony’s. You didn’t win. No. No, the Church was still alive. They were laying low, poisoning the world one person at a time. You should’ve caught onto it earlier, seeing the reporter’s eyes glow the color that’ll forever haunt your dreams. How quick the moment was, how smooth and undercover. Nobody would be the wiser as they all carried on with their day. But your mind didn’t make the connection at the time. Now… They have control of him. Your boy. “Let him go,” you pleaded softly, your head moving side to side very subtly.

“Mommy, you’re scaring me.”

You moved forward, pointing a finger at him. “Why are you here?” Your voice came out low, dangerous through clenched teeth. Your pupils narrowed with an anger Anthony has never seen on you before, your steps quiet and steady like a predator stalking its prey. 

“It’s me!” he cried, his face red with tears as you gripped his shoulders. “It’s me, mommy! It’s your T!”

“Leave him alone!”

“You’re hurting me!” Sobs erupted from his throat, and it was in that instance that a force pushed you away. 

Natasha stood in front of him protectively, her green eyes narrowed onto you as you staggered backward, still reeling from the strength of her push. “What are you doing?” Her voice, just like yours, was low and dangerous. Only hers was a lot more threatening than you could ever dream of being. “That is our child.” She was eerily calm, yet you weren’t oblivious to the hidden tone in her words.

“No,” you claimed, shaking your head. “They’re still out there. They- They got to him. They’re taking our child away from us! That” - you pointed at the kid who looked like your boy, but you knew better - “is not Anthony.”

The Russian crossed her arms over her chest, her jaw tight, her stance set. “What is going on with you, Y/N?”

“Please, Nat.” Your voice was still low, but it was pleading now. You needed her to see the truth before they won this silent war. “The Church is alive.”

“The Church has been gone for a year,” she said. “We got rid of them. They’re not possessing anybody. And they’re certainly not taking our boy. He is still T.” She was calmer now than she was five seconds ago after seeing the genuine fear in your eyes. Her shoulders relaxed, and her protective stance crumbled as she took a small step toward you. “Don’t you remember how happy we were the day we brought him home?”

You blinked at her question, eyebrows furrowed tightly together as you straightened your form. “I…” You tried to convince yourself to recall the day you had adopted the little boy, even if it was made up, yet the memory of what should be a joyous, memorable day was lost on you. Any good parent could tell you the story of their child coming into their life - adopted or not - but you were finding difficulty in doing just that. Your heart started playing drums on your ribcage as you stared at Natasha. “I don’t remember,” you whispered, shaking your head. “Why can’t I remember?” 

The memories of important events were nothing but black holes in your mind. Avengers Day, Anthony’s adoption, your… wedding. Natasha in a wedding gown surely would’ve made a permanent home in your brain, yet you got nothing.

It was during your mental battle in trying to remember that Natasha turned to whisper something to Anthony before he ran out of the room as fast as his little legs could carry him. But you couldn’t care about whatever it was she sent him to do as you made eye contact with her once again, pupils wide with panic. “I can’t remember, Nat,” you whispered, your nose burning as tears threatened your vision. Her face softened as she took one more step to you, bringing your hands into hers as she breathed out softly. “I can’t remember. I can’t remember. Why-”

“You’re just tired, detka,” she said gently, a warm smile tugging her lips as she moved one of her hands to rest against your cheek. You leaned into her touch, your eyes fluttering close allowed you to feel just how truly exhausted you were. “This day was very stressful, I know. It brought back so many memories that we all just wished to forget.”

“I’m sorry,” you murmured, shaking your head against her palm as a tear slipped through your eyelid to crawl down your cheek. “I’m so sorry.”

“Come on.” She used the hold on one of your hands to tug you back to the bed. “I’ll take T out for dinner and you can apologize to him when we get back.” She smiled at you as your eyes fluttered open, nodding your head as you sat down. “But, in the meantime, you get some rest.” She planted a soft, warm kiss against your forehead, giving your hand a squeeze before slowly walking out of the room, flicking the light off as she closed the door behind her.

But, instead of doing as she said and closing your eyes to get some much-needed sleep, you waited. You held your breath, straining your ears to listen to the front door open and close. Followed by the sound of the car starting and driving off. You were on your feet in an instant, leaving the bedroom and stepping into the living room. You eyed the framed photos lined up on the fireplace, but none of them triggered any memories for you. No, they all just felt as if they were planted here. As if they were… fake. Just photos of you, Natasha, and Anthony at a studio with different backgrounds and different clothes.

They could’ve been taken on the same day.

You found yourself making your way to a closet sitting next to the kitchen, only used mostly for storing cleaning supplies such as brooms and vacuums, but lingering at the top of the small cubicle was a photo album sitting on top of the shelf. After moving the necessary things to achieve your goal, you had the book in your hands within a few minutes. But flipping through the pages only caused the panic that had settled at the pit of your stomach to grow once more. No photos of your wedding. No photos of your friends. Not even any photos of your days as an Avenger. Just the same type of pictures that sat on your fireplace mantel. Different backgrounds. Different clothes. Yet the same smile in every single one.

“Hello?” You had a broom in your hand within mere seconds, aiming the point of it at whoever entered your home unannounced. You huffed when you met Dr. Woods’s eye, his hands in the air as the pole of the cleaning supply dug into his throat. “A little on edge, are we?” He laughed, though it was a nervous sound as you returned everything to the closet, including the photo album.

“Why are you here, Woods?” you questioned, turning away from him to make your way into the kitchen.

“Tony called me,” he answered. “He was pretty hysterical on the phone, I barely understood him.” He let out a long, hefty breath as you grabbed a cup from the cabinet. “Do you want to-”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” you claimed, running the faucet to fill up your glass. “I was tired. That’s all there is to know.”

“You think the Church is back.” It wasn’t a question, you knew that. And your grip on the edge of the counter only tightened as you turned the faucet off a bit too harshly. “What’d you do yesterday?” You turned around to look at him, leaning against the counter and ultimately ignoring your glass of water left in the sink. “I’m not here as your shrink, Y/N. Just consider it two friends catching up.”

You crossed your arms over your chest, your eyes staring at him as you thought about yesterday. It was a simple question, one that should hold an even simpler answer… So why were you having so much trouble giving him one? Even going as far as making something up would please the doctor. You chewed the inside of your cheek, your shoulders falling as you were forced to face the issue at hand.

“Okay,” you stated, stepping towards him. “I don’t remember.”

“What’s the last thing you remember?” he questioned.

“This morning,” you answered. “I played with Tony-”

“Before that,” he interrupted.

You sighed, shrugging your shoulders carelessly as you worked your brain. “Uh…” You blew air out between your lips, sounding a bit like a motorboat before finally confessing the truth. “I remember watching the news,” you said.

“That’s good,” he expressed, nodding in approval.

“Wanda revealed herself to be the Matriarch.”

“O-kay… Not good.” He watched you carefully, resting his hands on his hips as you raised an eyebrow at him. 

“Nothing is making sense, Woods,” you claimed. “Why are there no actual pictures? W-Why can’t I remember key dates like my own wedding? It’s like I was just… planted here. Like I’m… I’m living someone else’s life.”

“What do you remember before that?” he asked, and he shrugged when you met his gaze. “I’m curious.”

“Waking up in your house after the collapse.”

“Before that.”

You huffed, turning away from him and furrowing your eyebrows as you rubbed the back of your neck. Your eyes fluttered close, sucking in a deep breath and giving yourself a moment to actually think. There was the explosion, traces of purple floating through your memories as you watched Natasha’s eyes change, succumbing to the Promise once again. “Natasha stabbed me.”

“During your fight with the Church,” he claimed, nodding as you turned back to look at him. “She told me about that. Honestly, I thought you were a goner, but, damn.” He laughed lightly, causing you to raise a curious brow at him, silently questioning what he found so humorous. “You’re like a boomerang, Y/N. You keep coming back…”

“You’re like my boomerang, Y/N.” You turned your head to look at her, meeting her gaze with curiosity. Her dazzling green eyes shined brighter than any light that has ever existed, causing your stomach to twist with warmth and fuzziness. “You keep coming back to me.”

You laughed softly, leaning forward slightly as you asked, “What do you mean?”

“I tried to move on. Many times.” Her smile held a hint of sadness, and you fought the urge to reach out to her. “Maybe I’m just bad at letting you go. Maybe because, every time you leave, I lose a little piece of me.”

There was a heavy fist coming from the front door, pulling you out of her mesmerizing gaze to look up at the ceiling. You said nothing, but you felt an uncomfortable pressure against your chest as his voice seemed to echo through the house, reaching the bedroom, begging the woman laying next to you for a second chance. Yet you both ignored it as she rolled over, draping her arm gently across your shoulders as you instinctively wrapped your hand around hers.

“Y/N?” You blinked yourself out of the past, furrowing your eyebrows to see Woods snapping his fingers in front of your face. He took a respectful step back as he cleared his throat, though his gaze held interest as his eyes lingered on you. “Where’d you go?”

“I…” You huffed, replaying that moment in your head over and over again. The moment felt real, genuine. You could remember the feeling of the heat radiating from her body as if it had just happened yesterday. The kisses, the touches, the way she whispered your name in your ear breathlessly. Wanda… You’re not dead, are you? “I don’t know…”

Why was the memory so much different than the others? Why did it feel more authentic?

“I don’t need a shrink,” you claimed, pulling yourself out of your mind before you spiraled even further in front of the doctor. “I just need something to eat and some sleep.” You turned away from him, pulling open the refrigerator as you stared at the contents inside. Yet, you didn’t move to grab anything. 

“I can’t help you if you won’t let me,” Woods claimed, but you didn’t look at him as you continued to stand in front of the opened fridge, chewing the inside of your cheek. You could hear him sigh, defeated. “You know my number if you decide to want my help.”

You listened to his footsteps depart, and then released your hold on the refrigerator, allowing the door to swing shut.

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Laughter could be heard throughout the house, drawing you out of your dreamless slumber. You released a soft sigh, allowing your eyes to flutter close once more. Though you knew there was no more sleep you were going to get today, you were going to allow yourself to lay in this comfort for a bit longer.

Yet the more you stayed there, the more your mind wandered. Trying to decipher the memories your brain was conjuring up, stuck in this endless loop of uncertainty. And you were half-expecting to see Wanda when you rolled over, huffing as you run your hands down your face. You could hear her voice, a distant whisper in the back of your mind. Her warm laugh echoing in your head. Her death - though so long ago - felt as if it were fresh.

Just like everything else.

It took you a moment, but you finally managed to force yourself out of bed to follow the heartwarming giggling to the kitchen. There you could find your family sitting at the kitchen table, a couple of mugs and a plate of cookies sitting in front of them. Natasha met your gaze the second you appeared at the doorway, her smile slightly fading away as she watched you with wariness. You didn’t blame her. You held a sense of caution with yourself. Especially around Anthony. 

“Hey.” Your voice was soft as you entered the room, yet it earned Anthony’s attention either way. He shot you a wide smile from his seat, his legs kicking underneath the table as he showed you the same love he always does... As if your whole episode last night didn’t happen at all.

“Hi, mommy,” he said. “Mama’s letting me have Oreos for breakfast.” He chuckled happily as he reached for another cookie, and you smiled lightly as he popped the entire thing into his mouth. 

“I don’t think we raised him right, Y/N,” Natasha claimed, earning a muffled giggle from Anthony. “He’s just eating the entire Oreo at once…”

“Did you just eat an entire Oreo at once like a heathen?” Her light laughter echoed in your head.

“I’ve been eating Oreos for a long time, Y/N, I would think I know how they should be eaten.” She was happy. Despite everything, you were happy. How did it ever come to an end?

“Show me how you eat it, mama,” the little boy challenged, his voice pulling you out of your head. He picked up a cookie and wiggled it at her. Natasha wasn’t really the type to turn down a challenge, whether it be against a child or not, so she didn’t hesitate to snatch it out of his tiny fingers, quickly dunking it into his milk and laughing in victory while biting half the cookie off into her mouth. Anthony’s mouth formed an O as he looked down into his cup.

“Look at all the little crumbs floating around.” Your chest tightened uneasily.

“He’s your child,” she declared with a playful grin, earning another giggle from the child as he grabbed more Oreos. “How’re you feeling, detka?”

You pursed your lips together tightly, nodding at her question as you quickly averted your gaze to Anthony, who had now resorted to taking the cookie apart so he could get to the cream in the middle. “Hey, buddy,” you expressed, making your way to the table to sit in the empty chair next to him. “How about we do something fun today? We can go to the movies. Maybe get ice cream later.”

“He’s got school,” Natasha pointed out.

“After, then,” you suggested.

“Uncle Steve is taking me to the park,” Anthony expressed, and you sighed softly as you leaned back into the chair, crossing your arms over your chest and chewing the inside of your cheek. You watched the little boy bite into the cookie, flashing you a wide, proud grin. But you could only laugh when you noticed the bits of chocolate stuck in his teeth.

“C’mon, T,” Natasha started, “it’s time to get ready.” She pulled the plate of Oreos towards her, preventing him from snatching another cookie as he hopped off the chair.

He started walking away as you rested your elbow against the table, placing your chin in your palm, but he stopped abruptly to turn around. “Can we go tomorrow?” You turned your head to look at him, smiling softly at his offer. 

“Of course, sweetheart,” you promised. “Now go on. You don’t want to be late.” You straightened your form when he ran off, leaving you alone with Natasha. You could feel her eyes boring a hole in the side of your face, drawing circles with your nails on the surface of the table. You wondered how long she was willing to sit here in silence before she broke it, but you also knew the Russian was more than ready to go as long as she needed until you were the one to break first. “I’ll clean-”

“I got it.” She stood up before you could beat her to it, a sigh passing your lips as she collected the dishes on the table and walked away. “Is there a reason why you ignored my question?”

“I am feeling great,” you said, getting up and slowly making your way to her. “Refreshed. Energized.” You looped an arm around her waist, spinning her around and pulling her flush against your body. You swayed back and forth to invisible music, sending her a mischievous smirk as you added, “Since Tony’s going to be gone, we’ll have the entire house to ourselves.”

She laughed lightly, her breath fanning across your face as your lips brushed across hers. “As fun as that would be, you know I have to go to work.” You stopped swaying, blinking as you stared at her. Your eyebrows pinched together slightly, your head tilting to the side, and you allowed her to step away from you so she could finish cleaning the dishes.

“Work?” Honestly, you didn’t even think about that. You can’t really even imagine Natasha having a job that isn’t being an Avenger, or something of that extent. It was reasonable for her words to catch you off guard… if you were hearing it for the first time. And it felt like you were.

She hummed in agreement, nodding as she turned the faucet on. “The house doesn’t pay for itself, Y/N,” she pointed out, chuckling under her breath. “And we got the bills, and we need to get food, and-”

“Alright, alright. I get it,” you claimed, and she laughed once more as she turned the sink off, turning to look at you once more. “I have errands to run today anyway.”

“Are you not going to work?” You blinked at her, her question echoing in your mind as if it was the worst thing she has ever said to you in your entire life. You have a job?

And a job you did have. It wasn’t the best job considering the last job you had was saving the world from threats nobody else dared to face, but it was something that - apparently - paid the bills. No, this job just had you saving parents from having to work with a babysitter. A daycare was the last place you expected to be, but it wasn’t the worst.

All the children knew you, shouting your name with excitement when they entered the building, running up to wrap their arms around your legs in a hug as their mom or dad snuck out of the room unseen. You were loved here as if you weren’t a complete stranger to all these kids. But that’s what you felt like. These kids knew you, but you didn’t know them.

“Miss Y/N?” You turned your head to look at the little girl, crouching down to her level so you could make eye contact with her. She smiled widely, her fingers pinching the hem of her shirt as she said, “I built something and I wanna show you. Follow me!” She ran off, and a soft laugh slipped through your nose as you ultimately followed her command.

She guided you across the foam floor, standing in front of a pillow fort that towered against the corner. 

“Do you like it?” She beamed brightly, turning away from you before you could answer her question to pull open the blanket door. “You can come in! But you have to tell me the password.” She stepped forward, holding her free hand around her mouth to whisper the password in your direction before she disappeared into the fort.

You cleared your throat before asking, “May I enter?”

“What’s the password?”

“I’m pretty sure you won’t be sitting underneath an impressive pillow fort if nothing happened.” You chewed the inside of your cheek, eyebrows furrowed tightly.

“You think my fort’s impressive?”

You walked away, and the little girl’s voice calling your name from behind was just a distant echo as the reminiscent feeling of all the pillows collapsing onto you overtook your body, the sound of her fading laughter filling your mind. Your vision was clouded with memories of Wanda’s smile, of her nose scrunch, of her sparkling eyes. But they were ultimately replaced with her frown, the sorrow in her eyes, a purple tint to the memories as she glanced at you sadly from the other side of the room. You could feel your chest tighten once again, suffocating your heart as you stumbled to your car.

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It was hard reading her name engraved into a stone used to mark a grave. It made all those questionable thoughts about her death disappear as it became more real, crouching down to wipe away the loose dirt that built up at the bottom of the tombstone. You couldn’t stop the tear from crawling down your cheek, but you managed to run your arm across your face to prevent it from getting much further.

“I’m not sure when the last time I visited you was,” you confessed, pursing your lips into a thin line as your hands lingered on the headstone, “but I bet you’re still watching me from wherever you are. You’re always keeping an eye on me.” You sucked in a shaky breath, running a hand across the engravement. “And I bet you’re just absolutely floored to see where I am right now.” You laughed, though the sound was humorless as you looked down at the grass. “I married Nat. And we have a kid now.” A soft smile tugged the corners of your lips. “I know what you’d say. You’d probably call me all different types of names in Sokovian.” Tears fell from your eyes as your nose burned, and the next thing you said came out uneven, “But I forgave you, huh, so why not forgive…”

The feeling of realization hit you so fast, it brought a nauseating twist to your gut as you looked up at her name once more. Your eyebrows pinched together, and the tears that poured from your eyes turned hot with anger as your jaw locked dangerously tight. You climbed to your feet, your hands balled into fists, and fury formed a tight knot in your chest as you turned to walk away once more.

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“We’re home!” Her voice nearly echoed through the dark house, followed by the door closing shut behind them. It was always an instinct to flicker the light on whenever entering a room, and that’s what she did. She turned on the light and instantly found you sitting on the couch, a cup of amber liquid dangling from the tips of your fingers. Her face contorted into confusion as she sent Anthony to get ready for bed before making her way to you in slow, calculated movements. “Y/N?” She stopped at the doorway of the living room, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I figured it out,” you expressed, your voice monotone as you snorted out a humorless chuckle. You shook your head, lifting the glass in the air as you continued to stare at the blank TV. “It’s all coming together quite nicely now.”

“What are you talking about?” She took a few more steps toward you. “Are you drunk?”

“Not drunk enough,” you countered, turning your head to look at her. You made eye contact as you took another sip of your drink, and she released a heft breath as she sat down on the other end of the couch. 

“Y/N…” She cleared her throat. “Maybe you should get some rest.”

“What did you do that made me forgive you so fast?” you questioned, your tongue flicking out to lick your lips as you awaited an answer. She could only seem to stare at you with an unchanged expression.

“I don’t know what you’re-”

“That’s the thing, Nat,” you interrupted, leaning forward to place your drink on the coffee table. “I didn’t forgive you.”

She scoffed, shaking her head. “Of course you did,” she argued. “We wouldn’t be married if you didn’t.”

“We’re not married.”

“Our certificate says otherwise.”

“So show me,” you challenged, raising an eyebrow at her. 

“What?”

“Show me the certificate, Nat.” But she just sat there, unmoving. As if your demand wasn’t to be taken seriously. You could feel your heart speed up the longer she didn’t say anything. “You can’t, can you?”

“I shouldn’t have to,” she claimed defensively. 

“It’s too bad Bruce is dead,” you expressed with a casual shrug. “You would’ve married him instead.”

“What has gotten into you?” she demanded, standing up. “It’s been over a year since I-”

“No, it wasn’t!” Your voice was loud, you couldn’t control it. The anger unraveled in your chest, bringing you to your feet as your eyes grew red with unshed tears. You couldn’t bare to look at her, but you couldn’t find it in yourself to turn away. Her pupils were wide, wrapping her arms around you as she maintained eye contact. “It wasn’t to me,” you sneered.

“Y/N-”

“It hasn’t been a year since you broke my heart. It hasn’t been a year since you destroyed my trust. It’s been a month since you ruined my life!”

“You need to calm down right now.” Her tone was serious, a warning just as it had been last night. You refused to cower away from this. No, you had to get to the truth. You had to know why you couldn’t remember anything that led up to this life. Though you knew you shouldn’t. It was a happy life. You had a family; a kid and a wife. You had taken that next step with Natasha, the step you had always wanted to take long before. But not like this. Not anymore.

“I stopped wanting to marry you the second I caught you in that bed with him,” you said. “That was the day I realized that we had very different meanings of love.” You rubbed your forehead as your eyes fluttered close, smirking. “When I said I loved you, I meant forever. When you said you loved me, you meant temporarily.”

“I do love you,” she expressed defensively. “I loved you then and I love you now, Y/N.”

You shook your head, opening your eyes to look at her once more. “Our love is broken, Nat. And we need to stop pretending it isn’t.”

“We can fix it.” She stepped forward, ignoring the anger still boiling in your veins as she reached up to bring your face between her hands. Her touch was gentle, warm, and you had to fight everything in your body to stop yourself from leaning into it. “Y/N, detka… We can fix it.” Her voice was much softer now, and her eyes… Her eyes were shimmering with hope, sparkling like you were looking at the night sky. She had a light smile on her face, and her thumbs were running smooth circles against your skin. You could feel yourself giving in, your hands twitching as you resisted the urge to feel her. But your shoulders fell, your muscles easing out of their tense state as you slowly succumbed to her touch.

“Please fix it,” you whispered, feeling her swipe her thumb quickly to catch a stray tear. 

“I will.” She nodded, her small smile growing very slightly as you stepped forward to close the distance, wrapping your arms around her to bring her into a tight hug. You rested your chin on her shoulder, your eyes closing as she pulled you flushed against her. “I promise.”

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“I’m glad you called me.” You placed a steaming cup in front of him, smiling as he accepted the offering. You watched as he blew on the liquid for a moment before taking a timid sip. “Actually, I’m more shocked than anything.” Woods laughed lightly as he looked back up at you, meeting your gaze. 

You nodded, crossing your arms over your chest. “I want to talk,” you said. “Something hasn’t been sitting right with me and I was hoping you’d fill in the blanks.”

“Well, I’ll do my best to ease the uneasiness.” He laughed softly once more, and you pursed your lips and raised your eyebrows briefly before turning away from him to sit down. “What’s been on your mind?”

“Everything that happened between now and Avengers Day is just… blank. But I keep getting overwhelmed by all these memories,” you started, rubbing your hands together. “Some are just normal. Others have, like, this… sickly purple tint to them.” You picked your head up to meet his eye once again, catching him in deep thought as he listened. “I just want to understand why.”

“Do you still believe the Church is alive?” You stared at him for a bit longer, wondering if he was trying to lead you into a trap. Natasha had practically looked at you as if you were absolutely insane for suggesting the Church was still around. Was he trying to do the same? “Because, if you do, that could lead to the delusion that you’re seeing purple in your memories.” He cleared his throat, picking his hand up as he added, “It’s like someone thinking they’re being followed. Allowing yourself to strongly believe such a thing is causing you to become paranoid.”

“When Steve succumbed to the Church, they went to the Avengers Tower. How much of a coincidence could it have been that the only survivors of that entire battle were Vision and Bruce?” Two people you most definitely didn’t want to deal with amongst everything else at the time.

“Well, I wasn’t there, so I wouldn’t really be able to calculate that math,” he confessed, though the smile he was fighting to hide showed he was joking.

“And Wanda…” You remembered pulling open that front door; the way he was kissing her, and the way she was kissing back. The feelings you experienced at the time. “She kissed Vision when I thought that we… But she wouldn’t ever do anything like that to me, right?”

“But she did,” he claimed, furrowing his eyebrows, tilting his head slightly. 

“I got Nat, I got Tony. I…” You huffed. “I love them. They are my… my family.” Despite the doubts that were placed in your brain, Natasha was the one you wanted… right? “And I want to enjoy this time I have with them. I want to… live this life like I always wanted.”

“What are you getting at, Y/N?”

“It’s like my-my brain is fighting something and I...”

“Y/N-”

“Maybe I never beat the Church. Maybe… I never got out of the Promise.”

He sighed, scratching his chin.

“I think I’m still in it, Woods,” you explained, leaning forward, “and I need you to help me believe I’m not.”

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She was lost in thought, her eyes distant as she chewed the inside of her cheek. She wasn’t focused on the conversation going on around her, racking her brain for a solution to the problem at hand. But nothing she could think of provided the answer she wanted. They all only led to unwelcoming conclusions.

“Nat.” She was pulled out of her daze by the gentle call of her name, focusing her gaze on the patriot sitting across from her. “You okay?” His stare was soft, sympathetic, with his arms crossed over his chest in a casual manner. He was in no rush at the moment, taking the time now to relax before getting to work. “She’s going to be okay. We’ll figure this out, we always do.”

“I suggest locking her up in a cell and throwing away the key.” She looked towards Tony, who was sitting against the wall, coddling his left arm. Her pupils were narrowed with annoyance, but he was never one to cower away from her glares. “She’s the reason for-”

“Stark is right.” The Russian huffed, her eyes snapping on Bruce. “She should be punished for what she did.”

Natasha scoffed, crossing her arms across her chest in a much more defensive way than Steve. “We all did things we’re not proud of.”

“She’s done a lot worse, Nat,” Bruce expressed, his voice filled with a worry that only irritated her more.

“We didn’t blow up the tower,” Stark countered.

“Once she snaps out of it-”

“If,” Tony corrected, but the scientist continued as if he didn’t.

“-then we have to prepare ourselves for whatever happens afterward.”

Natasha turned to Steve, who had been staring at her with calculating eyes the entire time. “You’re not going to arrest her,” she stated. It wasn’t a question, he knew that, but he wasn’t going to delve into a problem that was set in the future. He needed to return the focus to the now.

“We’ll talk about that after,” Steve assured, bringing sadness to Natasha as she looked down at her hands. “For now, we have to figure out a way to help her. She’s the only one who can fix this problem.”

“She’s not the only one who can fix it,” Tony announced, causing the patriot to roll his eyes.

“We don’t need any more deaths, Tony,” Steve declared. “Wanda thinks she died in the fall, but if we manage to pull her out-”

Natasha picked her head up to look at you once more, and it made her sick to her stomach to see you tied to that chair. But she was nearly certain you weren’t aware of your surroundings at the moment. With your posture straight, your stare unblinking, and the purple aura surrounding your body, you were lost in a paradise formed by your own mind.

“-we can save everybody.”

[imnotasuperhero]

Drabble nº? (Set somewhere at the beginning of SB) - W.M

Summary: Sometimes, talks in the early morning can open your eyes to new possibilities.

A/N: Day 2 of Promptober, guys! (I know I'm super late, but I'm trying here. Lol) Hopefully, I'll get to squish my muses to complete all 31 days before the month ends. For now, enjoy this small something to add background to my ongoing baker!Wanda AU.

Could've I written more and post it on Sunday or later? Yes. But the need to try and catch up with the missing days made me do it.

-

The sweet scent of apples awoke you from a peaceful sleep, lifting your spirits to the stratosphere. With lazy socked feet, you brushed your sleep away as you made your way to the kitchen, just to feel the cozy feeling inside turn into uncertainty at the realization that the low music coming from the kitchen was no other than…

"You're up early," the brunette smiled softly as she finished pouring the batter into the mold.

"I blame your baking skills," you shrugged, ignoring the storm of feelings forming inside your chest at the sound of her soft giggles.

"Something good had to come out of it," Wanda closed the oven before turning around, landing those deep greeny eyes on you. "How did you sleep?" She relaxed her shoulders after a few seconds too long.

Smiling wickedly, you laughed drily. "It was okay. But we both know that's not what you wanted to ask."

"Can you stop reading me?" Wanda grunted before reaching to the cupboard.

Instead of answering, you rounded the table and stood beside her, with your hip perched on the countertop.

"Y/N," she warned, sending shivers down your spine.

"Answer me," you pushed.

You witnessed with rapt attention the way in which her jaw clenched at the time she swallowed hard, a clear sign that she was fighting with herself.

"Is it true what you said yesterday?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Yes," you answered firmly.

Scrunitizing her reaction, your heart skiped a beat at those old quirks you've learned to recognize throughout all the years. But it wasn't till her eyes found yours that you saw a spark you knew too well but weren't able to pinpoint yet. Or maybe you did, but part of you didn't want to accept the new reality in fears of your heart shattering all over again.

Maybe this time, you could use all the lessons you learned to protect yourself. Maybe this was the endgame you always wanted but shoved in a corner of your heart.

Maybe, and just maybe, you've reached your destiny.

Taglist: @wandabear @red1culous @xxxtwilightaxelxxx @when-wolves-howl @sunsol-22 @romanoffomixam @casquinhaa @fxckmiup @snowtrova (if you wanna be added to the Promptober days or in my fics in general, let me know)

[thenatashamaximoff]

Quick To Love; Ch. 2

Summary: With the fresh wound of losing her brother, she’s quick to judge the new speedster that doesn’t seem to stop showing up.

Pairing: Wanda x Reader

Warnings: blood, death, mentions of kidnapping

Words: 31,320

✎ | ϟ

┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━ϟ━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓ @madamevirgo @youralphawolf72 @wandanatfan @tchizooox @princess-kennys-rats @wandsmxmff @inluvwithfictionalwomen @screechcat​  ┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━ϟ━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛ ┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━ᗢ━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓ @women-am-i-right @creatively-analytical @obessed-with-wandamaximoff @beforeoursecrets @iliketozoneout @olsensnpm @diaryoflife ┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━ᗢ━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛ ┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━∞━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓ @myfavoriteficss @pinkytoecrust @cyncity32 @romanoffomixam @peachbear88 @magicallymaximoff @therealmeari @peggycarter-steverogers @ba-romanoff @natashabelovas @morbid-gaymer @reminiscingtonight @when-wolves-howl @idontknownemore @natashasilverfox @sayah13  ┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━∞━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

“Trust. It's such a delicate thing, isn't it?” Dr. Banker grinned a smile that caused your stomach to drop seemingly twenty feet. "You've come to trust SHIELD, yet do they trust you?" Your form straightened, your feet shuffling at the scientist's words. "I'm aware of the others. The android, the archer. The assassin. We know they're here." She crossed her arms over her chest, knowing she had your attention by the way your eyes snapped onto hers. "Let's see just how fast you truly are, my child." Her laughter was slow on release, ringing in your ears as your mind raced through all the possible scenarios that could happen, trying to pinpoint the exact one that will.

She was aware of the team. You figured that much - four Avengers walking into a HYDRA-owned mansion was definitely not going to go unnoticed. You had to think. They weren’t going to do anything to them, they had thousands of guests in that ballroom. The team was safe. But you didn’t believe that. How could you? Since when was HYDRA scared to pull the trigger on innocents? They weren’t scared to perform endless experiments on kids, they certainly won’t be scared to wipe out a whole ballroom of civilians. Surely that wasn’t the plan. Surely they came up with something more discreet. Dr. Banker was a scientist, after all, she was all brains, no brawns. But why single out Natasha? It seems that the woman kept close tabs on you, most likely through the likes of Frosty and Blaze. They know of the assassin. How you two had begun working together. How close the two of you had gotten. A friend you had stumbled across, purely coincidental, and though your bond at first had its ups and downs as any other friendship would in the beginning, it was a relationship you’d never regret forming. Something with Natasha? Something was going to happen to Natasha. But it didn’t seem to matter how much time you gave yourself, the woman’s laugh came to an end as you reentered the present. Your eyes snapped onto Maximoff’s, and the fear swimming in the deep seas of green told you you needed to save her. Now.

She exerted her weight onto one foot, an attempt to step towards you, but her movements were so slow it was as if she were standing still. Take care of her first, prevent any harm from coming to her. You needed to deal with all the armed guards, though that part was easy. A fist to each of their faces - hard enough to knock them out, soft enough not to kill them - and you were gone, speeding through the hallway.

Snail. That’s the first word that came to your mind when you reached the ballroom. To you, it seemed as if you were watching a movie at the slowest speed, and the sight you came across - soldiers shooting guns left and right in an attempt to hit anybody and everybody - burned your blood with anger. You raced forward, just slightly pushing someone out of harm's way, nudging a bullet onto a harmless path, sending a fist into the jaws of HYDRA agents. Anything that you could do to stop the amount of death that would happen, you did it. But even working as fast as you could didn’t seem to be enough, your eyes immediately finding Natasha in the middle of the dance floor, meeting her gaze as if she seemed to be looking directly at you.

You weren’t oblivious to the bullet zooming towards her, and your heart lurched in your chest as you started racing. Your arm raised, your fingers stretching as far as you could extend them, the bullet mere inches from your reach, yet when you closed your hand… everything went back to normal. The sounds of screams reached your ears, the clatter of bullets penetrating the walls or falling harmlessly to the ground, and the gut wrenching shock that you could see build in Natasha’s eyes as her skin paled when the bullet hit its mark, it all seemed surreal as you collided into her, your arms catching her before she could even begin to fall. Your vision was obscured by a thick layer of tears yearning to be released, your nose burned as you rocked back and forth, the warm, wet substance staining your hand as you pushed against the wound. Your body begged your mind to let it out, to let it all out, but it wasn't listening. How could you possibly listen to such a command when all you needed right now was to save her? But you couldn't. 

Because you weren’t fast enough.

You weren’t fast enough.

Y o u    w e r e n ’ t    f a s t    e n o u g h.

Y   o   u   w   e   r   e   n   ’   t   f   a   s   t   e   n   o   u   g   h.

“Y/N?” You snapped out of the daze, sucking in a deep breath as you turned your head away from the window. You looked at Clint, his sad features were something you hadn’t seen before. Not on him. And his touch was heavy yet soft, though you hadn’t even processed his hand on your shoulder until he pulled it away. His gaze averted down to your hands resting on the windowsill, and you were vaguely aware of the blood that still stained your skin, your clothes - dried yet sticky. You looked back through the glass, feeling your heart freeze as you stared at Natasha in the hospital bed. “The doctors don’t know when she’s going to wake up.” His voice. It seemed… distant. As if he were on the other side of the hall. Far, barely there. It was hard to focus on, a muffled noise in the background. “You saved a lot of people, kid.”

I didn’t save her. You had wanted to say it, but you couldn’t find the energy to open your mouth never mind your capability of locating your voice. Instead, you forced yourself away from the window showcasing the comatose redhead and walked away, feeling the eyes of the archer trail after you before disappearing around the corner. Within an instant, the halls of the hospital surrounding you disappeared, and you were racing through the streets.

With your mind in such a muddled, foggy state, you hadn't even realized where you were until you were forced to a stop when you collided into a stack of books in the corner. You pulled away with a hiss at the moment your head collided with the wall, turning away quickly to look around the space you had designated a temporary home. Anger built up in your chest, Natasha's drained face fresh on your mind, Dr. Banker's smug grin hidden behind every thought. Your hands clenched into tight fists, your jaw locking as your eyes narrowed. Yet you didn't give yourself a chance to process the emotion as the front door opened.

Her voice. Maximoff. Darling. It filled the room, a small dose of reprieve to the layers of pain and anger. Your consciousness reached for her, desperate to feel her, yet your mind forbade you to move. Your eyes fluttered close, the creaks coming from the floor as she walked to you seemed too loud in your mind as you will yourself to just relax.

You turned around to face her, the sight of her causing your frozen heart to become warm once more. You fixed yourself, straightening your posture as you sent her a smile, though by the way she was looking at you, it seemed she was seeing right through your façade. You could feel it deteriorating the longer her soft, emerald eyes continued to look at you as if you were a wounded puppy. You had to do something, say something. Anything.

But you were too numb to find your voice, incapable of feeling even her grip on your wrist when she stepped closer to you. You breathed out slowly when she reached up with her free hand, swiping her thumb at something on your temple - probably the fresh trickle of blood that had managed to escape upon hitting your head - her strokes delicate and gentle. The longer she held onto you, the more responsive you found yourself becoming. The warmth she provided in her touch alone seemed to be breaking through the senseless state you had succumbed to. You could feel the loosening of your muscles when she grabbed you, and she seemed to have felt it, too, because her grip only became tighter. As if she were scared to let you go.

You didn't stop her from pulling you to the bathroom, watching her maneuver your hands into the sink to help you wash off the blood. Natasha's blood. A stain coloring your skin to symbolize your failure.

Your stomach was in knots as you watched the clear water turn red, though the feeling of Darling’s hands running over yours slowly began to untangle the web of nausea in your gut. It felt as if you weren’t breathing, a pressure building in your chest preventing your lungs from getting the air they need to function. Feeling yourself begin to succumb to the bottomless pool of pain that has gathered beneath you from the agonizing years people would call childhood. But Darling? She… eased the pain. Made it bearable. Her touch brought a sensational burning that formed underneath your skin, making the pool look like a microscopic puddle in the thick of a forest fire. Delicate and smooth against your hands, rubbing the blood off your skin so that you could look at them without feeling a sense of dread. 

You had lost yourself staring at her, how calm her face looked in a situation such as this. You hadn’t even realized she had turned off the faucet until she looked up to meet your gaze. How close you were to her, it made the knot in your stomach tangle even more. Only, this time, it wasn’t causing nauseous discomfort. She whispered something, yet the sound was almost inaudible as she placed a wet, tender hand on your cheek briefly before walking away, not giving you any time to lean into her touch. Your lips pursed together tightly, your head falling, and that was when you saw the red stains covering your clothes.

She waited in the other room as you changed, yet the only thing you could do was stand in front of the dresser, staring out at what little window you could see. The planet that was seen through the glass seemed to keep spinning despite the heavy burden that weighed your shoulders down. Did they not feel the loss that’s bound to bring the world into ruins?

Your world and theirs were not the same.

“Hey.” You blinked, pulling yourself away from the window to look towards her, to actually see her for the first time since the incident. She was no longer wearing the green dress she had been at the ball, having resorted back to more comfortable, casual clothes with your jacket making a home around her, yet she looked beautiful regardless. You couldn’t deny that. It was in due time where you’d get lost in her eyes for so long that even she’d notice it. “Do you want to talk about it?” She leaned against the doorway as your body turned to face her, her hands tucked into the pockets of the jacket.

You sent her a vexed smile as her lips pursed together. “Talk about what?” Your voice didn’t sound as if it were your own, feeling it scratch against your throat like you had drank nothing but sand. Your attempt at nonchalant seemed to fail as she walked towards you, closing the distance with every cautious step, and your breath hitched in your throat when she reached you. “Darling…” Her hands slowly gripped the lapels of your suit jacket, your body instantly relaxing as she moved to shrug the article of clothing off of you. 

She released it, allowing it to fall to a heap at your feet. It was a split second where your eyes flashed towards her lips, a movement she hadn’t noticed. A voice in the back of your head - small yet loud - began to urge you to fall into the desire. The feeling you had gotten when you had first kissed her. In that moment, you had felt nothing but her. Fireworks igniting in your stomach, lava melting through your veins, sparks jolting your heart. It had rendered all of your worries and all of your burdens. It was a serenity in the form of a human, and you were so close in experiencing that once again.

You instinctively braced yourself as she tugged against the knot of your tie, slipping it off from around your neck and letting it go to join the jacket on the floor.

“You need to get in the shower, Y/N.” She was right, you’d admit that, but she had you frozen underneath her touch with the way her hands lingered on one of the buttons of your shirt. You wondered if she, too, wanted to close the distance. She did the first time, what’s changed now? Probably the stains of blood still on your clothes. 

Your hands moved up to meet hers, undoing the button she had been twirling around her fingers in a slow manner. Get rid of the clothes, get rid of the burden weighing your shoulders. It was time to snap out of it. Don’t let Natasha’s condition bring you down. She wasn’t dead, you knew she’d wake up. The Russian was a fighter, a hero. She won't die. She can't die.

Darling’s breath caught in her throat - you heard it, and you could feel a corner of your lip curl slightly at the sound of it - as you continued undoing more buttons. She didn’t move to stop you, she didn’t move to help you. She seemed to be stuck in a trance, her eyes trailing after your moving fingers the more you worked, and your shirt fell open at the last button. Your stomach twisted as she eyed your exposed skin, her bottom lip partly disappearing between her teeth as she looked back up at you through her eyelashes. You were both fighting it; you were both foolish to do so. The temptation was too strong.

You were unsure of who moved first, in all actuality, but the moment her lips found yours was the moment everything washed away. Her hands slid into your shirt, wrapping around your stomach to meet around your back as goosebumps ran up and down your spine, your body shivering as if it were shaking off the essence of burdens. She pulled you closer against her, your body flushed with hers, breaking the kiss so she could breathe, but your lips weren’t done with her just yet. They trailed down painfully slow, gently tracing her jawline towards her neck, planting soft, delicate kisses before stopping at the spot just above her collarbone. She whispered a quiet moan in your ear as you took her skin between your teeth, your name a breath between her lips as her hands roamed up your back until they reached your shoulder blades. Her nails dug into you, surely leaving crescent-shaped markings that wouldn't last as long as you'd like, yet it only enticed you to do more.

But the more would never come as she moved her hands in between your bodies, pressing her palms against your shoulders to push you away from her. She kept you at half arm’s length, giving herself a moment to process what had just happened. You were unsure of what she was thinking, but the uncomfortable twist of your gut told you it was something you weren’t interested in hearing. With a subtle nod of your head, you took a step backward as her hands fell to her sides. Her mouth opened, a word on the tip of her tongue, yet all that came out was a soft sigh when you turned away from her.

“You’re right,” you admitted, pulling your shirt together in an attempt to hide your revealed torso. “I need a shower.” Your head moved to look in her direction, but it seemed as if you couldn’t bring it upon yourself to look at her. “If you want to stay, the bed’s all yours.” You walked away before she could say anything, disappearing into the bathroom as she turned to look at the mattress.

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Running water in the distance was what stirred her awake, her eyes opening slowly as her eyebrows furrowed with confusion. She glanced towards the bathroom as she stretched underneath the comfort of the blanket, huffing heavily as she wondered why you decided to take another shower. You had taken a long one last night, lasting to the point where she had drifted off before you had even finished. 

Her eyes unwillingly fluttered closed as her mind swam, the heat your lips left still lingered on her skin, and her stomach turned as she remembered the way your face fell when she had pushed you away. Though she yearned for more - just another small taste would be enough to quench the growing desire building in her chest - she knew what she had done was for the best. Emotions were running high once you both had time to process the aftermath of the ball, and she didn’t need either of you waking up with regrets.

She forced herself out of the bed, climbing to her feet and eyeing your jacket laying on the corner of the mattress. Once again, her eyebrows furrowed with confusion as she reached for it, letting the clothing hang in between her fingers. She could’ve sworn she had it on when she laid down, staring at it with curiosity. She brought it closer, burying her face in the fabric and breathing in that vanilla hidden amongst the ozone fragrance. Your scent that had lingered in the jacket was been beginning to fade from the length of which she had it on. Yet tugging it on left her in a state of equanimity such as she was when she first put it on. Overcome with your aroma, she found herself pulling the jacket closer to her nose. Ultimately, she was going to have to return it. Just until your scent came back stronger. Then she’d simply take it back. Easy.

Eventually, she had made her way to the kitchen in a part of the apartment she hadn’t ventured before, and the sight of the contents in your refrigerator had her concerned for your way of living. A couple of water bottles, a singular lemon, and an unopened bottle of champagne. She shook her head with a musing smile, scoffing as she started adding more questions to the ever growing list things to ask you.

“I don’t really know how to cook.” She faintly jumped at the sudden sound of your voice, letting the fridge door swing close as she turned around to send you a shocked yet soft smile. You leaned against the counter across from her, wrapping your arms over your chest as you breathed out. The tired look on your face caused her to wonder if you had even slept last night. “Besides, I’m not around often. I only ever come here to catch some Z’s and to meet up with-” Your voice caught in your throat, looking into Wanda’s eyes for a moment before you turned to the floor, chewing the inside of your cheek as one of your knees shook.

“She would’ve been proud of you,” Wanda told you, nodding enthusiastically as you picked your head up. Your jaw was tight with what appeared to be anger, but your eyes held something else. Regret? Guilt? Sorrow?

“How can I believe that?”

“Because I’m proud of you, Y/N.” She furrowed her eyebrows, crossing her arms over her chest as she stood her ground. “You saved hundreds of people. Not a single person in that room died because of you. They all got to return to their families.” She shook her head, maintaining eye contact with you as she added, “And Nat… She just needs a little extra time to come home. I mean, do you really think she’s going to let one bullet take her out?” The smallest of smiles tugged the corners of your lips, and she saw the way your body relaxed as your hands moved to grip the edge of the counter. She cleared her throat, taking a small, quiet step towards you. “Did you take another shower?”

And, just like that, the smile that Wanda had managed to bring out faded away at her question, your chin resting against your chest, but she wasn’t oblivious to the way your eyes looked at your hands. “Yeah,” you answered, your voice low and quiet. Although they were clean, the feeling of her blood seemed to still linger on your skin. It wasn’t an easy feat, getting over something like that so quickly. All she had to do was show you a little patience. “Thank you. For rejecting me last night.” You paused as you looked up, eyebrows furrowed as your head tilted. “That’s definitely not a common statement.”

She laughed lightly, moving to join you against the counter. “Don’t mention it.” You sent her a smile, though it was painfully clear to her how it didn’t reach your eyes. “But we can mention your lack of food.” You pushed away from the counter as you laughed, walking over to a cabinet and pulling it open. 

“You read my mind.” You pulled back to peek at her from around the cabinet door, grinning as you added, “Not literally, of course.”

She rolled her eyes as you laughed once again, choosing to ignore your comment as she added, “You can’t live your life off of protein bars and donuts, Y/N.”

“Certainly not,” you agreed, a hint of laughter still lingering in your voice. “I was actually going to ask…” You trailed off as you pulled out a tin - something you’d find cookies in. Removing the lid, you reached into it as she strained her neck out of curiosity, barely catching a brief glimpse of the contents of the container before you placed the lid back on. 

“What do you have in there?” You raised an eyebrow when you glanced at her, and she her innocent shrug caused you to laugh softly.

“Top secret stuff,” you answered, placing the tin back into the cabinet and closing the door before facing her. “Would you like to go get some lunch with me, Darling?” Her eyes melted into yours as you smirked slyly at her. “Get our minds off of all this… morbid stuff for an hour or two.” You held up a small roll of cash, presumably what you had pulled out of that top secret tin. “I’ll pay.”

“Y/N…” She smiled, stepping away from the counter and towards you slowly. “Are you asking me out?”

You pretended to think, humming dramatically loudly as she watched the sorrow in your eyes melt away into that familiar glint she had come to love. “Yeah, why not?” You offered her your elbow, bowing just slightly and looking up at her through your eyelashes. “Would you do me the honors and go on a date with little ole me, Darling?” She felt the twist of her stomach, a wide smile chipping away at her features. She couldn’t help it, she missed this.

And what she wouldn’t do to give you a break from all the pain..

She looped her arm through your elbow as she said, “I’d love to, Y/N.” She laughed lightly as you led her away from the cabinets in a slow stroll, a flutter in her heart and a skip in her step. You were talking, your tongue forming words that poured out of your mouth, but she had seemed too far gone as she stared at the side of your face. As bright as it was when she had just met you. She could only wish for Natasha’s survival, it was the best she could do. 

“There’s a million places to eat here,” you announced, your voice bleeding through the daze she had fallen into. “You have this Chinese place Clint took me to once, although I’d still like to argue that the food is significantly better in China. Umm, there’s plenty of Italian places to choose from. Oh, I know of this pizza place that gives you free meatballs! Whaaaaat?”

“We should go to this shawarma place I heard about.”

“Are you talking about the one the Avengers ate at after the whole alien invasion?”

She laughed, fully leaning against you as you both took a step out of the kitchen. “How do you know about that?”

“Umm, I happen to be in cahoots with the most talkative, can’t-keep-a-secret-to-save-their-life Avenger there is.” You looked at her, eyes twinkling with humor as you added, “Clint’s a big mouth.” You chuckled softly, but the sound was abruptly interrupted when she tugged you to a sudden stop. The two of you stood near the kitchen entrance, facing each other toe to toe, and she could feel her breath catch in her throat when you met her gaze. “The restaurant isn’t going to come to us, Darling,” you whispered lowly after a heartbeat, your lips twitching as a smile slowly started breaking out on your face. 

“I know,” she said, her voice just as quiet, “but I just…” She cleared her throat, pulling herself out of the hypnosis your eyes always seem to put her in. “My name. I want to tell you my name.”

“Your name isn’t Darling?” She laughed gently, a delicate sound that caused the slow-forming smile to go faster.

“No,” she assured, smirking playfully. “It’s...W-” The sound of something piercing through the thin walls reached her ears, yet she was on the ground before she could process much of anything else. The crack of whatever forced itself into the apartment smacked into the front door, her eyes snapping onto it to see a bullet hole pierced through the wood. 

Her stomach was in her feet, feeling your hand grip her wrist and pulling you into your arms as you quickly stepped back into the kitchen, holding her against you as you stood in front of the refrigerator in a desperate attempt to avoid the millions of other bullets flying into the apartment from the streets. Her heart felt heavy in her throat, her eyes snapping onto yours as fear painted her face. Her mind raced for a possibility to escape, surely the refrigerator wasn’t going to last long, but the hellfire of bullets didn’t seem to be stopping any time. And she could see the look in your eyes, your speeding thoughts trying to pinpoint a getaway just as her. 

“Are you scared?” Your voice cut through her thoughts, your eyes soft as they seemed to melt into hers. She could feel her stomach flipping, her heart clenching, her hands trembling; yes, she was afraid.

“No.”

“Yeah… me neither.” You shook your head, leaning against the refrigerator as you released a breath. There was no reason for you to be fearful, you were free to leave. Use your speed to move so fast that time, to you, would come to a complete standstill…

“Dance with me.” The words came from her mouth before she had time to think about them, your eyebrows furrowing together tightly in a state of deep confusion. Her heart was hammering away - there’s no way it was going to not break free from its boney prison cell with how hard it was beating. 

“I don’t think it’s a good time to request a dance right now, Darling,” you told her, a subtle hint of panicked sarcasm in your voice. “How about another time? Perhaps when we’re not getting shot at.”

But she shook her head, moving her hands around your neck to tug you flush against her. It seemed to be an instinct for you to grip her waist, butterflies erupting in her stomach just as it had the first time you danced with her. “You said you trusted me,” she reminded, her voice a soft breath of air rushing past your face. The noise of the bullets seemed to fade into the background the longer you looked into her eyes, her heart seemingly slowing down the longer your hands lingered on her hips, the tips of some of your fingers ending up underneath her shirt to rub against her skin. “Does that still stand?”

“Yes.” There was no hesitation in your voice as you said the word, letting her guide you in a slight sway to the rhythm of nonexistent music. She felt your body relax underneath her arms, your eyes lost in hers as she slowly felt the formation of that familiar bubble engulf her. You breathed out a breath as if you had been holding onto it for decades, and the transparent barrier had closed in around her, yet she didn’t dare tear her eyes away from you. 

You moved with her, twirling through the apartment with a grace that one could only see in heaven. Your hands moved up her back, chills exploding up her spine as your fingers lifted her shirt, a soft gasp escaping her as you gently guided her backward, her torso bending as you spun her. Her eyes followed a bullet you helped her duck under, frozen as if it were suspended in midair by a fishing line right above her. She straightened her form, her face intimately closer than it was before she took a dip. 

The front door was only a few feet away, yet all of your concentration seemed to be purely focused on her. No worry etched your care-free features anymore, your eyes holding that familiar pool of joy, your contagious smile wielding genuine happiness. You were at ease in her arms, dancing around bullets to avoid casualty. And she knew how you felt because she, too, felt the same.

Soon, the door opened and the two of you were in the hallway. And though it felt as if the two of you were in the bubble for minutes, it was only merely seconds in reality because the moment the invisible shield evaporated was the moment the bullets in the apartment lodged into the wall. She flinched at the sound, pulling away from you as you used a hand on the small of her back to push her towards the staircase.

“We were almost turned into Swiss cheese in there,” you claimed as you clambered into Wanda’s car, loading up in the passenger seat as a hearty, victorious laugh escaped your throat. You looked at her, smiling widely. “How’d you know I was going to do that?”

Truth be told, she didn’t know. She had hoped dancing with her would end with the same result as it did the first time. You brought her into your bubble of speed, allowing her to move just as fast as you did, to make it seem like the whole world around you had stopped spinning, yet the action only caused her to grow tired. Her body wasn’t accustomed to great speeds such as that. “I didn’t,” she confessed, glancing at you as she peeled out of the vacant parking lot. “I trust you, too.”

Your smile grew wider, but she didn’t get a chance to admire it before you turned away. And though you weren’t looking at her, she could see the light red coloring your cheeks. “That was a lot of trust,” you claimed, turning your head towards her. “I’m glad I put some in you.”

“Some?” She scoffed in a playful manner, causing you to laugh as you picked your head up to look at her. 

“Soooo…” You smirked at her when she met your gaze for a brief second. “You still wanna go on that date?” You chuckled when she smacked your shoulder with the back of her hand, returning your gaze to the road ahead of you. 

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Wanda leaned against the counter, waiting for the coffee to finish brewing as she watched you at the table, frowning slightly as you stared at your untouched protein bar. She gripped the edge of the counter as she looked down towards the surface of the fixture, worry filling her chest. The butterflies in her gut only seemed to grow stronger for you each passing day, and the desire to touch you burned brighter the longer her hands weren’t on you in some way. With each second that managed to fly by, she was slowly beginning to regret pushing you away last night. Still, she remained in her spot. Though denying the effects you have on her was idiotic at this point. She decided it was best not to fight the emotions and just let them thrive.

The silence in the room gave her a moment to think, chewing the inside of her cheek as she stared at the brewing coffee. She had placed the flash drive she obtained from the mansion on her nightstand when she came back to change out of the dress. She intended on getting a better, more thorough look at the contents of it, but the heaviness in her heart made her second guess her intentions. She should bring you in on the information. A USB with your name written on it, surely it’d contain whatever it is you needed to locate your mother. Not to mention a lot of other information that would check off questions on her list.

But the peace and quiet that filled the room didn’t seem to last much longer when Clint stormed through the archway, his eyebrows pinched slightly to show his anger. You were oblivious to his arrival until he placed his phone in front of you, crossing his arms over his chest as he stood on the other side of the table. Wanda could see the glare, yet you remained blind as a wide smile grew on your face, pointing at the screen. “Hey, that’s my apartment!” 

“Why did I have to find out what happened through the news?” he asked, seemingly forcing himself to remain calm. “That entire place was ripped apart by bullets.”

“Oh, please tell me my comics made it out alive,” you expressed, finally looking at him. She had thought you would’ve noticed how angry the archer was when you saw the look he was sending you, but the cheeky grin remained on your face. She shouldn’t have been surprised, honestly.

“Forget about the comics.”

“They’re in mint condition, Katniss. I can’t have Thor sign a comic book that looks like it belongs on a sandwich!”

“You could’ve died, Y/N,” Clint declared, leaning against the table. “If you didn’t have your powers, you wouldn’t have-”

“Darling was there,” you interrupted. “We hid behind the refrigerator. And, look” - Clint looked towards Wanda at your command, receiving a small smile from her upon eye contact - “we’re both bullet-free.”

“Refrigerators aren’t bulletproof, Y/N.” The archer turned back to you, eyebrows furrowed.

You laughed, shrugging nonchalantly as you said, “Then we’re lucky the bad guys aren’t thorough.” Clint sucked in a deep breath, his eyes fluttering closed as if he were trying to calm himself.

When he opened his eyes, he asked, “Why don’t you answer your phone?” His voice was softer, though the irritation he was feeling still lingered in his tone. He seemed to be a lot more relaxed now that he sees how casual you’re being. It had always been the opposite for Wanda - she’d only get more frustrated with you the calmer you showed to be - but that has significantly changed. She has seen first hand just how worried she should be if you weren’t at ease.

You scoffed, shrugging as you absentmindedly inched the protein bar away from you before you said, “I don’t carry a phone, Lego.” Wanda breathed out slowly, pursing her lips together as she looked away from your conversation.

“What’s the point of getting you a phone if you’re not going to use it?”

“I use it!” you declared, feigning defensiveness, leaning back into the chair as he rolled his eyes. “When I’m bored, I play some of the games Nat downloaded for me. There’s this one game where you have a bunch of cats who make soup and-”

“Now that ‘Tash is out of commission, I’m the only one here who has to keep an eye on you, so I’d appreciate it if you kept me up to date whenever something happens to you, Y/N,” he stated, snatching is phone off of the table and pocketing it.

“I know how to survive,” you countered, crossing your arms over your chest. 

“Just because you're fast doesn’t make you invincible,” he claimed. “You're a kid. You can’t prevent everything from happening.” He gripped his hips as he stared you down, and Wanda’s eyes instantly snapped onto you the moment his words reached her ears. Clint saw it mere seconds after she did, the way your eyes hardened at his words, the way your jaw locked as you looked down at the table. You stood up as he sighed heavily, the agent’s taut form loosening. “Y/N-”

“I tried,” you told him, shaking your head as you met his gaze once more. “I tried so hard. I really, really tried.” Wanda stepped towards you, the instinct to protect you left her stomach in tight knots, and she hated how far away you are from her. “And I failed. If I was just there-”

“You did everything you could,” he countered, his tone softer, more delicate. “That’s all any of us can do. Nat doesn’t hold you responsible for anything. Nobody does. So, cool it with the self-blaming act.” He sent you a wry smile, and - after a tense few seconds - you chuckled lightly at him. The tension in the room evaporated just as quickly as it had formed, leaving Wanda slightly impressed at how fast you’re willing to forgive things. “Tell you what, you finish eating and we’ll start looking for the bastard who did this. Give him a taste of his own medicine.”

Wanda’s eyes trailed after him when he walked past before making her way to you, ignoring the finishing beep emitting from the coffee maker. She stood next to you as you eyed the protein bar on the table, a brief look of distaste crossing your face as she wrapped her arms around herself, looking up to meet her gaze. “You haven’t touched your food.”

You gripped your hips as you sent her a small smile. “I’m not really hungry.”

“Funny,” she commented, “considering you had asked me out for lunch not that long ago.”

“Speaking of, you owe me a date.” Your smile widened, flashing your pearly whites as you leaned closer to her. She was close to matching your movements, close to closing the distance between you and her to extinguish that burning desire that has been building in her chest ever since last night. Alas, she held herself together. “And I plan on cashing in eventually.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” Despite her previous thoughts, she found herself leaning forward unconsciously. Her chest tightened at the small amount of space that only seems to be getting smaller and smaller. It was as if you were a magnet and she was the metal, drawing her in with no regards to her surroundings because everything around her - at this moment - didn’t seem to matter. It was only you that was on her mind, flooding her senses in a way that only made her want to close the distance.

Your lips brushed against hers, and she could feel them lift up into a smile as she forced herself to look at your eyes instead. “What would you like, Darling?” you questioned, causing her to wonder if you were asking in fear of being rejected again. Your words only caused your lips to move against hers, and she was internally demanding to know why she had stopped pushing forward. How close she was to getting that taste again, she should be jumping at the chance. Yet she found it difficult to finish the task, her hands itching to wrap themselves around you and pull you closer to her. It was as if she were stuck in a pit of tar, incapable of doing everything she wanted.

She hated the space between you and her.

You were gone within seconds, back in your seat as your separation gave her the chance to breathe in air that wasn’t plagued by your enticing scent and alluring warmth.

She blinked herself out of the daze, her lips yearning for your lips, her skin aching for your skin, but the sound of somebody’s voice completely pulled her out of the stupor you had left her in, forcing herself to fully focus on her surroundings. Your eyes looked past her, and she turned to see Vision stepping up to the table. “Miss Maximoff… Y/N.” He nodded in greeting, smiling happily, his eyes lingering on Wanda for a moment before your voice caused him to look towards you.

“Vis! Buddy!” You laughed as you leaned back into the chair, crossing your arms over your chest. “What’s the word of the day, Mr. Robot?”

He thought for a moment, and then said, “Bespoke.” He tilted his head forward in a polite nod, electric blue eyes staring at you as his lips formed a musing smile. “Ma-” 

“Ah, ah. Not so fast, R2-D2,” you interrupted. “I wanna figure this one out myself.” You sent him a wide grin, to which he nodded in reply.

He returned his attention to Wanda, his gaze deciphering. She knew you were still an enigma to him, no trace found in any files except the one she has stashed in her bedroom. Which only reminded her to inform you of the flash drive, to look through it together, but she preferred to wait until the two of you were secluded. “I have news.”

A sudden gasp escaping your throat caused the two to turn to you, Wanda smiling softly as you leaned forward with wide eyes and a big smile. “Big Foot’s real!”

“No?”

“Dropping a penny from the top of the Empire State Building actually will kill someone?”

“No-”

“You’re right.” You smirked as you looked at Wanda. “I tested that one out myself.” She grinned, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. “Oh, I know! You-”

“Y/N, sweetheart,” Wanda interrupted, soft laughter in her voice as she placed a hand on your shoulder, “will you let him say it?” 

“That’s cool. I didn’t need spoilers anyway.” She pulled you into her as you sighed out, leaning your shoulder against her leg and motioning for the android to continue.

“I’ve convinced the Avengers to give you a fighting chance to persuade them to help on this operation,” he announced, and you were quick to pull away from Wanda to stand up, eyebrows furrowed in what seems to be annoyance. “I take it you’re not a fan of the idea, Y/N.”

“Of course not,” you expressed with a scoff, crossing your arms over your chest. “Why would I be? That’s not a part of the deal.”

“With all of our resources merging with your knowledge, we’ll be able to bring HYDRA down for good.”

“This is not what I agreed to.” You huffed, taking a step away from the android and, ultimately, her. “SHIELD, as a whole, cannot be trusted.”

Wanda looked at you carefully. “Is that you speaking, Y/N, or is that HYDRA?” Her words came out cautiously, not wanting to abolish all of the trust you have in her. She only needed you to see that they’re not the bad guy, though she knew there was a part of you that was aware of that. 

You tore your eyes away from Vision to meet her gaze, eyebrows furrowed in what she couldn’t distinguish was hurt or anger. “What?”

“You should give them a chance.”

“I did give them a chance,” you expressed, and she felt her face fall at the slight crack in your voice. Your lips pursed together tightly, your head shaking rapidly as you took a step away from the two of them. “Trusting you and- and Nat and Barton, that’s…” You huffed, taking another step. You seemed to be desperate to put space between you and Vision as your eyes remained on her. “That’s one thing, but the-” You turned your back, interlocking your fingers behind your head as your chin tilted towards the ceiling.

“I’ll let you talk to her,” Vision announced softly, looking away from you to meet Wanda’s gaze. “The rest of us will be waiting in the war room.” He nodded, a small shake of the head, before walking away.

Wanda took a step forward, and she could just barely hear incoherent whisperings coming from you. No matter how hard she strained her ears to catch what you were saying, she was quick to realize you were speaking the words too fast for her. She wouldn’t be able to understand you even if she were able to hear you. “Y/N,” she called, reaching for you. She could feel the slight lock of your muscles when she placed a hand on your shoulder, your arms falling to your sides as you took a slow, deep breath. 

“They could’ve saved me.” She was having trouble getting you to look at her, so she remained where she stood. Her hand glued to your shoulder, though you weren’t moving to shake it off, the feeling of you warm against her palm. “They raided the base HYDRA had us locked in, but they… just looked the other way. Like there wasn’t a bunch of scared teenagers huddled in a cell. Like we weren’t important. We weren’t worth saving.” You shook your head, crossing your arms over your chest tightly as you finally turned to face her. Your cheeks were red, and there was a thin layer of gloss covering your eyes. “I watched them walk away. I called for them. All of us did. Pleaded with them, begged them to help us, but they kept going. I can’t work with SHIELD, Darling, I can’t trust them. I can’t. Please, don’t make me-”

Your eyes squeezed shut when she took your face in between her palms, a gentle hold as she stopped your head from shaking. You sucked in a trembling breath, leaning into her hands as her thumbs swiped across your cheeks delicately, as if she were wiping away the tears you refused to let go. “We won’t work with SHIELD,” she promised you, her voice as soft as her touch. “Just the Avengers. Can you trust them?” You still seemed hesitant, your eyes sealed closed, your knee shaking as if you couldn’t stand being still. “Can you trust me?” Your head nodded in her hold at her new question almost instantly, your eyes opening to meet hers.

“I can trust you.”

“I’ll make sure the others don’t report to SHIELD,” she assured you. “It’ll just be us, okay?”

You sucked in a deep breath, your lips pursed together tightly as you nodded once more. She tugged your forehead, pressing her lips against the soft skin of your forehead as your hands gripped her elbows with a strength that told her to never let go, but it was you who stepped away. Wiping away at the river of tears that had formed in the brim of your eyes, you sent her a wide, cheeky smile. It worried her, how quick you were to negate the sadness that had just been written on your face, but it shouldn’t have surprised her as much as it did with how fast you process anything in general. Your emotions appear to be no different.

The two of you walked to the war room upon Vision’s instructions. It was normally you taking the lead, Wanda trailing after you as fast as she could to keep up, but you were slow this time, lagging behind as if you were being led to your untimely demise. And she was almost completely sure you believed that. You were biding your time, delaying the inevitable. She wasn’t going to rush you, strolling through the halls at a leisurely pace. Not only was it helping you, but it was giving her more time with you, silent or not. Your presence alone made the cold emptiness in her gut overflow with warmth.

“If the team fought against each other,” you started, “whose side would you be on?”

She laughed softly at your inquiry, pausing for a brief second to let you catch up to her so she could look at you. “What kind of question is that?” You shrugged tightly, chewing the inside of your cheek, and she inaudibly sighed. Anything to get your mind off what’s about to happen, that’s what she’s willing to do. “I don’t know,” she confessed. “What’re the teams?”

“Well,” you grinned, your movements a bit looser now that she was playing along to your hypothetical scenario, “what I see, Iron Man and Captain America are like the two alphas. So, they’d be the team captains.” She nodded, crossing her arms over her chest as she listened intently to your explanation. “Barton doesn’t really seem to like Iron Man by the way he talks about him, so it’s safe to say that he’d be on Captain America’s team.”

“You know you can call them by their actual names,” she intervened, smiling at you. 

“Don’t interrupt.” She laughed, nodding as you overly dramatically cleared your throat to continue. “Bruce and Iron- er, Tony seem to have a rapport together, but I don’t really think it’ll be Bruce’s choice in the end. I think Hulk would choose America.”

“We usually call him Cap.”

“Cap.” You nodded in what seemed to be approval, and she laughed softly as you pondered it for just a moment longer.

“And what about Vis?” Her arms fell to her sides.

You quickly pulled yourself out of your thoughts. “From what I learned about him-”

“Learned?”

You rolled your eyes. “C’mon, Darling, you can’t really expect me to go on a mission with him and not ask questions.” It appeared to be an inadvertent movement, the way your fingers weaved through hers to hold her hand, but she didn’t complain. The feeling sent an electric shockwave up her arm, causing an explosion of chills on her spine. She smiled thoughtfully, looking down to her feet as you carried on, “I asked about him. And, from what I learned, Iron Man built him so he’s - in a way - the android’s father. Which means Vis is definitely team Iron Man.”

“And what about Nat?” Your hand squeezed her gently at the mention of the former assassin, and Wanda had an instinct to divert the subject, but you were already answering before she could.

“I don’t think she’ll choose a side based on logic,” you confessed quietly, turning your head to meet Wanda’s gaze for a split second. “I think she’ll follow her heart and… help both teams.” She smiled warmly at your reasoning. “Thor, on the other hand, he’d definitely choose Iron Man.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well, one can only assume that the team’s fighting because of the law. Which makes it obvious that Captain America is going to be with the law, and Iron Man would clearly be against it.” You shook your head, laughing softly. “Thor likes to have fun. I don’t think he really cares about trivial things like laws.” You released a deep breath at the same time you let go of her hand, and she couldn’t help but feel a bit upset about the loss of contact. “Those are the teams, Darling. So” - you rubbed your hands together in anticipation, a wide grin plastered on your face as you anticipated her response to your question - “what’s your choice?”

“I’ve always been a little bit more fond of Cap than Tony,” she confessed, pausing in front of the war room door and crossing her arms over her chest. She grinned at you as you stopped in front of her, watching your eyebrow form an arch of curiosity. “You?”

“Me?”

“Which team would you be on?”

“I'm not qualified enough to answer that, Darling,” you told her, smirking smugly as you mimicked her stance. “I don’t know them well enough to choose which team to place myself on.” She rolled her eyes, grinning humorously. 

“You read all of the comics, Y/N, I’m sure you have some idea of where you'd stand.” You shrugged loosely, playfully, and that stupid, familiar, smug smile she had found herself attracted to only caused her stomach to twist with excitement. You uncrossed your arms from your chest to tug her out of the tight posture she had placed herself in, using your grip on her wrists to throw her hands over your shoulders. The action only caused her to move closer to you, a squeal nearly bubbling out of her throat at the excitement squeezing her chest, your hands resting on her waist. “Is this your way of asking for another dance, baby?” It was a slip of the tongue - baby - yet you didn’t seem to have any complaints about it. You only tugged her closer to you, your face mere inches from hers now. She was falling for the physical need you’re displaying and she was falling hard. The world around her didn’t matter when you touched her. And your lips… Well, those were a completely different story.

Whatever it was you were going to say - an impish smirk forming on your mouth told her that she wanted to hear your words - was interrupted when the clearing of someone's throat cut through the tight space between you and her. Fear swam through her bones, causing her to jump away from you as she turned her head to see Clint’s face peeking out of the slightly opened door. His lips were curled up into a small, knowing smile as his eyes danced between you and her. His voice was quiet, secretive, as he said, “Would you two like to join us?” Wanda’s cheeks were painted a faint red as he pushed the door open the rest of the way.

The team - or the ones that were available, at least - was gathered at the table when she entered the room with you on her heels. And though you were nervous to make an appearance, you stood slightly in front of her in a protective manner. Steve sat at the head, his elbow on the surface and his cheek in his palm, looking bored as ever. Tony was next to him, his attention - as always - glued to a cell phone. Bruce’s head was cast down respectively, seated on Tony’s side as he waited for whatever he was pulled in here for to start. Vision, on the other hand, was seated on the other side of the ill-tempered scientist. The android held no interest in his comrades, yet he was turned around to watch Wanda with curious, analyzing eyes. She could only assume you’d be relieved to see that you weren’t actually the only one who didn’t want to be here.

“Why’d you pull us all in here, Clint?” Bruce questioned, finally picking his head up. His fingers tapped against the top of the table impatiently, and your light smiled proved Wanda’s assumption to be correct. “I’m sure whatever it is, you can handle without-”

“Y/N needs our help,” Vision clarified.

Tony’s phone fell to the table as he leaned against the surface. “I didn’t know we were doing charity events,” he claimed, looking at you with a scrutinizing eye before turning towards Clint, who had taken a seat at the farther spot of the table, clearly separating himself from whatever the rest of the team was going to decide. Wanda knew he was going to be with you despite the decision. “I’m running late to a court meeting for this. I can only assume this was your doing, Barton.”

“I gathered all of us,” Vision interceded, clearing the archer’s name of any blame pointed towards him. “Y/N has intel on HYDRA that may give us the chance to take them down for good.”

“Without SHIELD,” you added as Wanda watched Steve carefully. She could feel you shift slightly against her once all eyes on the room landed on you.

“You want us to go behind their back?” Steve questioned, his head leaving his hand. It was clear you caught the patriot’s attention with your proposition.

“What’s wrong, American Man?” You crossed your arms over your chest, smirking at the soldier challengingly. “Scared to get your hands a little dirty?”

“What are your qualifications?” Tony questioned, interrupting your one on one with Steve, who only smiled at your provocation.

“My what?”

“Are you a highly trained former assassin?”

“No-”

“An archer who never misses?”

“No.”

“A jacked up super soldier? A scientist with anger management issues? An android made of vibranium? Telekinesis? A billionaire genius with a highly advanced tech suit?” 

“Is this how it felt when I did this to Vis?” you questioned under your breath, mostly speaking to yourself, but it didn’t go without Wanda hearing it. Other than that soft-spoken inquiry, you remained quiet, staring at the philanthropist with a hard stare Wanda didn’t want to be on the other side of. Yet it didn’t seem to affect the man in the least bit. It was only now that she realized you had failed to inform them of your abilities when you had originally introduced yourself to the team. 

“What makes you qualified to join the Avengers?” Tony leaned back into his chair, crossing his arms over his chest as he impatiently waited for an answer.

Wanda leaned towards you, lowering her voice to ask, “Why didn’t you tell them your power?”

“I didn’t deem it a necessary fact to dish out at the time,” you returned in a whisper, to which she breathed out deeply in response. It would’ve made this encounter a lot easier without them getting hung up on the fact that they believe you to be just an ordinary human being, though, at the end of the day, it was yours to share and she shouldn’t be annoyed by your decision not to. “With absolutely no due respect, sir, I’m not really interested in joining your little boy band,” you claimed smugly, grinning at the billionaire. She wanted to know what was going on in that mind of yours. Mere moments ago, you were nothing but in denial of the whole meeting. Now, you’re challenging the boy scout to go against the government and snapping at the man funding the entire building you were standing in. “All I need is your” - you sighed heavily, shaking your head with a huff of humorless laughter as if you weren’t going to continue, yet a gentle elbow into your upper arm from Wanda forced you to cough out the last word - “assistance.”

“I’m not going to drag a civilian into a building filled with people who’ll shoot at anything that moves.”

“I had the opportunity to see Y/N’s capabilities first hand,” Vision chimed in. “I can assure you, Mr. Stark, that she will not cause any troubles joining us on these endeavors.”

“Speak for yourself, WALL-E,” you claimed, leaving the synthezoid in a state of confusion. “I’m a free spirit.”

“Y/N,” Wanda warned. She wasn’t sure how they were going to accept the fact that you’re the type to challenge authority. Tony and Steve sure like to flash their alpha cards around, and aren’t typically fond of those who have trouble listening. Especially on missions. In a situation of life or death, they find it imperative to do the actions that weigh more towards life than death.

“What capabilities?" 

You shrugged loosely, carelessly. As if your power held no interest to you, yet it was something you so proudly flaunted. What made it so different now? “Why does it matter?”

“You have something to you,” he stated. “It’s significantly hard to impress Vision because, well, he’s Vision. But what is it that you have?”

“I ask again, Mr. Moneybags, why does it matter?” you jeered. “I'm clearly good at what I do. Why can't you just take the robot’s word and leave it at that?”

“This was clearly a colossal waste of time,” Tony expressed, turning to Steve for confirmation. He was fairly cynical. And Wanda just wanted to understand why you were being reluctant in sharing. Though she knew why. You're still hesitant to trust them, still worried they'd loop in the government. You giving up your ability allows them to exploit your weaknesses. The Avengers were tied to SHIELD no matter how you look at it. And you feared they'd end up just like HYDRA. 

The patriot watched you with a careful, probing eye as you gripped your hips. With pursed lips, you looked to the floor in what seemed to be defeat, but Wanda could see the way your lips formed a small smile when they weren't visible to the rest of the team. “She could have information that'll lead us to whoever put Romanoff in the hospital,” he pointed out, turning his head to look at the genius. “Give her a chance, Tony.”

“Fine,” he claimed, throwing his hands up in the air. “Give us what you have and we’ll take a look. Maybe even send a team if your intel is good enough.”

“No,” you declared, picking your head up to meet the steely gaze of the playboy. “I’m not sharing my knowledge with any of you. I’m not going to be one of your little informants. That’s not how this is going to work.”

“I could have you arrested for conspiring with a terrorist organization,” he pointed out, yet his words only caused you to laugh. Wanda looked down to hide her grin, but Clint didn’t seem to care if they caught that wide, knowing smile growing on his face.

You leaned forward, smirking at Tony, testing him, as you said, “I would absolutely love to see them try, Da Vinci.”

“As I said, waste of time.” He straightened his tie as you breathed out deeply in frustration, glancing at Wanda with a look of exasperation.

“I now know which team I’m picking.” She grinned, watching you purse your lips together as Tony shrugged his shoulders, reaching for his phone while he moved to stand up. “You know, a little open-mindedness can go a long way, Metal Man.” Though the smile that had grown on her face didn’t last long when she realized you had absolutely zero intention in defending your case, turning on your heels and making your way out of the room, her eyebrows furrowing deeply with confusion as she looked at the rest of the team for a moment before she quickly chased after you.

She caught your upper arm a few feet away from the war room, tugging you to a stop and forcing you to look at her. “You didn’t even try to win them over.” she demanded. “Why didn’t you just tell them your powers?”

“I was wrong,” you claimed as she let go of you.

Her head shook with confusion, crossing her arms over her chest. “What?”

“Before. When I said that he’d be on the side against the government, I was wrong,” you explained. “The comics I read and the stuff I saw about him on the news make it seem like he’s the type of guy who doesn’t care about the law, but he does. Deep down. Underneath all that fake carefree bull shit, he does care.” You shook your head, releasing a laugh that didn’t stir the butterflies in her gut. “I refuse to be another file added to another collection.”

She breathed out a sigh that caused her shoulders to fall. Your words forced her to remember the flash drive hidden in her room, and figured now was as perfect a time as any to inform you of her discovery. “Y/N-”

But you lifting a hand up in the air caused her to stop, shaking your head at whatever it was she was planning on saying as you took a step back. “I just… I need a moment, Darling.” And then, with a gust of wind, you were gone.

“I tried to talk Vision out of it.” She turned at the voice, watching Clint walk up to her. He shook his head, pursing his lips as he huffed heavily through his nose. “She’s not that big on government to begin with.”

She crossed her arms over her chest as she looked to the floor, keeping to herself as the archer reached her. “She has a right to be wary,” she expressed. She couldn’t blame you for the lack of trust in the agency. 

“She trusts you.” He laughed softly, shaking his head. “Look, I’ve only known her for a few months, but it’s clear how much of a good heart she has. And it’s not very easy for her to let people in.” He leaned forward slightly before adding, “Consider yourself one of the lucky ones.”

Ever since she had met you, she felt nothing but luck. You made her feel whole. You made her feel happy. She had fallen in love with you so fast that she had only just blinked. And she’s known you for less than Clint and Natasha, yet you trusted her just as quickly as she had trusted you. That thought alone was enough to make her feel sick to her stomach. “I took advantage of her trust in me to make her do something she wasn’t inclined to do.” She rubbed her hands together nervously, sighing out as she said, "Now there's a chance that trust no longer holds." She furrowed her eyebrows when she heard him scoff with humor, picking up her head to send the man a glare. She doesn’t recall making any type of joke.

“Come on, Wanda,” Clint expressed, shaking his head as he grinned widely. “I can’t believe you don’t see it.” Her anger only transitioned to confusion, her head tilting slightly as she tried to understand what he could possibly mean. Luckily, he decided to just give her the answer instead, “That girl would go through hell twice for you. Convincing her to go head to head with Stark isn’t going to change that. I thought you would’ve read her mind at this point.”

“I can’t,” she confessed absentmindedly, slowly looking away from him as she seemed to disappear into her thoughts. “She thinks too fast. I can’t keep up.” She moved her head to meet his gaze once more, eyebrows furrowed with determination this time. “Do you know where I’d be able to find her?” 

He sent her a sly smile, a smile that told her she already knew the answer to the question. And she did, already knowing exactly where to find you. With a nod, she turned to walk away. “Hey” - she only got half a step in when his voice caused her to stop, facing him once more - “when you find her, make sure you tell her that I’m still with her.”

“Add me to that as well.” A smiling Steve joined the duo, releasing a heavy huff as he stopped next to them. Her and Clint shared a look as the patriot’s eyes bounced between them, crossing his arms over his chest, physically standing his ground. She knew Steve, how law-abiding the man can be, but she also knew that if it came down to it, the super soldier will always put doing the right thing above all. Even if it meant breaking those laws. Yet she couldn’t take the chance. She wasn’t willing to take advantage of your trust a second time.

“No SHIELD.” It wasn’t a question so much as it was a statement. She felt the need to clarify the deal, to make sure the U.S. soldier was willing to sacrifice his freedom for the greater good. God knows the chaos that’s going to go down the moment the government catches wind that their own is performing secret operations, despite the good intentions.

“I’m not one to turn down the chance at getting my hands a little dirty,” he confirmed, a nod of his head. His eyes hardened with assurance as they locked onto hers, and she found herself not needing to read his mind to ensure he wasn’t lying. Deep down, he was truthful and she knew it. “Go find her. If anybody can convince her to come back and give me a chance, it’d be you, Wanda.”

She smiled shyly, looking down to avert her gaze before turning away from the two men. All she wanted to do now was get to you.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ϟ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“I got you something.” Wanda paused outside the door at the sound of your voice, peeking around the corner through the partly-opened doorway to see you sitting beside an unconscious Natasha, your back to the witch and head low. “I, uh… I went to Budapest. It was a fast trip, didn’t take me too long.” You sighed as you looked at the assassin, laughing softly. The last time Wanda had seen you, it was less than an hour ago. Fast trip indeed. “I got you a snow globe. Look, it even says Budapest.” You held it up to show the comatose woman the toy, and Wanda could see how your shoulders slumped when the redhead didn’t open her eyes. You reached over to place the item onto the overbed table, and Wanda couldn’t help but smile as she leaned her forehead against the threshold. “I know I could’ve probably gotten it somewhere around here at some… snow globe store or something, but…” You trailed off, your chin falling to your chest once more, but she would have finished your sentence for you. It’s more authentic when it comes directly from the source.

She had the urge to enter the room. To interrupt your one-way conversation so she could wrap her arms around you. To let you know that you’re not alone. But she remained in her spot at the doorway, watching, eavesdropping.

“You’re going to wake up. And you’re going to tell me that everything’s going to be okay. Because that’s what you do. You tell me that something’s going to be okay and it somehow ends up being okay.” You breathed in deeply through your nose, sniffling, as you shook your head in what felt like - to her - disappointment. “I’ll be faster next time, Nat. I will be there for you just like how you’ve always been there for me.” 

Wanda readjusted her footing, yet the movement only made her knee bump into the door. The creak that emitted from the hinges caused you to freeze almost instantly. There was no use in hiding now, pushing the door open the rest of the way to step into the room. “Y/N…” She saw the way you relaxed at her voice, slouching back into the chair as you rubbed your forehead. Her lips pursed together tightly, staring at the back of your head for a moment longer before turning to close the door.

“I asked her about you after that first mission.” You ran your hand down your face as Wanda sat down on the small couch against the wall. 

“Can’t really expect you to go on a mission with me and not ask questions.” You scoffed out a laugh as she smiled at you softly, your elbow holding up your chin by the arm of the chair as you looked towards her, though eye contact seems to be the least of your concern at the moment.

“But I stopped her from telling me your name.” You leg shook as your eyes fluttered close. “Only person I want to hear it from is you.” Finally, after opening your eyes, you met her gaze confidently. She could see the thin film of tears coating your irises, and the bags that were starting to form underneath your eyelids told her what she had wondered this morning. You hadn’t slept. “Of course, after I told her that, she decided it was best that you tell me everything else yourself. So… I asked her to bring you along on the second mission.”

“Oh, so that was your doing?” She smirked at you as you chuckled. “Why Budapest?” Your eyes snapped onto the snowglobe you had placed onto the small table, and you sighed heavily as you leaned your head against the back of the chair. 

“I guess it’s some kind of inside joke between her and Hawkguy, but they won’t tell me what.”

“Hawkeye.”

You lazily turned your head to look at her, eyebrows furrowed. “What?”

She laughed warmly, smiling at you as she clarified, “I’m pretty sure it’s Hawkeye.”

“That’s just weird.”

“Even weirder than Hawkguy?” You laughed, this one causing her gut to twist and turn as the genuine sound reached her ears. But as the laughter faded away, you sighed as you looked up towards the ceiling. “Steve said he’s willing to help us without SHIELD.” 

You hummed, and she was curious if that was your response to her statement. Before she could continue, you asked, “Do you believe him?”

“I do.” You turned to meet her gaze, breathing out a deep breath as you nodded at her. “Will you give him a chance?”

She could feel her heart inflate with excitement when you grinned at her, your eyes fluttering close for a moment too long before you opened them up. “Anything for you, Darling.” 

“And you’ll play nice?”

You scoffed. “I can play nice.”

She hummed doubtfully, her head tilting to the side as she continued to stare at you. “I don’t think you can.”

“Watch me,” you expressed, “and I’ll tell you I told you so.” Your head seemed to loll back into place on the chair with fatigue, looking away from Wanda so you could count the ceiling tiles.

“Did you sleep last night?”

You continued to stare at the tiles above you, seemingly lost in a trance that made her ask herself if you had even heard her question. She started debating whether or not to say it again, maybe louder this time, but your voice was soon cutting through her thoughts. “I can’t close my eyes.” You shook your head, folding your hands over your chest.

She chewed the inside of her cheek, staring at you as she worked through the next thing she wants to say. But her brain didn’t seem to want to come up with any words. Instead, she swung her legs up onto the couch, making herself comfortable as you slightly turned to look at her with curiosity. “Come here.” She gestured for you to join her with one hand, patting the space in between her legs with the other. You sat up, fully looking at her as your expression melted into confusion. When your mouth opened, she was quick to shut down whatever argument you had building up by saying, “Shut up and come here.”

Your mouth instantly closed, breathing out heavily through your nose. A split second later, you were on your feet and moving to join her on the couch. Her heart felt to be swimming as you laid down in between her legs, allowing your arms to be squished between her and the cushion as you wrapped them around her. She wondered if you could hear the swarm of butterflies as your head rested on her stomach, feeling you melt into her as she held onto you. Her fingernails scratched gently up and down your back, though she was fully tempted in breaking the barrier your shirt provided so she could feel your skin underneath her palm. “This isn’t going to work,” you mumbled.

She only smiled at you, her eyes shining like a chandelier. “Let’s wait a moment to see if it does.” She could see the way your eyes seemed to have trouble staying open, your blinks slow and long. 

“You’re not going anywhere, right?” Your words slurred together as if you had too much to drink, yet she knew it was only exhaustion that was causing your sudden drunk state. She gave in to temptation, sneaking her hand up your shirt to gently grazing her nails across your skin. She could feel your muscles relax even further.

“I’ll be right here, Y/N.” Her delicate scratches running up and down your back seemed to lull you into the world of slumber as you blinked slowly and couldn’t find the energy to open them again. 

If it wasn’t for the nurses and doctors coming in to keep up to date with Natasha’s vitals every hour, Wanda wouldn’t have been able to keep track of the time. Other than your arms briefly tightening around her every now and again - as if your unconscious mind was making sure she was still there - you were frozen in your state of sleep, not moving a single inch. And, despite the desire to stretch her limbs or wake her tingling foot, she remained in her spot. She couldn’t help but admire how peaceful your face looked as you slept, free from lines of worry and concern. She was incapable of stopping herself from drawing a finger from her free hand down your cheek, gliding down to your jawline and across your lips. You hadn’t even stirred underneath the foreign touch, and she found herself - once again - desperate to be able to slip into your mind, to see what it was you were dreaming about. If you were even dreaming of anything at all.

Yet as soon as the thought entered her head, your arms tensed around her. It felt different than before, lasting longer than it did all the other times you did it. She watched as a deep indent formed in between your eyebrows, your eyes pinching shut. Her throat tightened as she witnessed the peacefulness quickly fade away from your face, replaced with an emotion she couldn't really name. Her back scratches didn’t seem to be enough to pull you out of whatever nightmare you were facing off against in that brain of yours, your jawline becoming prominent as you clenched your teeth harshly. 

With desperation, she found herself singing lowly, the lyrics of Sweet Child O’ Mine coming off her tongue in a slow, soft voice. She observed your face, how the indent vanished, your eyes relaxing, your teeth unclenching, your tight hold on her loosening, and she smiled to herself as she continued singing. Seeing you like this, in such a vulnerable state, showing just how much you trust her… She couldn’t help but fall even more in love with you.

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“She’s always late for things.” Wanda smiled lightly at Clint’s comment, looking over her shoulder towards the archer as he sat at Steve’s desk with his chin held up by his elbow on the arm of the office chair. “You get used to it after a while.” He was trying to stop the patriot’s pacing, and it seemed to have worked as he slowed to a stop with a deep huff. Wanda leaned against the desk, hand tucked under her arm as she chewed on the thumbnail of her free hand. 

She didn't remember falling asleep as well, having been woken up by the gentle shake of a nurse to inform her that visiting hours are over. Despite having been disturbed, she couldn't help but smile when she saw that you were still on top of her, trapped in the dark world of sleep. Though not wanting to interrupt the peace you had found yourself in, she didn't have a choice in waking you up. She had agreed to meet you at the compound after she managed to convince you to eat something - she had offered you a protein bar, having decided it was best to keep a few in her glove box, though you seemed to not be in the mood for one. She just didn’t think you’d take this long to get some food.

She wondered if the soldier was nervous about getting caught. She was. Surely meeting in the building runned by SHIELD wasn’t the best idea, but she didn’t know where else to meet. From the pictures she had seen of your redecorated apartment, it didn’t seem to be the best place to hold the conference. The compound appeared to be the only safe spot, yet there was always the high chance of getting caught by Tony, who isn’t as keen as helping you as Steve is after that previous encounter.

“She’ll be here,” Wanda expressed confidently, pulling her hand away from her mouth. “Maybe we can start without her. She can catch up relatively quickly.” She knew that was an understatement, and so did Clint, but Steve was still held in the dark when it came to you. Hopefully you’ll be trusting enough to bring the patriot in on your secret. Until then, she wasn’t going to be the one to go behind your back.

Steve cleared his throat, crossing his arms over his chest as he focused his attention onto Wanda. “During the mission at the ball, it was shown that you and Y/N weren’t in the room when the shooting started,” he announced. “Where’d you two go?”

“We found a secret lab,” she answered, “but we didn’t get much from it before we were interrupted.” She figured there was no use in keeping this information from the captain, knowing he was only asking to get a grip on the kind of character you are. If she gave him the truth, he’ll be able to see you how she sees you in no time.

“By who?” Clint asked, kicking his feet up to rest on top of the desk. He ignored Steve’s curious look. “We had Malick in our sights the entire time.”

“Malick is only funding HYDRA, he has no say in anything. Not really.” She looked down at her feet for a moment before stepping away from the desk, turning to face both Clint and Steve. “There’s this scientist… Dr. Robin Banker. She was the” - Wanda shook her head, quickly stopping herself from accidentally saying anything about you - “She entered the lab before we could find anything. She kept us talking in order to distract us from what was about to happen.”

“How did you two find this lab so quickly?” Everybody turned to look at Tony, who was leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. The air in the room almost immediately became tense as his presence became known, Wanda averting her gaze as he stepped forward. “It was a secret, right? And, according to Vision’s report, the two of you weren’t gone for very long. It’s almost like… she knew exactly where it was.”

“She saw the blueprints of the house,” Wanda declared defensively, picking her head up to meet the playboy’s gaze. “The design drawn on the paper didn’t match the physical design of the build.”

“What are you doing, Tony?” Steve demanded, though the billionaire paid no mind to the super soldier as his eyes remained glued to Wanda, his slow, taunting steps towards her weighed her shoulders down. She didn’t want to do anything she’d regret.

“There was no way for you two to search the whole building that quickly, blueprints or not,” Tony retorted. “I recall your ties with HYDRA.” He stopped a couple of feet away from her, gripping his hips as his jaw clenched with what appears to be annoyed anger. 

“That was the past,” she countered quietly. “We all make mistakes, Tony, you can’t hold that over me. Just like how I’m not holding your mistakes over you.”

“I’m just making sure we’re both on the same team,” he assured. “Because, if we were, then you wouldn’t be going behind our back with someone who still is HYDRA.”

“She’s not-”

“The reason Vision can’t find any trace of her in his database is because someone wiped her out of it.” He took another step towards her, and she found herself to be too frozen to move back from his threatening form. “And, according to Vision, it was done by someone on the inside. The only people who would profit from a ghost would be HYDRA.” Another step and Wanda could feel her chest tightening, a small, red glow forming between her fingers. Was she going to have to defend herself against Tony? Would that mean making an enemy with Earth’s mightiest heroes? Then where would she go? “I’ll ask you, Maximoff… Who is Y/N?”

She didn’t even have a chance to open her mouth before a sudden rush of wind blew the papers on Steve’s desk across Clint, a form in the shape of you seemingly materializing in front of her. You stood off against Tony, protectively defensive as his attempt to take another step towards her was cut off by your appearance. He faltered backward instead as you easily matched his footing, stepping towards him as his eyes widened with shock, his mind finally processing what happened. “Why don’t you ask me instead, Mr. Stark?” Chills erupted up Wanda’s spine at your voice, how serious and cold it had become. And she found that your lack of a nickname only made it more dangerous. 

You took another step towards him, measured and intimidating, like a predator to its prey, and she shivered. There was just something about you going slow that made her blood run cold. She could feel her heart still in her chest, frozen with what felt like fear. Not so much for her but for you. Talking back to Tony was one thing, physically threatening him could have major repercussions. You didn’t seem to care, continuing to back the billionaire into a corner or, in this case, the doorway. Clint had gotten to his feet at this point, but was he prepared to stop you or help you?

“Y/N.” Wanda’s voice cut through the thick air in the room, though it didn’t seem to reach you as much as she wanted it to no matter how loud or how serious she said it. She moved forward instead, catching your forearm and dragging you out of your state. You pulled away from Tony, leaving him to stand in the doorway as Wanda tugged you further into the office. She lowered her voice as she leaned towards you, “What’s the matter with you?” You weren't giving her the time of day at the moment, your narrowed eyes glued to the billionaire, hands balled into fists by your sides, jaw clenched so hard, she was sure it had physically locked shut.

“Teleportation?” Nobody bothered to correct his mistake. Then again, there were only two in this room who knew the absolute truth, and they were both loyal to you to the end. Steve might just believe Tony's assumption, and she didn't blame either of them. If you moved fast enough, it would truly seem like you did teleport. When she looked back towards Tony at his words, he looked like he had gotten himself together rather quickly. But she knew he wasn’t going to let your actions slide so easily. “Why didn’t you just say that?”

“I don’t trust you,” you retorted as Wanda released your arm. 

“And, yet, you’re here,” he countered.

“And, yet, it appears that I have made a mistake, haven't I?” you reciprocated.

“Trust works both ways.” Tony crossed his arms over his chest tautly, eyebrows furrowed and jaw locked. And, though he mirrored your expression, it was more frightening to see it on your face than it was to see it on his. “Why should I trust you if you don’t extend the same courtesy?”

You scoffed, shaking your head. “I don’t need you to trust me,” you confessed. “Enemy of my enemy, right?” Tony’s eyes quickly glanced towards Steve - even Wanda could read the doubt written on the man’s face in that brief second, she knew there was no way in hell you were blind to it. 

“She’s asking for our help,” Steve declared.

“She’s dangerous.” Wanda glanced at you, watching the way your shoulders fell at Tony’s words. Though you weren’t the biggest admirer of the government, your collection of comic books told her you were a fan of the Avengers just as much as any other, non-powered being would be, and hearing one of them call you dangerous… It must’ve hurt you more than your slumped shoulders told her.

“She’s a kid.”

“Everybody’s a kid to you, Rogers,” Tony expressed, finally tearing his eyes away from you to look at the captain. “That doesn’t make them innocent.” 

You made eye contact with Clint, the witch catching the subtle nod he sent you mere seconds before you cleared your throat and took a step forward. Your movement caused the two alphas to stop going at each other's throats for a moment, looking at you with curiosity from Steve and wariness from Tony. “To quote the infamous Sir Douchebag, ‘This was clearly a colossal waste of time.’” You sent him a wide grin, rubbing your hands together. “I do have better things to be doing than to argue with an ignorant billionaire.” You gave the man a sloppy, two-fingered salute, and Wanda could sense what was going to happen next, reaching for you once more in an attempt to get you to stay, but she only ended up snatching air as you disappeared. She huffed, wrapping her arms around herself as everybody turned to look towards Tony.

Steve scoffed, shaking his head as he left the room. Clint rounded the desk, his hand resting on Wanda’s back as he ushered her after the patriot. Her mouth remained closed as she passed Tony, yet she didn’t even bother hiding her grin when the archer intentionally bumped into the playboy’s shoulder. 

“I wish she would just… stop moving for one second,” she claimed once it was just the two of them. Clint walked along beside her, grinning as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

“She’s definitely not one to stand still,” he commented. 

Wanda sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose briefly before throwing her hand into the air in defeat. “She doesn’t even try,” she declared. “She couldn’t have just played nice with Tony for a second.”

“Don’t go losing confidence in her now, Wanda,” Clint stated, looking at her. “Y/N’s not one to shy away from a fight.” He patted her on the shoulder, breathing out a laugh as he smiled widely, and she couldn't help but feel as if she was missing something. Though he was in a rush to separate, quickly saying, “I’ll see you later,” before ducking down a hallway. Wanda released a breath that vibrated her lips.

She made the trek to her room, rubbing the back of her neck. It was times like these where she wished you carried a phone. The hurt on your face - even for a brief moment - was evident. To her, at least. Thinking back, she should've tried to appeal to your hidden emotions rather than the ones you showed. With the pressure of trying to track down your mother, Natasha in the hospital, and Tony doubting your every move, she was sure anger wasn't the only thing you were feeling. You needed a distraction. A break… Something to get your mind off of all this morbid stuff for an hour or two. A date. She felt a smile tug her lips at the thought as she opened her bedroom door.

“Miss Maximoff.” She felt herself flinch at the sudden noise cutting through her musing, looking towards the source of the voice to see Vision standing by her nightstand. She blinked, eyeing the android as she attempted to process what was happening right now. “I came by to check in on you, but you weren’t here.”

“Vis.” She smiled politely at him, stepping further into the room. “We should talk about personal space one of these days,” she suggested, crossing her arms over her chest as she cleared her throat. He looked down to his hands, and it wasn’t until now that she had noticed he was holding something, turning the object around in his fingers. Her stomach dropped when she saw that it was the flash drive, her arms slowly falling back to her sides. “Vis-”

“I can only assume this holds the information I’ve been seeking,” he claimed, picking his head up to meet her gaze. He sighed, his lips pursing together as he thought for a seemingly long moment. “It’s in both of our best interests that we report these findings to Mr. Stark.” She was foolish to think she’d ever get away with having seclusion in her own bedroom. A government facility, surely there was some sort of loophole with the privacy law here.

She turned to close the door with a soft click, her hands lingering on the wood for a moment before she spun back to step towards Vision. “We can’t,” Wanda declared. “Vis… if you give that to Tony, he’ll only use that against her. He sees Y/N as the enemy, but you know better than that, right?” He averted his gaze down, staring at the USB held between her fingers. “There is so much more to her than you know- than anybody knows. And nobody’s giving her the chance to prove that.” She released a sigh, chewing the inside of her cheek nervously. Just how faithful was the android to his creator? Surely he’d listen to reason. “You already believe she’s a hero.”

He looked back at her, and the soft look he was sending her made her stomach twist uncomfortably. Were her words not enough? Was his decision already set in stone? Was it even worth the effort to convince him otherwise? If he wasn’t going to change his mind no matter what she said, then she sees no other way to get through to him. She knew he was loyal to Tony, she just didn’t think to this extent. “Are you in love with her?” He looked at her as if he were analyzing her, as if he could hear just how much speed her heartbeat picked up at his question. Could he sense if she was lying if she answered untruthfully?

“No.” Her brain remained logical - it was too early in the relationship to be in love. Her heart, on the other hand, was remarkably quick to love. There was no way she could deny that. And she had to force herself to stay still with the way her gut was twisting and turning, feeling as if someone were punching her, punishing her for giving the android an answer that opposed her heart. “I don’t need to be in love to see what’s right and what’s wrong.”

She released a heavy breath of relief when he turned to place the USB back onto the nightstand, feeling herself relax. But when he returned his eyes to her, she could see that it just wasn’t that easy. “I’m sorry, Wanda,” he expressed in a soft, sincerely apologetic tone. “No hero would hide in the shadows like she does.”

“Vis… no.”

“I have already uploaded the contents of the drive to SHIELD’s database.” He quickly averted his gaze when he saw the hurt written on her face. “Mr. Stark is inspecting it as we speak. It has everything we need to know about her.” He took a step towards her, but froze when she mimicked his movements to keep him at a distance. “He does not know your involvement. I made sure of it.”

The only thing stopping her from lashing out was common sense. If she sent the android flying through the wall behind him, there’d be SHIELD agents on her within seconds. And the only thing she really needed to do was get to you. She had to warn you. Not only does Tony have a detailed list of your history and powers, but your weaknesses as well, and he was not one to overlook that section of the files.

Vision could see the anger in her narrowed eyes, the fury in her clenched jaw, the rage in her balled fists, he just didn't understand. He made absolutely certain to not mention her name when reporting his findings to Tony, yet she remained mad just the same. He reached for her, but she simply turned and walked away before he got much further.

She found herself walking down the hall as fast as she could without drawing attention to the few stragglers hanging around. Her heart was beating rapidly against her ribcage, feeling it travel up to her throat, her nose burning as tears filled her eyes. You were compromised, being placed into a file into a government system once again, and it was her fault. She had to find you, but she had to know where to look. And, to know that, she had to locate the only other person you trusted.

He opened his door after a few urgently loud knocks, and the annoyed expression he held upon being disturbed evaporated into confused concern when he saw the look on the witch's face. She barged into his room without a word, rubbing her hands nervously together as she began pacing, ignoring the soft click of the door when he closed it behind her.

How was she supposed to tell him she messed up? He had cared for you like an older brother to a younger sister, having taken you under his wing the second you proved yourself good in his eyes. If he learns that Tony now knows the truth about your entire personal background, and that it was her fault, surely he'd resent her just as much as you were going to. Suddenly, she could no longer feel her heart beating in her throat, nor against her ribcage. It had frozen in her chest, causing her to wonder if she were even still alive.

"What happened?" Clint questioned, watching her with a careful, trained eye.

She stopped moving at his voice, pausing in the middle of his room as she turned to look at him. Her shoulders fell, her bottom lip quivered, and her knees suddenly felt weak as she couldn't find the energy to stay up anymore. She had to tell him. She had to tell him everything. Leave no detail out. He can help her, she knew he would. His fondness regarding you would outweigh any anger he was about to feel towards her. Hopefully.

The moment the first word fell from her mouth, she just couldn't seem to stop. She filled him in on everything - from the second she had found the flash drive up until this very moment - and he remained quiet throughout it all. Any questions that formed in his mind were stored away until she was finished, yet he still hadn't said a single thing when the last word left her tongue. She was left winded, breathing deeply to fill her lungs as he seemed to be weighing his choices. She had to fight every bone in her body to not slip into the archer's mind. His silence was going to be the death of her before she ever got the chance to confess to you.

"I can't help you, Wanda." She could feel the moment her heart shattered at his statement, her chin falling to her chest as she nodded solemnly. "But I can offer you some advice.” She picked her head up, meeting his gaze once more. "Find Y/N." Her lips pursed together tightly as she breathed out through her nose. 

"She'll never forgive me." Her eyes burned, and she wondered if he could see just how much she was falling apart. The way his shoulders fell seemed to give her the answer to that.

“You didn’t look at any of it.”

“That’s not going to matter, Clint.”

“Y/N sees logic. Granted, it’s a cartoonish logic, but it’s logic nonetheless. If you just tell her what you told me, she’ll understand.” Clint watched as she made her way to the door, her hand resting on the knob before turning her head to look at him. Her mouth opened, words forming on the tip of her tongue, but she quickly left the room without another word, practically running with a desperate need to get to her car.

She could count on her hand the amount of places she knew where you’d be, which was easier for her to find you… if you were there. She knew she’d be out of luck had you gone anywhere else. And Clint was no help in locating you. Her expectations had not been reached, and she shouldn't have held high hopes such as that. But, luckily, she didn’t need to go very far to find you. Climbing into her car, she closed the door with a loud slam behind her. She felt rushed when shoving the keys into the ignition, hearing the purr of the engine come to life… and the short scream that constricted her throat when she looked into the rearview mirror had her clutching her heart.

She slowed her breathing as you laughed, leaning forward in between the seats to look at her with a wide grin. It was such a drastic change of moods than when she had last seen you - which was less than thirty minutes ago. You had gone from seething with rage and boiling with anger to relaxed and nonchalant, having transferred back to your original self, but she knew it wasn’t going to survive much longer. Not when she told you the truth. “Didn’t mean to scare you, Darling.”

Taking a moment to slow her heart, she breathed out deeply. “How long have you been in here for?” she questioned, turning to meet your gaze, and she felt her breath catch in her throat when she realized how close you truly are to her face. So much for trying to settle down.

“Ever since I left that little meeting,” you confessed, but then you shrugged as you quickly added, “I did run back to the apartment to get my phone. Those little cats, man. They just keep making soup. Day and night. It’s-” You cleared your throat, shaking your head as if forcing yourself to refocus. And her lips formed a faint smile - she didn’t want you to stop talking about those cats. “I was waiting for you. You actually didn’t take as long as I thought you would.”

She has to tell you the truth. You have to know. Tony saw you as a danger, no regards for authority, no regards for anybody's safety, not being able to answer simple questions to ensure your side of the line... If she didn't know you on a deeper level, she'd ultimately agree with the philanthropist. But she did know you. And she was willing to protect you against the harshness of Tony Stark if she needed to.

If the roles were reversed, she'd want to know if a vengeful billionaire had access to the skeletons in her closet. Especially the kind of skeletons that could take you down. “Y/N-”

“Hey… Can I drive?”

She opened her mouth to continue, but when your question reached her ears, she closed her mouth and furrowed her eyebrows. “Wha- Why?”

“Why not?” You shrugged loosely, and she figured it wouldn’t hurt to let you drive. Especially if this was the last time she'd get to be with you. Like taking a child out for ice cream before giving them devastating news - maybe there’s less of a chance that what she’s about to tell you wouldn’t effect you as much if you were happy. She found herself exiting the car to round it, loading into the passenger seat and huffing when she saw that you had already settled into the driver’s seat. She laughed softly as she buckled herself in, watching as you gripped the steering wheel tightly. Your eyes were wide, your lips pulled up into a smirk, and she started to wonder if you were ever going to get started. Who knows when Tony was going to make a move?

“We should get going,” she suggested, forcing calmness, and her voice seemed to snap you out of whatever daze you had just fallen into. She breathed out a laugh as you looked at her with a nod.

“Right.” You cleared your throat as you wrapped your hand around the gearshift, though it didn’t seem to move when you pulled it. “I just…” You glanced at her in what appeared to be nervousness, a tense laugh escaping your throat as you tried once more. “I got it, I got it.” After a few more seconds, you finally pulled the car in drive. “See?”

“Y/N, wait-” She gasped when the car lurched forward towards the building, her hands bracing herself on the dashboard as her heart dropped to her stomach.

“D is for drive,” you mumbled, switching the gear shift to reverse as you laughed lightly. 

As you managed to pull out of the parking lot in a slow crawl, she turned to look at you. “Do you know how to drive?”

“Um… no.” You met her gaze to smile at her. “But I always wanted to try it. See what all the hubbub is about, y’know.” You returned your eyes to the front, grinning as Wanda breathed out deeply. “I don’t know how to swim either if that makes you feel better.” 

“How would that make me feel better?” she questioned, to which you only shrugged. She laughed, shaking her head as she looked towards the street. “Just stay on the right side of the road. Stop at red lights and stop signs. Don't hit-” She felt her voice get stuck in her throat when you gripped her hand tightly, reassuringly. Warmth flooded her veins, giving her no choice but to succumb to the feeling of floating over the clouds at your touch.

"Don't worry, Darling," you claimed, your voice low and soft, your smile light and casual, it actually helped her to relax a lot more. "I saw the movies." Your thumb skated over the surface of her hand, circular motions that practically lulled her. If you took all your knowledge of driving from movies, she should be worried, but her brain couldn’t seem to comprehend the dangers in letting you drive when your touch was so soothing.

“Let’s go on a date.” You met her gaze briefly, though she was capable of seeing the amused confusion written on your face. “I still owe you one, remember?” She wanted to delay the inevitable, she was desperate at this point.

But you shook your head and laughed lightly as you tugged your hand out of hers. She immediately felt empty at the loss of your touch, internally scolding herself not to reach for you. “Sorry, Darling, but I ain't cashing in that check just yet.” You smirked, looking at her. “Besides, I already have plans for us.” She quickly turned away to hide her growing blush, shaking her head loosely as she looked out the window to watch the building blur by. Suddenly, she felt sick to her stomach as her eyes snapped onto the speedometer, eyes widening when she saw that you were nearing one hundred.

“Y/N!” she gasped, clutching the handle above her, knuckles white at the strength in her grip, as she looked out the windshield. “Slow down!”

“What? We’re fine,” you assured her, smiling humorously. “We’re almost there anyway.” Sure, going almost a hundred would get you almost anywhere quickly, but there were speed limits in place for a reason. They weren’t optional, they were mandatory. She wondered why she wasn’t getting pulled over. Though, now that she thinks about it, succumbing to death in the fashion of a fiery ball of metal wouldn’t be the worst thing at the moment. It’ll most certainly get her out of having to admit her mistakes to you, to have to see the betrayal on your face and for her to be the cause of it. The fear that was building in her gut wasn’t because of how fast you are driving - this was most likely nothing compared to what you’re usually running - but the fact that her time with you was going to soon come to an end.

She didn’t want it to end.

“You can open your eyes now.” She followed the command of your voice, though she was unsure of when she had squeezed them shut. Prying apart her eyelids, she had come to find that you had brought her to your apartment. “See? We made it and neither of us has so much as a scratch.” You howled with victorious laughter as you climbed out of the car, and she sighed as she reached over to pull the keys out of the ignition. You still had much to learn.

She trailed behind you, glancing back at her car quickly to make sure the whole scratch thing held up to her vehicle as well, and she chuckled softly. Your parking job could definitely do with some minor tweaking... Okay… Some major tweaking.

“Why are we here? Isn’t this place compromised?” She was on your heels as you made it to the sidewalk running along the complex, and you clicked your tongue in disapproval to her comment.

“It’s been compromised ever since I moved in, Darling,” you claimed. “Besides, the whole building is viable. I just kept all my stuff in one spot. I’m willing to bet they don’t know that.” You continued down the sidewalk, your fingers gliding along the decrepit bricks of the building like a surfer to a wave. Her eyebrows furrowed with confusion, but she remained quiet as you continued, “I don’t really know what Nat does to keep this place running. I just figured she took some of Tin Man’s gadgets or something. I never asked and she never told me.”

Your lack of interest in finding answers seemed to annoy her. She felt the need to understand the way your world works, yet if you didn’t ask the questions to get the solutions, there was no way for her to know how your brain operates. Ignorance is bliss, it seems. She’ll just have to learn to accept that.

The other side of the building to another vacant parking lot. That’s where you led her. You spread your arms out wide, pausing to take a deep breath of fresh air as if you weren’t outside this whole time. She laughed, shaking her head as she gently shoved one of your arms back to your sides. “Enjoy the moment, Darling, who knows how long it’ll last.” She could feel the smile fade away on her face as you continued marching forward. Could you sense the inevitable end, too?

“About time.” Clint crossed his arms over his chest as Wanda stepped up next to you, her eyebrows furrowing with confusion as she stared at the archer - whom, in fact, she had just seen not that long ago, having left him behind in the compound. He had his quiver strapped to his chest, arrows peeking out behind his shoulder, though she couldn't locate his bow. He knows the situation; HYDRA was absolutely aware of this place - evident by the shooting that occurred here just hours ago - and Clint was always one to come prepared for the unexpected. Surely his bow was within reaching distance if it was absolutely necessary.

“How’d you beat us here?”

“Your car doesn’t go faster than a jet it seems,” you answered, bending down to scoop up a loose rock before tossing it upwards. Wanda could see the reflective panels adjust to the foreign object before quickly alternating back to its original invisibility. The rock you had thrown briefly interrupted the Quinjet’s chameleon ability. “I was hoping we’d beat them here.”

“Maybe next time, kid.” Steve joined the trio, crossing his arms over his chest as he greeted Wanda with a polite nod. “I was surprised to find a piece of paper in my pocket with coordinates leading here,” he admitted. 

You grinned, shrugging casually as you said, “I told someone I’d give you a chance, and I don’t think it would’ve been very fair for that to be interfered with by the man in a can.” Your smile widened when you turned to look at Wanda, gripping your hips with your hands. You sent her a sly wink, and she didn’t even need to be able to read your mind to know you were saying I told you so. She rolled her eyes and looked away from you. “Look, American Man, you seem to have some form of… honor. I’ll tell you whatever it is you want to know. No tricks, no lies. Just the facts.”

Clint’s eyebrows raised as he nodded his head, impressed by your seriousness. He looked at Steve, who measured you with his eyes carefully. It was as if the patriot was trying to figure out if you were being truthful at this moment, or if this was just another one of your games. Hell, even Wanda was unsure. “Who’s behind the attack at the ball?”

“Dr. Wanker-”

“Banker,” Wanda quickly corrected. You sent her a look - one eyebrow forming an arch, the corner of your lips tugged up into a half-smile. “You said the facts.” She shrugged carelessly as you laughed lightly, shaking your head as you returned your attention to Steve.

“Are you HYDRA?”

You sighed, looking down at the ground between your feet for a moment - you had to have seen that coming, surely - before picking your head up to meet the soldier’s gaze. “I was. Not by choice,” you assured. “I managed to escape a few months ago. I’ve been infiltrating the lesser HYDRA bases in hopes to find information on my mom.”

“You’re looking for your mom?”

“They separated us when I was a kid.”

“You were an experiment?”

You nodded soberly, chewing the inside of your cheek. Wanda took a small, subtle step to get closer to you. “It wasn’t a very fun childhood.” You smiled, but the witch could see how it was starting to disconnect from your eyes. Being straightforward was against your nature. Whenever she had asked you questions, you had always replied with jokes, yet there was always some sort of truth sprinkled in those answers that she’d have to work to find. You used humor to mask your pain, it was easier for you. But now? Laying out your history to the star-spangled man must’ve been hard for you. She wished he would see that. “But it wasn’t just me. There were other kids.”

“Did these other kids get powers as well?”

“Some of them,” you confirmed. “This kid, Clark, he got flight and, uh, Diana got super strength. Both pretty boring powers if you ask me.” Wanda smiled softly when Steve's eye roll didn't dishearten you.

“We don't really need their-”

The patriot's words didn't seem to reach you, continuing as if he didn't say anything at all and cutting him off in the process, “Laurel had this sonic scream kinda thing going on. It was pretty cool, but it was a kick to the ass if she got you with it. Oh!” You laughed heartily. “There was this one dude, Percy, nice kid, by the way. He had the ability to turn into anything! Holy- It was amazing! As long as he had the DNA, he could turn into it. Which is a downside to his powers.” You laughed excitedly as you appeared to perk up. “He and I used to just go around and-” When you saw the slight aggravation in Steve's eyes, the sound that was better than singing angels to Wanda was cut short. “You get the gist.” You glanced towards the witch, mouthing a quick I'll tell you later and sending her a sly wink before returning your attention to the super soldier. Her stomach tightened at your smirk. “Other kids weren’t as lucky as the rest of us.” Wanda could feel her heart drop at your words, her eyes softening as she watched you fight yourself not to pull away. You cleared your throat, sending a quick glance towards Wanda before nervously readjusting your hands - sliding up to your waist only to fall back down to your hips, back and forth what felt like a million times - before you decided to bite the bullet. “The ones who hail HYDRA got to live and serve for them. The ones who tried to use their powers to escape, they… they were unsuccessful. I’m the only one that got out.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this?” Wanda stepped towards you in an attempt to get you to look at her, but you only averted your gaze to the ground, your head turning slightly as if you wanted to look at her, yet couldn’t bring it upon yourself to do it. “Y/N…”

“It’s not something to just bring up in a casual conversation, Darling,” you responded quietly, your voice low and gentle as if you were scared to be heard. 

“The ones that stayed… do they happen to have ice and fire powers?”

Your eyes snapped back to Steve, smiling widely as you clapped your hands. Wanda pursed her lips together tightly, breathing out. She hated it when you disregarded your emotions that quickly. “Ah! So, I see you know Icy Hot,” you expressed. “The hothead is chill. He’s fun to mess with. But the ice queen? Ugh, she’s annoying.”

“Frost’s powers counteracts Y/N’s,” Wanda exclaimed. 

“How?”

“Temperature is measured by how quickly the atoms of something are oscillating. The faster they are, the hotter it is. Slower they are, the colder it is. Sooooo… speed is produced by a built-up of heat in atoms, which makes me vulnerable to extreme cold.” You nodded as everybody stared at you, crossing your arms over your chest as you slowly made eye contact with each person, eyebrows slowly furrowing once you realized all eyes were on you. “What?”

“Where did that come from?” Clint laughed, his eyes wide. “I thought for sure Bruce was here.”

“It’s not even that complicated. It’s actually common sense,” you claimed. “Speed and cold are opposites. I learned that when I was ten, Merida.”

He chuckled, raising an eyebrow. Wanda could see the way he looked at you with fondness, loyalty - truly a brother and a sister. “Are you ever going to run out of nicknames?” he questioned.

You smirked at him, shaking your head proudly as you said, “I wouldn't hold your breath, Artemis.” He breathed out a soft laugh, rolling his eyes in mock annoyance, though he matched your smug smile. Steve cleared his throat, demanding all’s attention to return to the topic at hand.

“Do you know where to find Dr. Banker?” the patriot asked, ending yours and Clint's playful banter before it even fully began. 

Your prideful grin turned genuine as you nodded at the soldier’s question. “I do,” you confirmed, “but they have some pretty serious security that even I have trouble getting by.” You looked at Wanda, meeting her gaze as you reached for her. She accepted your hand, feeling you give her a soft, reassuring squeeze, but the guilt that continued to eat away at her caused her to break the connection. She sucked in a shaky breath as you furrowed your eyebrows in confusion, glancing at the boys before stepping towards her. “Darling?” Leaving a Band-Aid on for too long can slow the healing process. She had to be as brave as you just were and rip it off, though the fear of the potential outcome had her heart savagely pumping against her ribcage with absolutely no mercy.

Her mouth opened as she breathed in, the confession forming on the tip of her tongue, yet a figure hovering behind you caused her to lose focus on whatever it was she was going to say. You and the two men turned towards whatever it was that made Wanda stay silent to see Tony Stark in all his Iron Man glory. It seemed instinctive for you to move in front of the witch, holding your arm out and standing protectively between her and the billionaire as he landed a few yards away from the small meeting, his helmet collapsing to reveal his smug face. He took a step forward, causing you to take a step back and forcing Wanda to move along with you.

“It’s not teleportation.” He grinned at you, crossing his armored arms across his chest as he scoffed. 

“What are you doing, Tony?” Steve demanded, stepping to the side to slightly put himself in front of you.

“Turns out, your little speedster here was born and raised HYDRA,” the playboy stated, grinning cynically.

But you shook your head, eyebrows furrowed deeply as you scoffed. “What? I wasn’t born in-”

“Your files say otherwise,” he expressed complacently. “Thanks to Vision’s findings, I have all the information on one Y/N-”

“Findings?” Your head tilted with confusion. “No. No, we… we wiped out everything. There wasn’t anything left to be found. It was all gone.”

“We?” Steve turned to look at you.

“She’s talking about HYDRA.”

“No,” you expressed. You took a slow, deep breath; an attempt to gather your patience. You were, after all, playing nice just for her. “No. Me and- and…” You looked towards Steve, arm falling back down to your side as you shook your head. “Natasha. I erased all the data HYDRA had and she erased all the stuff you guys had, though it wasn’t much.” You shook your head, looking back towards Tony. Wanda made eye contact with Clint, feeling her heart fall to her gut when realization dawned on her. This was it. There was no getting out of it now. “How did you…” You trailed off in confusion, Wanda releasing a trembling breath as she stepped to the side. You turned your head to meet her gaze, and your doe-eyed look ached her heart.

“Y/N-”

“It was me.” The archer moved towards you, causing you to pull your focus away from the witch to look at him. Your eyebrows were furrowed deeply with curiosity, yet Wanda’s were bunched together with confusion at the man’s interruption. He looked towards her briefly as if he were trying to tell her something, but the connection didn’t last before he returned his gaze to you. She should stop him; interfere and tell you the complete, honest truth, take responsibility for her own actions… but she only averted her eyes to the ground, rubbing her trembling hands together as she cowardly allowed Clint to continue, “I went back to Malick’s to see if there was anything the two of you missed and… I found a flash drive with your name on it.” Wanda picked her head up to watch your face carefully, how the curiosity indented in between your brows was slowly turning into anger, taking steps away from her to put more distance between you and Clint. “It had everything HYDRA has on you, so I took it.” He nodded confidently, crossing his arms over his chest. “I took the drive and Vision found it. The rest is history.”

“You-?” No. It wasn’t anger written on your face. It was hurt. Betrayal. You tilted your head upwards in an attempt to keep the forming tears in your eyes, and her lungs seemed to stop working when you turned to look at her. “Did you know?”

Her nose burned, her eyes red from the threat of tears, her heart hammered in her chest. She was breaking from the inside out, she could feel it. “Y/N-”

“Did you?”

“She had nothing to do with it, Y/N.”

“Shut up. I want to hear it from her.” You refused to look away, your gaze locked onto her; she felt like you would see right through her lie if she decided to play along. Your eyes twinkled, but it wasn't the same happy sparkle she always sees. There was a bit of sorrow in those eyes of yours, waiting for her to break your trust just as Clint supposedly had. Except it wouldn't be as easy as that. Not only would she break your trust, but your heart as well when she told you the truth… The truth that she can't bring herself to say.

“No.” The word tightened her gut uncomfortably, but the fear of losing you was much stronger. “I'm just finding out for myself.” She couldn't find the pride to look at Clint. She was being selfish, a coward, overflowing with shame, she knew this, she didn’t care. She got to keep you. Your tongue flicked out slowly, wetting your lips as your mind raced, nodding as you seemed to relax just a teeny bit at her assurance. At her lie. 

You looked back towards Clint as she watched the pain on your face become the anger she had thought she saw earlier. Your hands balled into tight fists, your jaw clenched just as hard, your nostrils flared, the deep indent returning in between your eyebrows with rage. There was too much stacking on your shoulders, you were bound to break eventually. And Clint’s so-called betrayal seemed to only push you closer to the edge. You were hanging on by the tips of your fingers.

Tony let out a low, long whistle at the interaction, gaining your attention. He was smirking, smug that he had managed to force a stake into the loyalty you gave the archer. You sucked in a deep breath through your nose as you turned your glare to the man in the metal suit. Wanda could see the way your jawbone tightened. “Just come with me. We can talk back at the compound.” She couldn't help but wonder just what he saw in that file that made him oversee reason. He had labeled you an enemy before, but he seemed a lot bolder about it now. He was trying to arrest you for crying out loud. It's not going to matter what anybody tries to tell him, he's too set in his ways.

“No,” you sneered through locked teeth, shaking your head as you turned your body to face him. “No, I'm done.” It wasn't until now that Wanda realized just how nice you truly were playing with Tony this whole time. Your patience with the man's constant doubt was astronomical, but now it seems that you were finished with him. With everything.

“Don’t force my hand, kid.” Tony took a step back, clearing his throat, and Wanda wondered if only she could see the fear he was trying to hide in his dark chocolate irises. “It won’t be pretty.”

“I’m not scared of you.” Your voice held so much venom, it would’ve killed a snake if given the chance.

“Y/N.” Wanda whispered your name, looking at the side of your face, yearning for you to meet her gaze. “Please, let’s get out of here.” She glanced towards Tony, who was standing tall in confidence, though everybody had to know it was just a façade. “It’ll just be us.” You finally seemed to relax, everything that screamed anger on your face evaporated, and her stomach erupted with pleasure upon you looking into her emerald eyes. “Remember?” You nodded a response, swallowing thickly as you held your arm up toward her. She reached for you, the tips of her fingers grazing yours, but an invisible force knocked her off her feet before she could fully meet your hand.

Her stomach twisted as she rolled across the ground, her heart pounding in her ears as she picked her head up. Pain traveled throughout her body, a pair of hands tugging against her upper arm to bring her to her feet. Clint. She could see him out of the corner of her eye, but she couldn’t hear whatever it was he was saying. And she didn’t care for it, either, as her eyes scanned the parking lot in search of you. When she found you laying a decent distance away from her, Clint's grip only tightened when he sensed her desire to run to you.

She watched with a heavy heart as you got to your knees, picking your head up to look at her. You didn’t seem hurt, only confused, but there seemed to be something about her that caused the rage you had displayed earlier to crawl back. She could see it in your eyes, how your pupils narrowed into small crumbs when they snapped onto Tony. How you had let go of that edge you were holding onto so tightly.

"Don't make me do it again," he warned, holding a glowing palm towards you as you climbed to your feet. Your jaw clenched as you stared the metal man down, and it seemed like you were… thinking. Calculating. Your mind was on overdrive - if this were a cartoon, she'd be able to see the gears turning in your head - thinking of every possible scenario and a practical consequence for each one, all in a millisecond. Despite it being Tony's tech against you, the man was greatly outnumbered. He just didn't realize it yet.

You disappeared, causing Wanda's shoulders to fall as Clint finally released her. Tony scoffed a laugh, shaking his head as he looked at Steve with a loose shrug that practically said I told you so. 

"Her files said nothing about cowardice." He sighed heavily, placing his hands on his hips as he asked, "Anybody up for some gyros?" Wanda furrowed her eyebrows, a sense of deja vu tightening her chest. "Tacos?" Using your powers to run off in the face of a dangerous threat… He pointed toward Steve, tilting his head and raising his eyebrows suggestively, "Shawarma?" Cowardice…

The realization came to her so swiftly, she gasped out loud, but she barely had time to process anything before a sudden, strong gust of wind passed her by, and the loud bang that reverberated in her skull as she watched Tony's body fly backward made her stomach tighten. She was almost positive she heard someone shout, though she couldn’t be sure if it was you or him. You seemed to have punched him harder than the juggernaut considering they didn't get launched as far as Tony did, yet the lack of a large dent in his armor would have argued the opposite. That just proves the suit's durability compared to what HYDRA uses to protect their own. Groans could be heard from the billionaire, but Wanda's eyes were focused on you, watching you coddle your hand against your chest. She was right. You did hit him harder.

Laughter escaped your throat as you turned towards Wanda, grinning as she watched you approach her. It didn't make sense to her. Despite Frosty's constant taunting comments, you haven't even attempted to attack her. Even when she had sent a barrage of icicles your way, the only thing you did was go on the defensive. Yet here, with Tony, was the first time she had seen you go on offense on someone who wasn't a HYDRA goon. “Are you okay, Darling?” Picking up the arm you weren't coddling against your chest when you stopped in front of her, you brought your fingers underneath her chin, swiping your thumb across it and she bit back the instinct to pull away when the motion brought a sharp sting throughout her jaw. She caught a glimpse of blood staining your skin after you removed your hand from her face.

She managed to put two and two together fairly quickly after that. The same reason why you put yourself between her and an icicle. Your protective nature kicked in upon seeing Wanda in danger - despite her constant claims that she's more than capable of protecting herself. This time, you didn't manage to prevent harm from coming onto her, and that lack of protection you provided seemed to have spurred your attack. Tony surely didn’t mean to hurt her, but the rage blurred any logical thoughts your rapid mind generated. She couldn’t blame you for acting so irrationally. She knew the others weren’t going to see it that way. You can play it off as self-defense if you really wanted to. Tony did make the first move after all.

“Do me a favor, real quick.” You removed your arm from your chest, holding it out towards her to showcase the hand you had punched Tony with. Wanda's hands hovered around it, eyeing it with confusion, and she felt her stomach flip when she realized you had managed to break your wrist upon striking the tough, metal suit. “I need you to set it.”

“Set it?” Her hands flew away from the fractured limb. “It’s… It’s not like you popped it out of place or anything, Y/N, it’s broken! How hard did you hit him?”

“It’s not like I measured it. It just… happened.”

“How does something like that just happen?”

“He had it coming.”

“Well, you need a hos-”

“No, no,” you interrupted. “What I need is for you to set it before the speed heals it because if it heals like this then you’re just going to have to re-break it and then we’re just going to have this conversation all over again. So-”

“Me? Why does it have to be me? Why can’t it be-”

“I can’t break my own bone, Darling, I’m not a maniac.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” she murmured, shaking her head.

“I’ll do it.” Clint stepped forward, but you were quick to hold your uninjured hand up toward him. 

“Back off, Lots-o.”

“Y/N, we don’t have time to-” You shook your head, seemingly refusing to look at him as Wanda glanced his way. He sighed, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked down. Guilt fluttered in her stomach, making her queasy.

“I’ll do it myself,” you declared. Despite the fact that your wrist is practically swinging from its socket, you had been relatively calm, yet the second Clint offered his services, bitterness seemed to have made its way to the surface instead. How in the world are you not screaming in agony right now? “Give me my jacket.”

“What? No.” Wanda took a step back when you held your hand out towards her, waiting patiently for her to shrug off the coat and give it to you, but she simply shook her head when you made eye contact.

“Darlin-”

“It” - still smells like you - “is comfortable.”

“Really?” You furrowed your eyebrows, gesturing to your fragile wrist. “You’re just going to let it dangle like this?” You rolled your eyes when she nodded, wrapping her arms around her stubbornly, defensively. “It’s not even cold, why are you wearing it?” She knew she had a choice here. Confess to you that the only reason she had it on was because your scent was still lingering somewhere in the fabric or take it off and hand it over. She buried her nose in the lapel, breathing in deeply, and almost frowning when the vanilla ozone fragrance was nearly absent. She ultimately decided it was better to just shrug it off and toss it at you, succumbing to the cool air now that a layer of warmth was gone. This way, you can make it truly yours once again, and then she’d be able to have her portable sanctity back. “Thank you.” She watched as you wrapped the jacket gently around your wrist, though she knew it wasn’t going to be enough to properly set it. And it seemed like you were aware of that as well. “We should go now,” you suggested, your voice low and quiet, and she was already nodding as you added, “because he’s going to get up soon and I’m really not in the state to fight at the moment.” 

She sent a glance toward Tony and felt her heart leap into her throat when she watched him climb to his feet. Breaking free of your grip to lift her hand up, ruby-colored tendrils danced around her fingers as her eyes glowed a dark crimson. She wasn't going to let him catch the two of you off guard, not again. 

You rested a gentle palm against her cheek, allowing her to lean into your touch as you applied delicate pressure to her jaw in order to make her look at you. Her arm returned to her side as she released a deep, heavy breath. The red corrupting her irises evaporated when she made eye contact, revealing that brilliant, viridescent color that only grew impossibly brighter whenever she looked at you.

She was going to have to remember to ask why you keep stopping her from protecting you because now this was getting a little irritating.

Her gaze followed yours when you turned your head to look towards the man in the metal suit, and you took a few steps away from her. He was angry, that much was painfully clear. She couldn’t help but notice the small spiderweb that had formed on his chest; it was blatantly obvious with the blue light glowing behind it. You had managed to punch him with enough strength to not only break your wrist but to crack the glass of his arc reactor as well. She would’ve been impressed if it wasn’t Tony Stark. 

His helmet moved to cover his face, his hands balled into fists. “Now you just pissed me off,” he declared. His voice was always cocky and confident, though there was a bit of sincere anger in the tone. And now, with him concealing his features, it was hard for her to determine if he was still afraid. Yet, fear was never one to deter Iron Man. If anything, it only made him act more on impulse than logic. "Last chance, kid. I’m not holding back this time."

He lifted his arm, his palm glowing that blueish white as he prepared to strike, but you… just stood there. No, in fact, you had closed your eyes. Your face almost looked peaceful; with your wounded, poorly wrapped arm held against your chest by your other hand. It didn't even look like you were breathing. You'd make a statue look bad with how perfectly still you're standing, and her chest tensed remarkably tight when that all-too familiar high-pitched beep emitted off of Tony's suit as he loaded up the weapon - Tony was clearly losing patience. Why were you just standing there? Your broken wrist was going to render it impossible to put up much of a fight. Why weren’t you running? She inched forward, fully prepared to put herself in front of you as you always do with her, absolutely willing to block whatever it was the man in metal was about to shoot you with.

You took a deep breath, held it for a second, and slowly released it as your eyes fluttered open. She questioned if you were meditating, convincing yourself to accept your destiny. Your fate delivered by the hands of a Stark. She was way too experienced in a situation such as this and she wasn't particularly interested in watching it play out again. But she wasn't the one to get in the middle of the standoff. No, she was beaten to the punch.

The archer stood between you and Tony, his bow in hand and an arrow in the other. Her attention had been too focused on you to notice Clint pull his bow out of whatever hiding spot he had stashed it in, but, now, it didn’t matter to her as much. She made her way to you, placing a gentle hand on your elbow, another on your shoulder, and began to tug you away from the stalemate. "Stand down, Barton," Tony expressed furiously, the shrill of his impulsor dying, keeping his arm up in the event that he actually did move. He held no preference in attacking his comrade, yet it was clear that Clint didn't return the interest as he raised his bow up, drawing back the arrow. 

It seemed like time stood still when the sound of a gunshot reached her ears. Her heart was frozen and everybody seemed to be locked in place. She started to wonder if she had even heard correctly. Normal people usually duck or run at the boom of a gun. Yet… not a single person moved a muscle. It was as if they were waiting for someone to react, for someone to point it out. It was just so random, highly unconventional. Where did it come from? If the men didn’t put their argument on hold, she would’ve definitely believed it was just something her mind had created. It wasn’t until you subconsciously put more weight into Wanda that she had managed to snap herself out of whatever silent trance the shot put them all in. Her hold on you tightened as she looked at your face, but your eyes had casted down to look at your wrist. Yet the shocked, confused look held on your features caused her to furrow her eyebrows. “Y/N?” The worry in her voice caused Clint to look over his shoulder.

“That actually hurts a lot more than I thought it would,” you confessed in a strained voice, and she followed your gaze. A gasp escaped her throat when she saw that it wasn’t your wrist that you were looking at, but the bullet hole that had formed in your chest. Blood stained your shirt, and her stomach twisted so tight, she thought for sure she was ready to vomit. “I got shot.” All eyes went to Tony as Steve quickly made his way to stand next to the archer, shield wielded as he faced off against the tech genius. Wanda certainly didn’t have time to question where they had hidden their renowned weapons, she had to get you the hell out of here and to a hospital. 

She guided you away, whatever the men were saying to each other wasn’t reaching her. Or she was just tuning their altercation out. Whichever it was, it didn’t matter. The only thing that was important to her was you.

You finally turned around and walked with her, letting her guide you as she made her way to the car. She can’t believe she was thinking this, but you weren’t going as fast as she’d like you to. It seemed like it took forever just to reach the sidewalk that ran alongside the complex. Upon rounding the corner, she nearly began dragging you when you stopped walking to lean against the building, resting against the wall as you breathed out. “He betrayed me.” Your voice was small, broken, and she had to bite against the bile of guilt forming in her throat as you clutched your broken wrist against your chest. She saw that you weren’t bleeding anymore - one of the pros of speed healing - but there was no exit wound - one of the cons of speed healing. “I trusted him and he betrayed me, Darling.” You were in shock, that was for certain.

She sent a glance where she had last seen Clint - placing himself in front of a heavily armored man who had weapons for days just toe help you get away - before bringing your face in between her hands to get you to look at her. The tears that built up in your eyes only seemed to ache her heart even more. “We really have to go, Y/N, okay?”

“It hurts.” You leaned into her touch, a red coloring your cheeks as you fought against the urge to let it all out right here. The discomfort was evident on your face, the agony of a broken bone was too much for anybody to withstand. Not to mention being shot.

“Of course it hurts, baby, you have a broken wrist and a bullet in your chest.” But you shook your head, meeting her gaze just as a single tear managed to escape its prison. It wasn’t until you fell into her that she realized you weren’t talking about the physical pain your injuries were bringing you. She wrapped her arms around you as you buried your face into her collarbone. The hug had to be gentle; with your arm in between your bodies, she didn’t want to bring you any more pain. And she didn’t even know how close the bullet was to your heart. Though she could stay like this forever (and she really wanted to), she had to get you as far from here as possible.

You seemed as if you were holding your breath when she helped you climb into the passenger seat, resting your forehead against the window as she rounded the car, squeezing your eyes shut for a short-lived moment as you coddled your wrist. The unbearable pain you must be going through right now, you didn’t get the chance to act on it because of everything that had went down, but now that you are here, alone, not having to think about anything but. You were experiencing it in all its glory.

“We have to get you to the hospital,” she claimed, starting the car as soon as the door slammed shut behind her.

“It makes sense,” you whispered, shaking your head as she pulled out of the parking lot. She didn’t have the courage to push the pedal down as far as it could go like you had, but she went as fast as she could, racing down the streets in a desperate effort to put distance between you and Tony.

“Of course it does,” she agreed, her grip on the steering wheel tightening instinctively with worry. She could’ve done more. “Your wrist needs to be set properly, Y/N, and we need to get that bullet out of you. You need a doctor.”

“No. Vis.” She glanced at you with furrowed eyebrows, seeing how you turned your head to look at her yet still rest it against the window. She could see now the pain clear on your face, how it affected the glint in your eyes, making that shine in your irises dull and dark. “I’m talking… about Vis.” You grinned, though it was just as starless. 

It felt like she was swallowing cotton with how thick her saliva had become, her gaze returning to the road in front of her. Fear was quick to overwhelm that feeling of worry as she realized that you were beginning to pull out the weeds of the lie she helped Clint plant. “What about Vis?”

“Why he handed over that… that drive.” You were becoming exhausted, even speaking was proven to be difficult. You couldn’t say your sentences in one breath. The agony you were going through right now, not just physically.

“Why?” You sucked in a deep breath, and it wasn’t until she looked towards you again that she had noticed the sweat dripping down your face. “Are you hot?” She reached towards the console, preparing to turn the air conditioner on, but when she saw you shake your head, she returned her hand to the steering wheel. She found herself pressing down on the gas pedal just a bit harder as she turned her gaze back to you. Maybe she was courageous enough to put the pedal to the metal… literally. Anything it took to get you the medical attention you so desperately needed.

“He likes you, Darling.” She hadn’t noticed, not with her attention focused solely on you. You breathed out a chuckle, letting your eyes flutter close, giving in to the strain of keeping them open. “The way I… I… like you.” She could feel her heart leap to her throat, her stomach twist at your confession. The butterflies that had laid to rest in her gut swarmed to life once again with more vigor. She breathed in a staggering breath, excitement plaguing her lungs as she turned back to look at the road. “I can… feel the bullet.”

“Y/N-”

“Near my heart.” You closed your eyes tightly, breathing out slowly. “It gets deeper with… each heartbeat. Every move.” She glanced at you as you opened your eyes to meet her gaze, her nose burning as she rapidly shook her head. “I’m going to die.”

“No.” Her jaw set, pupils narrowed. “We’re almost there. Just… stay awake, Y/N. Don’t close your eyes again.”

Her eyes returned to the road, and a gasp constricted her windpipe when she saw a figure standing in the middle of the street. Her foot pushed against the brakes with all its strength, her right arm extending out to quickly brace you back against the seat. Yet the tires suddenly lost control against the road, continuing forward despite how hard she was pressing on the pedal. Slipping and sliding as if they were on… ice.

The wall appeared out of nowhere, built of crystals that trapped the color of the ocean inside and shimmered like the stars above. There was no stopping, the car was out of control as it continued to barrel towards the ice barrier. She couldn’t even decide if she was scared or calm in the face of death before she was laying on the ground, your body beneath her as your arm wrapped around her waist so tight, she knew for sure there were going to be a bruise left in the shape of your fingers. She flinched at the sound the car made when it met the wall behind her, blood draining in her face at the thought of that being you and her. She felt protective above you, like she was shielding you from the imminent danger, and she would’ve stayed on top of you, her eyes locked onto yours in a trance that seemed impenetrable, but the hiss of pain that snuck its way out between your teeth caused her to crawl off of you quickly. She had trouble finding her footing on the coat of ice, yet she somehow maintained her balance as she watched you roll to your side to nanny your broken wrist. She could’ve sworn she heard you whimpering, and she was immediately engulfed by the instinct to coddle you.

“Aww, is Speedy hurt?” She turned her head towards the right to follow the cold voice, her eyes narrowing as she spotted Frost strutting towards her tauntingly. “Is it sad that it brings me joy to see you curled up like that?” She stopped just by you, sending Wanda a smirk as the scarlet witch lifted her hands. Red smoke swirled around her fingers as she glared at the ice queen. “Ah-ah. I wouldn’t do that, Little Red.” Her icy blue eyes flashed to something behind her, causing her to look over her shoulder to see the squad of HYDRA soldiers lined up behind her, weapons armed and at the ready. She was at an impasse, stuck between an ice witch and a barrage of guns. She wasn’t capable of doing something before anybody would notice, yet it seemed that Frost wasn’t too keen on taking the chance. Wanda’s arms were forced to her sides when a ring of ice trapped her, falling to her knees. The cold bit at her exposed skin harshly, but she knew there was no point to struggle.

She looked to you. You had managed to get her out of the car before it greeted the thick barrier of ice in a deadly introduction with your injury, but she was sure you had used up the last of your energy to do just that. You had no more fight in you, she could tell by the way you didn't move at Frost's voice. 

“It’s nice to see you again, Miss Maximoff.” She looked to the left, watching Robin join the small meeting, a brown satchel attached to her shoulder. The ice on the ground disappeared wherever she stepped, making a safe path for the scientist to walk. It was clear just how high up on the pedestal Frost held the doctor. She stopped in front of your curled form, kneeling down to trace the back of her hand gently down your jawline. “I’m sorry I had to shoot you, dear, but it’s the only way to get you to stay still.” She sighed, a sense of sadness behind the breath, before clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth in what felt like disappointment. “It was foolish of you to use your speed when you’re so heavily injured.”

“I don’t care.” You flinched away from her at the touch. “Let her go.”

“I’m not here for her, my child,” Robin assured softly. The scream that erupted from your chest when she pulled at the jacket wrapped around your fragile wrist caused Wanda’s stomach to twist with anger, and she found herself struggling against her makeshift restraints despite knowing it was useless.

“Stop!” she yelled, receiving an evil smirk from Frost, but the doctor paid her no mind as she continued revealing your injury. “Leave her alone!”

Robin ignored her, tossing the jacket carelessly aside before reaching into her bag. “Long before you got your powers, I taught you proper medical procedures… such as setting bones.” Wanda furrowed her eyebrows when she pulled a splint from the satchel. “You clearly didn’t obtain anything from those lessons, my dear.” The Sokovian watched how fragile she held onto your wrist, wrapping it as delicately as she could without bringing you more pain. “Your wrist won’t fully heal for another few hours, but now at least it’s properly set.” She returned her hand to your face, resting a palm against your cheek, and you didn’t seem to be able to muster up the energy to pull away from her as you had last time. “We’ll take care of the bullet when we get back to the lab.” A somber smile tugged the corner of the doctor’s lips. “There are cons to your power, I see that now.”

Wanda didn’t really know what angle the bad doctor was playing at. Was she hoping that if she showed you an inch of kindness, you’d be more willing to cooperate? Helping you with your wrist didn’t even out all the trauma she had bestowed onto you. One act of kindness didn’t surpass all the bad. She had just confessed that she shot you. Fixing a broken wrist definitely didn’t reach that high on the compassionate scale in comparison.

“I giveth.” Robin smiled down at you. “I can taketh.”

Wanda furrowed her eyebrows, head tilting slightly to the side. The ice trap locking her arms to her sides was beginning to make her skin painfully numb, but she couldn’t get her thoughts together to conjure up a plan of escape. “Don’t listen to her, Y/N,” the Sokovian declared. “I know you’re in pain, baby, but please get up.”

“Oh, honey,” Robin said, swiping at your forehead. “You just relax, okay?” She brought your face in between both your hands, sliding her thumbs against your skin with a delicate touch. But you seemed out of it, the pain causing the exhaustion you were feeling to reach new heights. It wasn’t much longer that you could keep your eyes open by the way your blinks lasted longer, and Wanda was almost certain you weren’t fully processing anything anybody was saying right now. “What hurts today, hurts less tomorrow.”

The doctor looked towards Wanda, smiling ominously softly as she stood up. The witch pulled against her icy bonds as her jaw clenched tightly. She shook her head, refusing to believe what her gut is telling her. She couldn’t prevent a couple of the soldiers behind her to march past, safe from the frosted ground as Frost made sure of it. They scooped you up in their arms, and Wanda’s struggle became more vital as they made their way to a van. You didn’t stop them, you were too tired, leaving the witch to watch them load you into the back of the vehicle, slamming the doors closed just before the wheels squealed against the pavement to race out of here.

“You’re lying to her,” Wanda sneered, giving up her fight against the seemingly unbreakable ice wrapped around her.

Robin shook her head, stepping towards her as she sighed. “A mother never lies to their child, Miss Maximoff,” she claimed, giving her no choice but to believe her gut now.

“No.” The witch shook her head in denial, scoffing at the mere thought of Dr. Robin Banker being a mother to someone such as yourself. “Why would I ever believe you?”

“Most people would deny a hard truth than face it,” Robin expressed. 

“You’re not motherly material,” Wanda argued. “A mother loves their child, they wouldn't put them through traumatizing experiments for their own personal gain!”

“You don’t understand what a mother would do for her child,” she snapped. A bright light flooded the area, fire making the moon match the sun for just a moment as it landed a few feet away from the doctor. A man formed out of the flames, stepping onto the ice that had melted away long before he touched it.

“The Avengers finished their quarrel, Doc,” Blaze declared, crossing his arms over his sweaty chest and Wanda wondered briefly if this man had ever worn a shirt in his life. “We should get outta here.”

Frost smiled widely, stepping towards Wanda as a sinister look crossed her features. “I’ll gladly take care of this one, ma’am.”

“No.” The ice queen froze at the doctor’s demand, turning to look at her as she shook her head. “Let her go,” Robin ordered, sending Wanda a soft smile. “She won’t hurt us.” 

The ice restraint evaporated from around her, and she didn’t hesitate to prove the scientist wrong as she brought her hands up. Red plagued her green irises, crimson tendrils dancing around her fingers once more. She was aware of the guns pointing at her, the soldiers just waiting for any opportunity to pull the trigger, and she didn’t care. 

“You won’t take her mother away from her again, would you?” All of the energy seemed to have been sucked out of Wanda at the doctor's words, her hands falling to her lap. And any magic that she had shown evaporated into thin air. “You and I both know she’ll be safe with me.”

“Please,” she pleaded, “take me with you.”

Robin smiled sweetly, her eyes softening as she looked at the breaking witch. “You love her.” The scientist shook her head as she started to walk away. “You’ll see her soon enough.” Something sharp struck her neck, her hand instantly covering the brief sting of pain, but it was seconds later that she was starting to feel dizzy. Tired. As if she hadn’t slept in days. Whatever she was injected with worked quickly as the edges of her vision blurred, Frost’s approaching figure was the last thing she saw before she succumbed to the darkness.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ϟ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

It was a delicate touch, a finger sliding up her jaw and across her forehead. It had stirred her awake, a smile stretching her features as she rolled over. Her eyes fluttered open, and her grin had somehow grown bigger as she met your gaze. You chuckled lightly, drawing your finger down the other side of her face and stopping just below her jaw. You pushed slowly, tilting her chin up to get her lips closer to yours. The kiss was intimate, fire burning her chest in a way that left her needing more, but your laughter broke the kiss faster than she could deepen it. You sighed out lowly, resting a gentle hand on her neck to stroke her jawline with your thumb.

“Did they hurt you?” she whispered, nervous to break the comforting vibe floating throughout the air. But you only grinned at her, shaking your head subtly. HYDRA wasn’t known for their soft touch. “I missed you.”

“I’m here now,” you murmured, your eyes melting into hers in a way that made her almost believe you. “And they won’t bother us anymore, Wanda.”

Her breath caught in her throat at the sound of her name coming off your tongue, her actual name. “They told you?”

“I asked them.” Your brows furrowed with confusion when she pulled away, watching her sit up before you propped yourself on your elbow. You reached for her, but she caught your wrist before you could rest your hand against her cheek. “What’s wrong?” You sighed, frowning slightly when she looked back at you. Your eyes twinkled with sorrow, and the desire to reach out to you nearly drove her to do so. Nearly. “You remembered that this isn’t real.” 

Her eyes flew open to find herself staring at the empty space next to her. She lifted herself up, running a hand down her face before looking around the apartment. Your apartment. The hope that one day, you’d walk right through those doors. That she’d see your smiling face again. That she’d be able to drive her lips into yours and it’d be real. But she was alone in a place that was officially declared abandoned. 

The shrill sound reached her ears, pulling her out of her haze as she looked towards her phone. Clint’s name flashed across the screen, and she sighed when she saw just how little battery life she had left. She answered it either way, rubbing her forehead as the archer’s soft, sad voice filled her mind, “Are you coming?”

“Of course, Clint,” she assured gently. “I just overslept. I’m on my way.” She hung up before he could say anything else, dragging herself out of the comfort of the bed to pull on a pair of fresh clothes. Her fingers ran along the fabric of your jacket, feeling her nose burn as you reentered her mind within seconds. Your scent was no longer entwined in the threads, but it was still your jacket, and that was enough incentive to pull it on.

Her feet were heavy as she walked down the halls of the hospital, her heart a loud thud in her chest as she approached the room. One of the main reasons that she had agreed to be here was you. She had hoped that you’d have somehow received the news and have shown up for support, that it’d be one hell of a reunion in a time so terrible. But she was only greeted with disappointment when all she saw was Clint next to the bed, along with a nurse on the other side of the bed, both of whom were patiently waiting for the witch’s arrival.

It was never a pretty sight to see somebody in a hospital bed, whether they have tubes helping them breathe or not. But there was just something about seeing Natasha Romanoff bedridden, intubated to keep her airway open for her lungs, that made Wanda’s stomach twist and turn all sorts of different ways that didn’t agree with her. She stood next to Clint, looking at him with a halfhearted smile before turning to look at the nurse.

“After I stop her medication, I’m going to extubate her.” The nurse’s voice was soft and gentle, yet it only made her chest tighten in an effort to stop whatever emotion was about to make its way up her throat. “She may hold on for a few moments when the support is removed, or it could take hours.” The nurse cleared her throat and stepped closer to the machines, lifting her hands upwards as she said, “I’m turning the ventilator off.” Clint’s hand found Wanda’s, and she allowed him to squeeze her as the two watched the nurse turn off the breathing machine. “We’ve sedated her, so she’s not feeling any of this.” She knew it was said to relieve some pain, but it didn’t make it any easier to watch a close friend succumb to the hands of death. Wanda couldn’t help send a glance towards the closed door; maybe she was trying to avoid watching the removal process, or maybe she was hoping to see it open, hoping to see you step in.

The nurse walked away shortly after, giving Clint and Wanda some privacy. The archer stepped forward, releasing Wanda to grip Natasha’s limp hand as he kneeled down next to the bed. “I’ll take care of her, ‘Tash,” he whispered, rubbing his thumb up and down just below her knuckles. “I promise.” Wanda was quick to wipe the escaping tears off of her face as Clint rested his thumb on the mattress. “She’ll be okay.” It was as if that’s all the confirmation she needed because, with one last short beep from the heartbeat monitor, the next one extended into a flatline.

Clint moved to rest his forehead against the bed, saying a silent goodbye to his best friend, before standing up. Wanda spotted the overbed table, a small smile tugging a corner of her lips when she spotted the Budapest snow globe resting on the surface. It was impossible for you to physically be here, but it helped her to believe that you were here in spirit thanks to your gift.

She had agreed to meet Clint at a diner for lunch. Not only would it help him get his mind off of the tragic loss that had just transpired, but it’d help her get her mind off a lot of other things as well. And though both of them had ordered a meal, neither of them so much as had a taste of it yet. She didn’t need to read his thoughts to know just how badly he was beating himself up. Not just for Natasha’s death, but for your abduction as well. It was who the archer was, shouldering everything despite it exceeding the limit. She wished she could say something that’ll help him, but she was at a loss of words.

She cleared her throat, digging her fork into her food as she said, “How’re you doing, Clint?”

He sighed, setting his utensil down as he rested his arms on either side of his plate. “I haven’t had any luck finding her, but I’m not going to stop-”

“No.” She shook her head and sighed, picking up her eyes to look at him. “All any of us could do is everything we can.”

“Wanda-”

“Natasha doesn’t hold you responsible for anything. Y/N doesn’t hold you responsible for anything. Nobody does. So…” She straightened her form as he met her gaze, lifting her chin confidently as she added, “Cool it with the self-blaming act.” 

He stared at her, his piercing blue eyes locking onto her emerald green ones as his eyebrows knitted together tightly. She thought for sure he was mad at how quick she was to shrug off the last hour, but the smile that crawled onto his face as a hearty chuckle escaped his throat made her think twice. “I see what you did there.” She released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding as he shook his head, looking down to his food as he picked up his fork. “Clever.” He scooped some food into his mouth and chewed it. She didn’t think it was going to be that easy, but she wasn’t complaining. “Are you ever going to come back?”

Ever since you had been taken, she couldn’t be bothered to return to the compound. She wouldn’t be able to look Tony in the eye and keep her cool. And Vision. She couldn’t even begin to think about the android. There was a part of her… a huge part of her that blamed them both for what had happened. If Vision hadn’t gone into her room to find that flash drive, he wouldn’t have given it to Tony. But it was just as easily her fault as well, she knew that. If she hadn’t taken that USB, then they wouldn’t even be in this situation to begin with. Hell, you’d probably be an honorary Avenger by now despite your desire not to be one. But, for now, she was not planning on a return. “Not at the moment,” she confessed, looking down at her food. “I’m doing fine at the apartment.”

“That building isn’t going to last much longer,” he pointed out in a delicate voice. “Nat bought it. Paid for everything with her own money. Now… she’s gone.” His tone grew sadder at the mention of Natasha - she didn’t blame him. The death was forthcoming, but the fresh wound still hurt. “The state’s going to take possession of it. Probably auction it off.”

“I’ll find something else when the time comes,” she stated. 

He stared at her for another moment as she looked down once more. “How long has it been?” She sighed softly, stabbing her mashed potatoes with her fork and swirling it amongst the mush. She knows exactly how long it’s been since she watched them take you away from her, since she had stepped foot in the compound. She was counting the days, though it was useless. She didn’t know when you were coming back, if you were. “C’mon, Wanda, I know you know.”

“Two months, nineteen days.” She shook her head, meeting his gaze as she said, “I can’t do a single thing without thinking of her.”

“We’ll find her,” Clint assured, his voice light and gentle, nodding as he drove his utensil into his food once more. “I’m not going to stop looking.” He gestured to her food, “You should eat something.”

The two parted ways after lunch. She wasn’t sure where he was going, but he made sure to let her know that he’ll always be just a phone call away before he climbed into his car and drove off. Not that it mattered anyway, her phone was almost dead. And she didn’t have electricity at your place to charge it. Yet, she found herself driving to the apartment anyway. She wanted to be there in case you ever managed to escape HYDRA. You did it once, surely you’d be capable of doing it again. And she wasn’t going to let you think that you were alone with her around.

She felt confused when she saw a lone car sitting in the normally vacant parking lot of the complex. It wasn’t a vehicle she was at all familiar with, which only made her wary as she parked next to it. The inside of the car, from what she could see, was empty. No personal belongings stowed away anywhere - not even an air freshener. It was safe to say that it was relatively new, and that didn’t help her in finding out whose it was.

She entered the building, muscles tensed with preparation to defend herself against the intruder. As far as she knew, two of the three people who were aware of this place were gone. And the third one she had just seen drove the completely different way than where the building was. She continued up the stairs, slowly, quietly, and she felt her heart freeze upon seeing the door to your apartment was ajar. Of all the other units in the building, how did they know exactly which one was yours?

Her breath caught in her throat when she heard movements the closer she got, floorboards creaking under the added weight, loud thumping as whoever it was seemed to be throwing things around. She pushed the door open the rest of the way, crimson tendrils whirling around her fingers as she tiptoed through the room. She followed the noise, eyes as red as blood when turning the corner and waving her hand. She wasn't exactly sure what she had thrown, but the intruder managed to duck at the last second to dodge the object. It smashed against the dresser in front of them.

“Whoa, whoa!” Your hands flew up in the air as you spun around to face her, an embarrassed smile lifting your lips as you held out your palms towards her, a gesture for her to calm down. “It’s just me.”

“Y/N?” She felt her body instantly relax when your name left her tongue, her shoulders slumping as she stared at you. It felt like a dream. And, to be fair, her dreams nowadays were very vivid. For all she knew, this could be one. “Are you… Are you actually here?”

You raised an eyebrow, tilting your head slightly with a sly smirk as you said, “I’m pretty sure there's  nobody else in this world that looks like me, so… yes.” She was too frozen in her spot to cross the room and bring you into her arms, and she wondered if you were feeling the same way. 

She cleared her throat, chewing the inside of her cheek as you turned around to continue searching through the dresser. The room was messier than she had left it, but it didn't fully process in her mind. She had to deliver the news. It was better if she told you now than have you find out by somebody else later. “Nat's dead, Y/N,” she expressed, watching you stop to look towards her. She prepared for you to fall to your knees, to shut down as you had before. She was ready to run to you so she could bring you into her arms, so you could cry into her shirt. But you just… shrugged it off.

“Eh.”

“Eh?”

“I mean, not everybody can escape death like me,” you declared with a gentle, low laugh. She furrowed her eyebrows, tilting her head to the side as you continued rummaging through the drawer. 

“You're… not upset?” 

“Upset?” You scoffed, shaking your head as you looked at her over your shoulder. “I barely even knew her.” She took a small step towards you as you turned around to face her, which caused her to stop moving. You smiled, reminiscing, and it caused her stomach to twist. “I missed you.” She could feel her gut tighten with warmth at your statement. “But I can’t stay long.”

“What?” The butterflies immediately died before they could even begin living.

“Yeah…” You chuckled nervously, shrugging carelessly. “I’m not staying here. I’ve decided to move on with my life. To just leave everything behind and start anew.”

She took a step towards you, tilting her head to the side. “What about me?”

You scoffed, laughing. “Honestly, I just never really saw the two of us working out in the end.” She felt your words pull her heartstrings, her stomach clenching painfully.

She couldn’t help but feel angry at how casual you’re being right now. The pain, this hurt worse than she could’ve imagined. She didn’t see this reunion going this way. “I’ve waited months for you to escape HYDRA, Y/N! Months for you to come back to me.”

“Oh, about that. I actually escaped HYDRA about a week after they caught me.” You smiled proudly at her, crossing your arms over your chest. You acted like it was an accomplishment, that escaping HYDRA wasn't already a notch you had on your belt. She balled her hands into tight fists by her sides. She could feel herself wanting to wipe that dopey grin off of your stupid face. “Okay, I didn’t escape. They just let me go.”

“They let you go?”

“Well, once they got rid of my speed, I just became useless in their eyes.” You chuckled. “Hey, you can even read my mind now. Go ahead, try it. I give you permission.” You leaned forward as if presenting your head to her, but she ignored your little skit as she shook her own head.

“They took your speed?”

You nodded as you straightened your back to look at her. “Actually, it wasn’t that hard. They had this vial of, like, blue liquid and they just-”

“I don’t care if you have powers or not, Y/N,” she interrupted. “I just want you.” You sighed, pursing your lips together as she took another step towards you. “Did everything that happened between us mean anything to you? Or was it just… nothing?”

“I don’t really feel any remorse right now so… probably nothing.” She winced, her hand pressing against her heart as if her palm could heal the tears your words were causing. “I’m a piece of shit and I honor that,” you stated with a laugh.

“I thought you loved me,” she whispered, incapable of bringing her voice back to that loud, angry tone she had. She could feel her bottom lip tremble as you hummed, tears burning her eyes. She never realized how much pain words could bring to her heart - she could feel it breaking as she stood there like an idiot.

“Seems like I fooled you.” You shrugged casually, and she had to turn away from you in order to hide the pain that was beginning to show in her red-stained eyes and puffy cheeks. Where was your heart? 

“You just get me to fall in love with you and then you bail?” She couldn't say it without her voice shaking, sucking in a trembling breath in an attempt to relax. But she was hurt. She had thought she found the one who filled the vacancy in her heart, that you were hers. But she was, ultimately, too quick to love. “I couldn't sleep. I could barely eat. I stopped trusting people! I was slowly dying without you… and it turns out you didn't even care.”

“Look, I’m sorry, Wanda.” And then, just like that, she understood. All the pain and agony, all the torture your words brought her was quickly overwhelm with anger. “If it makes you feel better, you can have this place. You've obviously been staying here and I have no use for it anymore, clearly. I’m just going to get something first and then it’ll be all yours.” 

“They told you my name?” She turned to look back at you, eyebrows furrowed.

“I asked them,” you confessed. “I lost patience in waiting for someone to tell me. Figured I'd get it myself.” You smiled, laughing gently. 

She took a step towards you, clearing her throat. “Remember that game you and I used to play together?” she asked, smiling softly despite the wrath boiling her blood. 

“Yes, the… game.” You grinned, but she could see just how confused you were by the look on your face.

“You know, the one with the dogs making soup.” She tilted her head to the side, watching you carefully as you quickly nodded in agreement.

“Right! Right, right. Dogs and soup. How could I forget such a thing?” You slapped your palm against your forehead, shaking your head shamefully. “I haven’t been playing it lately, so I almost didn’t remember.” You cleared your throat, gesturing towards her as you said, “We had a blast with the dogs that made… soup.” You pointed behind you as you said, “You mind if I continue?”

But she only shook her head before you turned around, digging your hands through a pile of shirts. “Are you looking for something?” She took a couple more steps towards you, crossing her arms over her chest. “I didn’t really touch anything. Everything should be where you left it.”

“Yes,” you declared, resting against the opened drawer with a heavy sigh. “It’s just this thing, I… I hid it and I don’t really remember where I put it.” You turned around to face her, scratching behind your ear and laughing sheepishly. “To be fair, I’ve been with HYDRA for a while and… Well, you know how they like to play with people’s brains.” You tapped your temple, spinning your finger in a circle as you stuck your tongue out. Her emerald eyes stared at you, analytical, and you pursed your lips together with a nod. “It was the dog thing, wasn’t it?”

“No,” she answered, jaw locked tightly as her eyes narrowed. “You said sorry.” And her name, but she had deemed it unnecessary to share that. “Y/N doesn't believe in apologies.”

“Of course, of course.” The fake you nodded, sighing as their eyes rolled. “Well, I’ll just be on my way then-” They barely took a step forward before the red glow in Wanda’s eyes returned, her jaw locking incredibly tight as she flicked her wrist. Whoever had stolen your face smashed into the wall to the right, pinned by the red tendrils of her magic. Her heart was still fragile, the emotions of what had been said between you and her still fresh on her mind and, though she knew it wasn’t you, it hurt to still hear it in your voice. “Alright, alright, chill!” Your face transformed right before her eyes, skin morphing to change the appearance, revealing a man around the same age as you were, give or take a little off. He sent you a half-smile, lifting his arms up as high as he could as if he were saying ta-da. 

Wanda remembered you describing a man with similar abilities, and she furrowed her eyebrows as she took a step forward. “Percy?” When you mentioned him, you had referred to him in the past tense.

“At your service,” he expressed, his half-smile growing in a cheeky grin. 

“Y/N thinks you’re dead.”

“I’m glad to hear that she mentioned me. She’s a tough cookie to crack, you know. Doesn’t let anything get to her. She’s kinda my inspiration, y’know.” He smiled shyly at his admittance. 

She scoffed. “She said you’re a nice kid… She was clearly mistaken.”

“Oh, no, no. I am nice. I mean, I didn’t kill you, did I? They wanted me to, but… I'm no killer.” He smiled proudly, teeth showing and all. “And, you know, I most certainly didn’t pin you against the wall.” No, he didn’t, but he almost made her suffer a heartbreak she didn’t see herself recovering from. She was actually still trying to recover from it - it was sort of difficult to get over it when she had originally believed it was you. He looked down, laughing at the tendrils holding him up. “Hey, that’s pretty cool, actually. Did HYDRA give you your powers too?” He picked his head up to look back at her, showing just how little it took to make this guy smile, and she sighed. Maybe you truly were his inspiration. 

“Where is she?”

“I don’t know. Really,” he answered. “They gave me a vial of her DNA and I did what they told me to. Minus the killing part, obviously. I wouldn't do that to Y/N. I consider her a very close friend and-”

“Just…” She closed her eyes, breathing out slowly for a moment before she opened them once more. At least he was more straightforward with the truth than you were. “What did they want you to do?” He stared at her, lips pursed tightly together to form a thin line. He was hesitant to share, and his thoughts were useless as the only thing he was thinking about was to not tell her. It seemed like he needed a little push in telling her what she wanted to know. She waved her fingers towards him, watching as the red smoke wrapped around one of his hands, and, with a sharp twist of her wrist, his index finger bent back mercilessly.

He released a howl of pain and, oh, boy, could this guy be loud. She was thankful the building was abandoned. “Okay, okay! I'll tell you, I’ll tell you.” She released his hand, sending him a humorless smile as she waited for him to continue. He sighed, shaking his head as he laughed with what appeared to be excitement. It was as if he had already forgotten his wounded finger. “They gave me a picture of something I needed to find. I don’t know what it is. Said it’d be here somewhere, but that it’d be suspicious if they sent agents to look. They…” He huffed. “They knew you were staying here. Waiting for her. That's why they wanted me to” - he lifted his arm to “slice” his throat with his hand, but he didn't get as close to his neck as he'd like to with the restraints, yet she understood what he was going for (the sound of “death” he added was unnecessary). “I thought that if I-I hurt you enough that you’d just leave.” She stared at him for a bit longer, and the next laugh that came from him was a nervous one. “Not the physical kind of- Just the emotional pain, y'know. I thought it was pretty smart of me. Do I regret it? Well… no, because then I would've had to kill you. But you looked super sad and it almost made me sad so…” He cleared his throat, sending her a nervous, wide smile, but she only continued to stare at him. “I told you everything I know, Wanda. I’ll even give you the picture! It's in my pocket.” She released a heavy breath as she reached into her own pocket to pull her phone out. “No, no. My pocket. The back one, I'm pretty sure. Left.” He thought about it for a moment before quickly adding, “No, it's right. I mean right as in the right one, not the left.” She ignored him, shaking her head as she quickly dialed Clint’s number. “Whoa… Who- Who you callin’?” His voice lowered to an exhilarated whisper, “One of the Avengers?” He gasped excitedly as she turned away from him. “I read some of those comics over there while I was looking. I mean, the ones that aren't just riddled with an unholy amount of holes, of course. What happened there, by the way? I’m pretty sure they didn’t come like that.” He hummed a little tune for a moment, and she was foolish to believe that he would just stop talking like that. “The Avengers are cool. At least in the comics. I kind of want to meet Iron Man.” She glanced at him over her shoulder with a raised eyebrow.

“I don’t recommend it.” She groaned when her phone shut off before getting the chance to talk to Clint, turning back around to shove the device into her pocket once more. “Alright,” she expressed, walking over to the dresser, closing the drawer he had pulled open and tugged against the top one. Her fingers wrapped around the green tie you had worn during the ball, and a soft, genuine smile stretched her rigid features as she remembered the moment she saw you in that suit, yet it was quickly trampled by the memory of what happened later that night. She looked at him, stretching it out in between her hands and sent him a somber smirk. “You’re going to help me.” He laughed nervously, like he was playing along with a joke he didn't understand, but when he saw how serious she was, he shook his head with confusion.

“To do what?”

“To find Y/N.”

Chapter 3

[thenatashamaximoff]

Quick To Love

Summary: With the fresh wound of losing her brother, she’s quick to judge the new speedster that doesn’t seem to stop showing up.

Pairing: Wanda x Reader

Warnings: blood, mentions of death, mentions of kidnapping

Words: 31,626

✎ | ϟ

Based directly off of this drabble with some minor tweaks

┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━ϟ━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓ @madamevirgo​  ┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━ϟ━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛ ┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━ᗢ━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓ @diaryoflife​​ @women-am-i-right​​ @creatively-analytical​​ @obsessed-with-wandamaximoff @beforeoursecrets​​ @iliketozoneout​​ @olsensnpm​​  ┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━ᗢ━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛ ┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━∞━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓ @myfavoriteficss​​ @pinkytoecrust​​ @cyncity32​​ @romanoffomixam​​ @peachbear88​​ @magicallymaximoff​​ @therealmeari @peggycarter-steverogers​​ @ba-romanoff​​ @natashabelovas​​ @morbid-gaymer​​ @reminiscingtonight​​ @when-wolves-howl​​ @idontknownemore​​ @natashasilverfox​​ @sayah13​​  ┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━∞━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

Her eyes watched the trees blur by, her body jostling along with the jeep maneuvering over the dirt road. She was silent, matching the sound of the atmosphere surrounding her. Her elbow rested on the door, her chin in her hand, her jaw clenched tightly. It was hard to see the meaning of life when the only person she had ever held close to her heart was gone. Her foolish brother; faster than a speeding bullet, and yet…

She had to shake it off. The fresh memory of her brother’s death was going to get in the way of her mission, but she couldn’t stop the grief from flooding her mind. She was compelled to close her eyes, letting the stray tear crawl down her cheek. She hated how she couldn’t allow herself to find peace in the darkness, her brother’s face painted on the inside of her eyelids. Memories, both good and bad, colored a picture in the black.

“It’s easy.” Natasha’s voice interceded Wanda’s thoughts, forcing the rookie back to the present with a deep inhale through her nose, her eyes fluttering open as she pulled away from the window. She wiped at the singular tear with her knuckles, grateful for the end of the silence, even more grateful when the redhead killed the engine of the car once it came to a stop. “Get in, get the data, get out.” The first week of being an Avenger and they didn’t hesitate to throw her on an assignment. She wasn’t complaining; it kept her mind occupied on something other than Pietro. She needs the distraction. “Maybe, if we’re lucky enough, we get the chance to burn the place to the ground.” The former assassin sent Wanda a sly, eager wink before climbing out of the jeep.

Wanda sat there for a moment, watching Natasha gain distance between her and the car. Stopped in the middle of the woods - to keep the element of surprise - there was nothing else to do than to follow the seasoned agent quickly. It didn’t seem like she was going to wait for the witch to pull herself together. No time to think, just go.

But the longer she trailed after Natasha’s retreating form, the more she felt that the two of them weren’t truly alone. Sensing another pair of eyes on her, she couldn’t help but have her head on a swivel. Natasha, a highly trained asset, doesn’t seem to notice the new presence. And, if she does, she isn’t showing it. The redhead continued forward, yet Wanda found herself slowing down. Her chest tightened, her heartbeat climbed into her throat, her hands formed fists by her sides, and when a twig snapped somewhere to her left, she didn’t hesitate to send a red blast that way.

She released a heavy breath when the projectile smashed into a tree, the explosion of wood drove away the hidden birds as they flew off.

“What’re you doing?” Her throat constricted in fear, a gasp working its way up her chest, at the sound of Natasha’s voice, turning to face her. She had her arms crossed over her chest, an eyebrow raised dubiously, as she awaited an answer from the new Avenger. Wanda wanted to ask if the redhead felt the change in the air, but when her mouth opened, and no words could be heard, Natasha only shook her head as she fought a smirk tugging a corner of her lips. “Come on. Daylight’s burning.”

Wanda turned her attention to the tree she had shot, lingering for a moment before finally finding the ability to walk. Though the sensation of the new presence didn’t fade away, she chose to file it under paranoia as she followed Natasha the rest of the way. She needs to focus on her mission, located in a building that wasn’t that much further, it seems. A few steps later and she could see it peeking through some foliage.

But it was just too easy. Knocking down enemies in the HYDRA base as if she were playing a video game on the peaceful difficulty, not to mention she had managed to lose Natasha some time ago. Her thoughts, despite herself, started to wander. Something had broken inside of her at the mere feeling of his death. And what she wouldn’t do to feel whole again, to get her brother back, as annoying as he was. If she could, she’d go back in time. Stop themselves from ever joining the Avengers, from joining Ultron. Because she never thought the emptiness could be so cold.

Focus.

When she turned the corner, she couldn’t help but pull off a small smile at the number of soldiers awaiting her arrival, positioned in a defensive strategy with all their guns trained on her. This is exactly the distraction she was seeking, not having to think about anything but not dying. Yet, the distraction didn’t last very long. One moment, all the guards were there, preparing to unleash the unholy amount of bullets that would’ve come from their guns, and the next… they were all unconscious. And she was way too puzzled to even notice that one guard managed to get a shot off, the bullet racing to hit its mark…

Someone appeared in front of her, their fist raised in the air exactly where the bullet had been, mere inches from her face. She furrowed her eyebrows as the stranger grinned at her, flipping the harmless bullet in the air and catching it.

“Didn’t see that coming, did you?” Wanda could’ve sworn she heard Pietro say it, his voice condescending and snarky, playful and joking. But he didn’t say it, the stranger did. The stranger who was giving her the biggest of smiles right now, as if it was all a joke. And it was. A sick one.

Wanda’s confused face instantly turned to anger, wondering what she could have possibly done for the universe to give her whatever this was. “Who are you?” She couldn’t stop the coldness in her voice, especially when the grin on the stranger’s face didn’t waver even a centimeter at the hatred Wanda was spewing out in every syllable she had said. Her hands clenched into tight fists by her sides, her nails digging into her palms as they threatened to cut her open. She needed a reason not to send this stranger flying.

“Name’s Y/N,” you greeted, opening your hand to offer her a handshake, the bullet falling to the floor with a metallic patter as it bounced. “You know, you’d think you’d be a little bit more grateful that I saved your life.” You pulled your arm away from her when it was clear she wasn’t going to accept the handshake, shoving your hands into your jacket pockets.

“I didn’t need your help.” She couldn’t find the ability to open her jaw, her tone bone-chilling through clenched teeth. “I had it handled.”

“Oh, I know you did, Darling.” Darling. The butterflies she thought had died a long time ago fluttered to life in her stomach, but she managed to suffocate the growing swarm. This, she knew, was unacceptable. She had to hate you - hate is easier to deal with than love - but your charisma was making it difficult. Your charm was working on her, and it was working quickly. “I’ve been watching you ever since I saw you and the redhead pull up.” You turned away from her before she could conjure up a response, taking a moment to admire your handiwork before you started to walk away. Despite everything inside her mind telling her that she didn’t care, that she wanted nothing to do with you, she followed suit. “I just really wanted to steal your thunder.”

She felt a tug against her heart at the sound of your lighthearted laughter and she told herself that she shouldn’t be feeling this way towards you. She needed to loathe you, to despise everything you stand for, but she… couldn’t. Your smiling face made her want to smile, too, so biting down hard against her cheek made her successfully fight that feeling. “Why are you even here?”

You stopped walking abruptly, causing her to nearly collide with you. You slowly turned to look at her, meeting her green eyes and completely ignoring the cold hate you see in them, smiling at her warmly. “You’re not the only one who gets to have some fun with HYDRA.” You patted her on the shoulder and she instantly swatted your hand away. You shrugged off her reaction and turned back around to continue your march forward.

The second your back was to her, the coldness on her face evaporated, she had completely lost control over the butterflies in her gut, and she followed you without a hesitated second, stepping over the guards carefully. “Where did you-”

“Aren’t you supposed to be looking for your friend?” You turned a corner down the hall. She knew that if you truly wanted her to stop talking to you, you would’ve ran off a long time ago. She wouldn’t have been able to catch you. “The redhead. Pretty sure she’s on the other side of the-”

“She’s fine.” At least she thinks she’s fine. Natasha can handle herself, that’s for sure. There was no need to worry about her. “You seem to know your way around the building pretty well.”

“I’m just guessing.” She couldn't stop the curiosity from overwhelming her thoughts, ultimately deciding to take a peek into your mind, but your thoughts were going faster than she could read. And when you stopped walking once more, she was too caught up in trying to catch at least a word in your fast-working mind that she bumped right into you. “Are you trying to read my mind?” You turned to face her, pointing a finger at her as you raised an eyebrow, the smile still on your face. “I can feel you poking, Darling.”

“How do you-” She didn't fully process what had happened, she couldn't. The gunshot reached her ears, and the bullet whizzed by her, but by the time she turned to look at the shooter, they were already on the floor. And she could've sworn she felt a brief pressure on her shoulders as if she were guided to the side, yet the carefree smile that still remained on your face convinced her not to debate it any further.

“Hey, I have a question for you.” She opened her mouth to respond, but you were already asking, “I feel like you should be a lot nicer to me. I don’t recall doing anything to you…”

“That’s not a question-”

“Why are you so quick to judge me?” you asked. “You’re very cold.”

“And you’re very warm.”

You gasped as you playfully smacked her shoulder, the action too quick for her to process it had happened until she felt it. “We’re perfect together then, no?”

“No.”

“Hot and cold. Fire and ice.” You moved your shoulders in sync with each word, waggling your eyebrows at her with a smirk that caused a flutter in her gut she couldn't deny.

She crossed her arms over her chest in an attempt to smother whatever was happening in her stomach, her eyebrows furrowed in anger. She pushed any tenderness she felt towards you down, forcing it to disappear in the deepest, darkest part of her mind. “I don’t like you.”

“Well, then, I don’t like you either,” you countered, mirroring her stance. This was the first time since she’s met you that the smile disappeared from your face, your lips turning down to a frown as your eyebrows pinched together with clear anger. The expression was brief - you couldn’t hold it for long before you burst out into a smile once again - but it was enough to send chills up Wanda’s spine. She’d hate to see you truly angry. “I’m just kidding. Despite your grumpy demeanor, I'm enjoying your company, Darling.”

She felt the warmth collide with the coldness she was displaying, your words reaching the swarm of butterflies in her stomach once more, giving them a new vigor. She wanted to hate you, she wanted to love you. And she was already feeling herself getting lost in your eyes as you waited for her to make a comment, though you were easily capable of breaking the contact to turn away when she didn't respond fast enough.

She found herself following instantly, watching as you walked down the hall. You ran your fingers along the wall as you seemed to be humming, though the melody was too fast for her to catch.

Your powers matched that of Pietro's, yet it was clear you were much more experienced than her brother. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing to connect with you, to get to know you, to let you into her life. She opened her mouth, a word forming on the tip of her tongue, but you stopped walking once more at the end of the hallway, turning to look at her with the same smile you held since you "saved" her.

“You know what, Darling,” you started, “I feel bad for stepping on your moment back there. Would you like the chance to redeem yourself? Show me what you’re really capable of.” Your grin was playful, relaxing. It brought her a sense of tranquility, something she so desperately needs at the moment. “Yes or no.” She caught herself leaning towards you at the sound of your voice, blinking out of the daze she had found herself in. She crossed her arms over her chest tightly, an attempt to create a barrier between you and her. You threw a thumb over your shoulder as you added, “There are four HYDRA agents waiting around the corner. I’m kinda interested to see what your glow stick hands can do.” Your finger tapped hers and, despite your superspeed, the motion was slow, drawn out. As if you wanted to feel her. And it was like your touch had ignited a burning fire underneath her skin, a feeling she didn’t know she desired until now. She wanted to feel you.

“Watch and learn.” You pressed yourself against the wall, eyes trailing after her as she marched forward before she disappeared around the corner. She was a bit surprised to find that you were right, there actually were a handful of agents waiting, but you seem to have counted wrong. Three HYDRA personnel stood in the middle of the hallway and the moment they noticed Wanda, they picked up their weapons in preparation to fight. She couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder, making brief eye contact with you as you stood at the end of the hall, hands gripping your hips. A long breath parted her lips as she returned her focus to the enemies, her chest tightening. She didn’t know why she felt the need to impress you, but her confusion to the desire didn’t stop her from trying.

She made quick work of the small group, her red vapors swirling around the enemies to incapacitate them almost immediately. She was proud of her work after it was all said and done, and she even puffed up with pride when she heard the slow claps come from behind her. Turning to face you, she crossed her arms over her chest as she shrugged nonchalantly. “That was great,” you commented, walking towards her. “I would’ve drawn it out a little longer, have a little fun with them, but your glow sticks seem to pack a powerful punch, Darling.” You pursed your lips together tightly, breathing out a deep breath as you shook your head. “Unfortunately, I’ma have to give you a seven out of ten.”

“A seven?” She sounded offended, how could she not? She did amazing, and she was willing to bet she looked cooler than it felt. Her performance was not worth a seven! The way she made the one agent do a flip before tossing him against the wall was an eight alone. Hell, she would’ve settled with a seven and a half. The audacity-

Why was she upset about this?

“Yes,” you expressed, grinning. You looked at the downed agents, pointing your finger as you counted them, mumbling numbers under your breath. "One, two, three- No, wait. One, two-" You shook your head, meeting her gaze. "I'll be the first to admit that I didn't have very good teachers when I was a kid, but I'm sure I know how to count to four. Yet, I only see three.” You hummed thoughtfully, grinning as you crossed your arms over your chest.

“There wasn’t a fourth-” She interrupted herself when your eyes flashed to something over her shoulder, and she felt her heart leap into her throat when she turned around. There, standing on the other side of the hall, was a man built like a machine. Thick, metal armor covered him in a desperate attempt to keep himself safe from harm, his face hidden behind a helmet that matched his body. She hated to admit it, but you were ultimately right. There were four, and she had missed the biggest one of them all. It was instinct to crouch into a protective stance, red covering her irises as she prepared to send the man-made monster into next week.

You placed a hand on her shoulder, the crimson tendrils dancing around her fingers dimming as a laugh escaped your throat, walking past her to position yourself between her and the manmade monster. “Watch and learn.”

The behemoth started towards you, stepping over his fallen comrades as his speed increased as much as it can in that heavy suit of his, but you didn’t seem to be in any sort of rush. No, you were stretching; crossing an arm over your chest and pulling it with your other arm, kicking your foot back and catching it with your hand. Wanda couldn’t help but watch with piqued interest, her eyes glued to you as you continued to be as cool as a cucumber.

You were confident, jumping onto your toes as you shook your arms, rolling your shoulders as you stretched your neck. You knew you weren't going to lose, and you wanted to have a little fun with the behemoth. But the closer the enemy got to you, the tighter her gut clenched with worry. She took a step towards you, her hands raising in preparation to protect you. You were allowing the monstrosity of a man to get a little bit too close for comfort, but that didn’t seem to matter because, within a blink of an eye, you were gone.

Wanda felt… relieved. Abandoning her would only cause her to resent you, and the feelings she could feel herself developing for you were slowly fading away now that she sees how you truly are. In the face of a real, dangerous threat, you used your power as an advantage to run away. Cowardice, that was her first thought. Your cockiness was all a ruse to get her to trust you and then, at the last second, you leave.

She barely had time to prep her power before a sudden, strong gust of wind passed her by, and the loud sound that reverberated through the halls echoed in her skull as her eyes finally managed to process what had happened. The behemoth was on the ground, you standing over him with a wide smile on your face. She subtly inched closer to get a quick peek at the damage done, and the dent left in the man’s chest plate was all she needed to see to connect the pieces. You didn’t run off to escape; you ran off to get some distance.

“Woooo!” you guffawed, bouncing on your feet in victory. “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee! This juggernaut just got laid out by me!” Laughter escaped your throat as you turned to look at Wanda, watching her approach you. She, once again, had to bite the inside of her cheek to fight away the smile threatening her stoic mask.

“Juggernaut?” She crossed her arms over her chest, an eyebrow raised skeptically, and you breathed out a soft laugh as you mimicked her expression.

“What do you call it? Behemoth?” You teased, but she didn't have time to defend herself before you held your hand up. “I present to the lady, a flower.” It shouldn’t have surprised her, really. The cockiness that radiated off of you, of course you’d take an extra step to be… well, extra. Wanda’s eyes left your bright face to look at the item you held delicately in between your index finger and thumb. She made no movement for the offering, and only a short amount of time passed before your gaze averted to the object in question. No, it wasn’t a flower as you had claimed it to be. It was just the stem of one, the speed at which you ran managed to blow off all the petals. Still, the failure of a gift didn’t seem to deter you as another laugh reached her ears.

She was biting against her cheek so hard to not give in to the humor of the situation, she could swear she was tasting blood at this point.

“I totally didn’t calculate that.” You stared at it for a moment before ultimately shrugging it off, dropping the stem to the ground as you turned your back to her. “No matter. The excursion shall continue!” You walked off, Wanda’s eyes trailing after you for a moment.

By the time she caught up to you, rounding the corner you had disappeared behind, you were leaning against the wall, what seemed to be some sort of protein bar in your hand as your jaw moved to chew a piece you had bitten off. She furrowed her eyebrows, her steps faltering as her head tilted. “Where did you-” She cut herself off, releasing a sigh when you looked at her with a smug grin. She wasn't going to fall victim to your tomfoolery. The origins of the snack would remain a mystery.

You pushed yourself away from the wall, smiling through your chewing as you gestured towards the door in front of you with the bar. “This is my stop,” you told her after swallowing the mouthful of food. “I don’t know what you and the redhead are here for, but this is where we’ll be parting ways, Darling.” You patted her on the shoulder, and she didn’t attempt to swat your hand away this time as you took another portion of the protein bar into your mouth.

Wanda eyed the door as you walked towards it, the control room. She found herself perking up a little when she saw that she, too, had to get in there. She cleared her throat as your hand moved towards the handle, walking forward to place herself between you and the door. “Don’t worry.” With a wave of her hand, the door blew open, and she puffed up with pride once more as she turned to you. “I got it.”

“Very nice,” you complemented, nodding in approval, “but I unlocked it before you caught up with me.” You grinned widely, popping the last bit of the protein bar into your mouth and squeezing the wrapper into a fist. You sent her a sly wink before entering the room, and she released a small, breathy laugh before following you. You made a beeline for one of the many computers, practically falling onto the desk chair and allowing your momentum to roll you away. Wanda couldn’t help but smile as she watched you, the way you spun in unnecessary circles as you rolled yourself back to the computer. “I wonder how many tries I get to crack the password.” And then you laughed, the witch crossing her arms over her chest as you shook your head. “I’m just kidding. It’s Captain America lover thirty-two fifty.” She managed to catch a glimpse of the wrapper after you dropped it onto the desk - an odd Russian protein bar, by the looks of the few letters she can see - but her attention from the trash was pulled when your fingers pressed the keys on the keyboards, and her jaw practically fell to the floor when you managed to unlock it on your first try.

“Was it-”

“No,” you assured her, sending her a smug grin. “It wasn’t.” She rolled her eyes, turning away from you to look at the rest of the room. “So, what brings you and Red here?”

“Probably the same reason why you’re here,” she answered automatically, her eyes scanning written notes pinned to a bulletin board.

A hum, followed by soft laughter. “I highly doubt that,” you expressed. She found herself slowly turning to look at you, she couldn’t help it. Despite the coldness she had been displaying, your warmth never wavered, not once, as it gradually filled the hole that was left in her chest. And the smile on your face lit a small fire in her gut. One would think that she’d get used to the expression, but it was somehow different every time she saw it. As if she was experiencing it for the first time over and over again. “I didn’t really think a small, backwater sorta place would lure a couple of big, mighty Avengers. Only thing they store here is insignificant data.”

She looked away from you when your fingers flew across the keyboard in a speed she would be foolish to attempt to keep up with. “How do you know I’m an Avenger?” She moved through the room, looking at the wall of televisions. One of the screens mirrored whatever it was you were doing on the computer, yet, much like your thoughts, the words were moving way too quickly for her to comprehend what she was reading.

“C’mon, Darling,” you expressed, scoffing with a slight grin. “As if a being with your level of power would just randomly pop into a HYDRA base to take them down out of the kindness of your heart.” She looked back over to you, and she watched - with pure amazement, though she’d never really admit it - as she realized that you were actually managing to read what was being displayed on the screen. “Plus, I’ve seen your friend before.”

Wanda realized that was a dead giveaway. Natasha was on the news plenty of times for her heroic actions as an Avenger, such as saving New York from an alien attack. She started to consider asking everybody if they were willing to recruit an extra member. Surely they wouldn’t miss out on the chance of having a speedster on the team. Again. She should just ask you right now. Would you like to be an Avenger? She could feel the words forming in her mouth, her lips molding to the syllable of the first word. She should ask. Who would pass on the opportunity on becoming one of Earth’s mightiest heroes? She certainly didn’t. You could save so many people. You could change the world. And you’d be by her side the whole time.

“I got what I needed.” She blinked, finding herself back in the present as her head turned towards the dark screen, her shoulders slumping as she realized she had missed her chance in trying to figure out what exactly drew you here. But when the screen turned blue, programming code filling the space for a brief moment before the screen went dark once more, anger only filled her once she realized what you had done.

“What did you just do?” She needed confirmation.

“I killed the system,” you answered, shrugging nonchalantly as you made your way out of the room. “How else to stop HYDRA from getting it again?”

Anger, that’s what she was feeling as she chased after you. It was like she had gone full circle with her emotions. “You didn’t even give me the chance to do what I needed to do,” she declared, and she ground her teeth harshly when you kept walking, turning the corner and stepping over the juggernaut you had knocked out earlier. She caught your elbow in a tight grip, pulling you to a stop as you spun around to look at her. And the smile on your face only made her clench her fists, her fingernails digging into her palms.

She could hear her name being called in the earpiece nestled into her ear; the first form of contact Natasha has attempted since they stepped foot into the building. The fury that was boiling Wanda's blood prevented her from unhinging her jaw to answer her partner, the Russian’s voice fading away as the black pools amongst her emerald eyes narrowed to a crumb suitable for an ant. She was truly angry - anybody within a ten-mile radius could see that - yet the smile remained on your face, just as big as usual.

“You're selfish,” she expressed. Though it wasn't the first word that came to mind, it was the one she put out in the air between you and her. “You did what you needed, and then you disregarded everybody else.” You crossed your arms over your chest, an eyebrow raised, and the smile that was still on your face only drove her further up the wall.

“Darling-”

“Enough with that stupid nickname,” she snapped. “You’re a coward.” There was a brief moment - it had happened so fast that she would be able to convince herself it didn’t happened if she wanted to - that the smile on your face finally wavered.

Your eyes landed on something behind her, and she fell into the instinct to follow your stare to see Natasha rounding the corner. When she looked back towards you, you were gone, and - despite the rage coursing through her veins - she found herself to be a bit disappointed by your absence.

“Good job, Maximoff,” Natasha expressed, stepping over the fallen enemies to reach the frozen, angry witch. The redhead was infamous for her sarcasm, Wanda had learned, and she released a heavy sigh as the assassin rested her hands on her own hips.

“I’m sorry, Nat-”

“For what? Splitting up?” She scoffed, shaking her head. “The job got done, it doesn’t matter now.” Confusion was quick to replace the anger, her eyebrows furrowed deeply to display that. No, the job wasn’t done. She didn’t get the data the team needed, she didn’t get anything but a headache in the form of you. “It’s not enough for us to know HYDRA’s plans, but it’ll surely get us somewhere.” She patted Wanda on the shoulder, grinning at the confused rookie. “You did good, Wanda. Let’s get out of here before reinforcements show up.”

Natasha left her standing there, walking past her to make her way to the exit, yet Wanda didn’t move an inch at the departure. No, she was frozen once more. Only this time, it wasn’t anger. It was guilt gnawing at her gut, regret wringing her stomach like a sponge. She felt bad for snapping at you, and she didn’t know a way to contact you to apologize for her words.

Her gaze averted to the floor and she couldn’t help but smile softly at the sight of the petalless flower resting by her feet. She leaned down to pick it up, twirling it in between two gentle fingers as she brought it to eye level before sliding it into her pocket for safekeeping.

She couldn’t stop the thoughts from entering her head as she trailed after Natasha, wondering when she was going to see you again, and if she even wanted to. Because the world took away her brother and gave her you instead.

And she doesn’t know if she can accept that.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ϟ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

She was living in the past. Just not for her brother. Though her time with you was short, it was replaying on her mind as much as possible. But the more days go by without seeing you, the more of that partially-filled hole slowly gets dug out once more. Because, with you, that emptiness wasn’t so cold.

She had found sleep to be her haven when you started showing up in her dreams. She resented waking up, her fantasy of you to be replaced with a reality that lacked the very thing she wanted, but she couldn’t sleep forever. Your smile, not as bright as it was in real life, still brought her a warmth that nothing else has been able to match. And your laugh, how it would fill her gut with butterflies she had given up on trying to smother.

She misses you. Yet she would never say that out loud.

She was sitting on her bed, twirling the petalless flower in between her fingers when there was a soft knock on her door. The small smile that had lifted a corner of her lips slowly faded as she returned the flower to her nightstand when the door opened, her eyes meeting Natasha's as she peeked her head into the room.

"Get dressed," the redhead ordered, her voice overflowing with an authority that caused the witch to straighten her form automatically, "you're coming with me on a mission." She left before Wanda could question any further, the door clicking shut to leave the witch alone once again. And, giving one last look at the flower resting on the nightstand, she got up to follow orders.

She has gone on three missions since her first one, and she hasn't seen you on any of them. She would've crossed off her encounter as made up, an illusion formed in an attempt to fill up the crater her brother has left behind. She wouldn't have been surprised. Grief is dealt with in many different ways. If it wasn't for the stem of what she could only imagine was once a beautiful flower back in her room, she would've believed that theory. But with physical evidence such as that, it was impossible to deny your existence. Yet… she could feel herself beginning to lose hope.

"Another easy one," Natasha expressed, once again pulling Wanda out of her mind. The witch breathed out as if she had been holding her breath since she had gotten in the car, refocusing on the outside as a slow, steady rhythm of snow fell from the sky.

She found herself to be less hopeful than she was in the past three missions. There wasn't any reason why you'd show up now and not the others. What made this one so special? Just going to another HYDRA base to attempt to get more information on their new goals. Though it did surprise her, Natasha requesting her and only her for this mission. She couldn't help but wonder why, yet she had no time to voice her question. They were already pulling to a stop by the time she opened her mouth.

Another trek through the woods. How delightful. The atmosphere, when Wanda climbed out of the car, was unsettling, even in the daytime, and she was thankful Natasha suggested bringing a jacket as a chilly breeze swept through the air. Once again, she was hyper-aware of a new presence, her heart thrumming in her chest as her eyes surveyed the surrounding area with extreme care. Nothing but trees and Natasha's departing footsteps reached her ears.

She was quick to trail after the redhead, but she was gaining distance between them before she could catch up. Natasha moved fast, stealthy; Wanda could barely hear her footsteps crunching the leaves, covered in a thin, flimsy layer of snow. It was like her subconscious knew exactly where to step to avoid any noise, and Wanda had a hard time mimicking her furtiveness. She wondered how she knew where she was going when there wasn't a path to be followed.

A sound - as if a rock had been thrown to hit a tree - reached Wanda's ears, and she found herself coming to a stop in the middle of the woods once again to investigate a noise. An old cliché in all the movies to get someone's attention, she knew this, and yet here she is, falling for it.

Maybe they didn't park the jeep far enough. Maybe HYDRA was aware of the women's presence and wants to catch them off guard. Was stopping to search for the source of the noise going to be the last thing she does? She needed to continue forward, but the possibility of turning her back on HYDRA deterred her from doing such a thing.

"What're we looking at?" She gasped, her palm covering her heart in an attempt to slow it down, but when she finally managed to process the voice, she could feel the resting butterflies in her gut preparing to take off in a vortex formation, desperate to react to the sound of her happiness.

She turned around, her eyes almost instantly finding yours as you sent her a bold smile, though your jaw moved as you chewed. She eyed the familiar protein bar in your hand, half-eaten, as you laughed lightly through the food. "Y/N…" She felt as if she could finally breathe properly as your name fell from her mouth, her shoulders relaxing as she looked back into your gaze. Her heart hammered in her chest. "You're here."

"Of course I am." You raised an eyebrow, though it disappeared too quickly for her to process your confusion at her statement. Your smile brightened, and she could sense the teasing coming. "I'm surprised you didn't blast this tree," you commented after swallowing, smirking at her as you took another chunk off of the bar into your mouth. You seemed oblivious to her moment of reprieve (and here she was thinking she was being painfully obvious). No, you were too focused on your snack, she realized, as your eyes looked back at the bar. "How's it going?"

She cleared her throat, blinking herself out of her momentary daze to focus. You were no longer looking at the food, your chin tilted up towards the sky to let the falling snowflakes land on your face, your eyes closed. Were you resentful? You seemed heavenly, unburdened. As if the small puffs of snow was lifting all of the weight off your shoulders. The last encounter between you and her did not end on good terms. No, she remembers snapping at you vividly, calling you selfish, a coward. It was uncalled for. And she had been suffering in guilt ever since.

At least the guilt acted as a temporary blocker for the grief.

"Y/N, I'm so sor-"

"Hey, you lost your friend." She furrowed her eyebrows briefly, turning her head in the direction she thinks Natasha had ventured off in. "The redhead." She sighed heavily, her head shaking subtly as her lips pursed tightly. The snow was quick to cover the former assassin’s inconspicuous footprints, leaving Wanda turned around.

She looked back at you, and your cheeky grin managed to help her relax. She wasn't panicking, she wasn’t frightened, she wasn’t nervous, she felt… calm. She was lost, sure, but you were lost with her. She didn’t have to worry, she knew you weren’t going to leave her. Despite everything that had happened last time.

“Can we talk?” She stepped towards you as you popped the rest of the bar into your mouth, crumpling the wrapper into your fist once more before shoving the trash into your jacket pocket. Your jaw moved, chewing as you watched her, a corner of your lip tugged up into a sly smirk, before your head turned away from her to look at your surroundings, breathing out a puff of smoke. “I just want to apol-”

“I’m not really the biggest fan of the cold,” you confessed, your voice muffled against the mouthful of food, though she heard you loud and clear. She released a soft sigh, slightly annoyed by your interruptions, swallowing the last of the protein bar. “I hope you know the way.” You looked back at her, flashing your pearly whites.

She wanted to talk to you about it. Apologize. It’d be a quick conversation if you forgive her. But, by the looks of it, you seemed just as you were before it was all said. She couldn’t decide if you were letting her off the hook by the constant butting in, or even if you remembered anything about it, and she was sure you’d only cut her off again if she attempted to apologize a third time. She’d get it in eventually, you were too fast for her at the moment. She needed to catch you off guard. “Yes,” she lied, gesturing in a random direction. “It’s this way.” She began walking away from you, and she tried to subtly glance over her shoulder to see if you were following her.

You were.

“You sure you know where you’re going?” She could hear the smirk in your voice, the teasing tone. You knew how to get there, she realized, and she could tell she was going the wrong way by your playful mocking. “I could help you. All you gotta do is ask.”

She continued forward, thankful you weren’t looking at her to see her facade crack as a smile grew on her face. “I got this.” She decided to take a turn. If she were going in the wrong direction, she might as well change it. “So, how long have you had those powers of yours?”

“Less than a year.” Your answer seemed automatic, as if she were talking to a robot programmed with prearranged responses. Though it did tell her that her brother held his powers a bit longer than you did, which could’ve fooled her. As quick as he was to adapt to the super speed, it seems you have adjusted to the change a lot more during the short amount of time you gained your powers. She couldn’t help but wish he was here to meet you - she can only imagine all the ways he’d compete with you.

“Where’d you get them?” The air was practically soundless, aside from the crunching of leaves with every step. She was beginning to think that maybe you didn’t hear her question, that she had spoken too low to be heard. Or maybe you did hear her and are just choosing to not answer the question. She doesn’t think she’s ever heard you be this silent before, having always made some sort of noise when she was with you. Your quietness was eerie, she has decided. Make a noise, any noise.

“You might want to be careful.” That wasn’t an answer she was expecting. Were you threatening her? She couldn’t hear that usual joyous tone your voice defaults in. No, your words were on the monotone side. Bland, void of any and all emotions. She seemed to have triggered a side of you she didn’t want to see, but glad she did. She wishes she had the courage to look at you, to see your expression. Would it be just like before? A frown replacing that smile, the furrow in between your eyebrows pulled out by anger. Only this time, it’d be more genuine. More… bone-chilling.

She froze at the sound of an alarm sounding off in the distance, somewhere behind her, and every question she had formed in her mind was now pointing at the loud, obnoxious noise alerting everyone in the area. She heard you sigh, a slight laugh, as she turned back to look at you.

“I did say to be careful, no?” You smirked at her, and she found herself to be relieved of the smile. If you’re smiling, surely the situation can’t be too bad, right? “HYDRA fitted the perimeter with some sensors,” you explained. “They seemed to have finally learned from their many, many mistakes.” She wondered how much of a nuisance you truly are to HYDRA.

Your smirk turned into a beaming grin as you crossed your arms over your chest, pausing. The element of surprise was no longer on their side, she sees that now. And she knew exactly what you were waiting for.

“Alright, fine,” she expressed, shaking her head. “Will you help me?”

You hummed, resting a finger against your chin as your eyes drifted up to the sky. She breathed out impatiently, her hands gripping her hips as she awaited your response. But another second went by before she realized exactly what you were doing.

She wasn’t nice enough.

Rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest, she tried again, “Will you please help me, Y/N?”

You released a hearty laugh, clapping your hands together enthusiastically as you looked back at her. She hated it, she loved it. “Come on then.” You stepped towards her, and she released a squeal when you scooped her up in your arms, bridal style fashion. And she found herself gripping onto you tightly when her surroundings became a blur, looking out the window of a speeding vehicle was nothing compared to this. Her stomach twisted, her chest lurched, and she felt… amazing. She was convincing herself that it was just how fast she was moving, yet her heart said otherwise. The closeness to you, it brought a tingling sensation in her bones that she desired just as strongly as the first time you had touched her.

Her feet had landed on the ground before she could process much of anything else, her body left cold as your arms were no longer wrapped around her. What was this feeling forming in her gut? It wasn't a sort of affection, was it? The butterflies were stronger than ever, it seems, and her skin burned from where you had held her, lingering with the yearning to feel your touch again. Her mind still reeled from the quick travel as she thought that it wouldn't have been fair to her brother to compare the experiences. He was fast, there was no doubt about that, but you were faster. Impossibly so. She had a million more questions forming in her mind, and not enough time to ask them.

Smoke. It filled her nostrils, corrupting her senses enough to pull her out of her thoughts. Something was burning. Something was on fire. She was on alert, her eyes snapping onto you to catch you pulling yourself out of your own daze. You smelled it, too.

“You’re on fire.” Your voice held a hint of wariness while your hands went towards her chest, but you were quick to pull back once you thought it through. Panic struck her as her chin fell towards the floor, catching the illuminating sparks spreading throughout her jacket.

Her movements were quick, instinctive; get away from the fire. But if the fire was on you, then you had to get it away from you. Her hands moved faster than she had thought possible, unzipping her jacket and quickly throwing it to the floor. Her foot dug into the fabric as the chill of the air swept through the hallway and into her skin. Goosebumps formed on her arms as she looked back at you, meeting your gaze.

Her cheeks burned red in irritation, embarrassment, as her arms wrapped around herself in an attempt to equal the sudden loss of clothing, her eyebrows furrowing together as her eyes narrowed tightly at you. She was angry, only an idiot wouldn’t be able to see that, yet you seemed to ignore the fury written on her face. You were smiling, and it only seemed to make her even angrier as you breathed out a light chuckle. “I didn’t realize that would’ve happened,” you confessed, shaking your head. You smiled softly at her, innocently, and she could already feel the rage flowing through her blood begin to waver. “I haven’t carried anybody before.” Another chuckle, only this time she could sense a bit of your own embarrassment in the sound. You rubbed the back of your neck, taking a small step back.

She stared at you for a moment, an eyebrow raised greatly, eyes locked onto each other as if you were both caught in some sort of trance. The sorrow in your eyes, the small, self-conscious smile, it made the anger she felt slowly dwindle. And, it was in that moment of silence between you and her, as her heart managed to calm down in her chest, that she realized it was really quiet. “What happened to the alarm?” She was more than desperate to change the subject - the embarrassing moment needed to be forgotten, though by the way you were looking at her, she was sure it was never going to be. She took a moment to observe her surroundings, how the two of you were standing in the middle of a seemingly random hallway, it was only safe to say that you had brought her to the place she needed to be.

“I turned it off,” you answered, gripping your hips with your hands. You seemed to alleviate at her question, hearing the lack of irritation in her tone. Yet despite the carefree version of you returning, she straightened her form. She had to keep up her façade. If you knew she was warming up to you…

“When?”

“While I was carrying you.” If she was oblivious to the way you grinned at her with mock confusion, your head tilted slightly to the side as your eyebrows furrowed together very briefly, your tone told her she should’ve realized that you had silenced the alarm while you were sprinting with her in your arms, but how could she if everything were colors blurred together in incomprehensible splotches? “Come on, don’t you have a mission to do?” You gestured for her to follow you as you turned away from her, and the smallest of smiles plagued her lips as she noted your refusal to leave her to do her own thing. She followed you.

She wanted to ask you where you’ve been. Your absence the past three missions had a much bigger effect on her than she had originally thought, having you here now made her feel at peace. As friendly as the team was towards her, there was something about you that made her happier. You made her feel less alone, less dejected, despite being surrounded by people practically every day. You seemed to take the time to listen to her, to see her, as your attention was on nothing but her. But she knew that if she questioned your whereabouts, you’d most likely tease her about it. Still, she had to know. “So, what’ve you been up to lately?” There. The way she had worded it made it seem like she wasn’t asking for the sake of herself. It was a simple icebreaker. A conversation starter. A way for her to be nosy without seeming as such.

“I had other business to attend to,” you answered, and she was relieved that you didn’t see right through her. Maybe you’re not as perceptive as she was led to believe. “Why? Did you miss me?” She was wrong.

“No.” It was a quick response, snappy and flat, but maybe it was a bit too quick. Her eagerness to shrug off your accusation could make her seem guilty of being the exact opposite.

You laughed softly as you turned around to look at her, yet you didn’t stop walking. “I hate to break it to you, but your heartbeat is like a jackhammer when you lie.” Your words seemed to echo in her mind, and it took her a moment to process that you had stopped walking until the last second. Your closeness to her, she could practically feel your breath fanning across her face when you breathed out yet another laugh.

Her eyes widened, her cheeks flushed, and she was suddenly cognizant of the rapid beating against her ribcage. Was her heart trying to break free?! She could feel it carving a hole in her bones. And your face, so smug, so happy, so… close. Could you feel her heart, too? The red coloring her features betrayed her. All she had to do was take a deep breath and take one, small, itty bitty step backward to give her the chance to clear her mind and think, but when you  took a small portion of your bottom lip between your teeth, a smirk to follow, she suddenly forgot how to breathe.

Her mouth propped open, and the sound she made could be mistaken as an actual word, “I-”

“Relax,” you expressed, chuckling heartily as you took a step back. “I’m only kidding. I can’t hear your heart.” She tittered nervously, breathing out in relief as you turned around to continue walking correctly this time. She hesitated a moment, using this second to catch her breath before trailing after you.

“Do you know where you’re going?” She finally found her voice, an attempt to change the subject, to get her mind off her racing heart. She was too flustered to say it in a joking manner as you had outside - the heat in her cheeks doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. And she's still begrudgingly very sensitive to the intense drum solo happening in her chest.

“No idea,” you confessed, falling victim to the subject change as you turned your head to look over your shoulder towards her, “but that’s the thrill of it all, isn’t it? The mystery. The secrets.” You winked at her - you actually winked - before returning your eyes forward.

She couldn’t help but wonder what kind of secrets you were withholding. You played the persona of an opened book, a trick you used to fool people into trusting you, yet she sees now that your “opened” book only displayed the first page. And she only wanted to uncover everything you were hiding, to know you on a deeper level. To read chapters you had locked seemingly long ago. Your powers are an enigma, but she was more than willing to take the time to solve that puzzle. “Y/N,” she started, yet her sentence ended before it even began. She didn’t know what she had planned on saying, and she knew she had your instant attention by the way your form straightened at the sound of your name. Maybe she just liked the way your name felt passing her lips, how it formed on her tongue. She doesn't think it'd ever get old, saying your name. But that wasn't a viable reason to have said it, not now, at least. She had to say something else before the silence in the air as you waited grew to be awkward. "What was the flower?" Really, Wanda?

You turned to look at her, an eyebrow slightly raised in confusion, yet your lips still formed some sort of smile. "The flower?" And then you laughed before her mind could even begin to find the words to form an explanation. "Ah, it was a daisy, I presume," you answered. "I didn't even think you'd remember such a thing."

The months old stem of the daisy sat on her nightstand, granting her a clear view of it every day, how could she ever forget? But she has the feeling she shouldn’t let you know that minor detail. No, she could already imagine the never-ending teasing. "It's kind of hard to forget a failed attempt at flattery," she decided, shrugging despite you not looking at her anymore. You laughed, a shake of your head, and Wanda knew it came out a bit harsh, but it was better than the truth.

She continued to follow you as you fell into melodic hum, yet just like before, it was too fast for her to identify the exact song, turning left or right through the halls of the base when appropriate, and it took her a moment to finally realize that there hasn’t been a single encounter with any HYDRA agents yet. The building was seemingly empty, not another living soul in sight. And though it would’ve been safe to assume that Natasha had already sauntered down these halls in all her glory, that wasn’t the case either. The floors were clear of any bodies - dead or alive. When the alarm had gone off, being heard throughout the forest, surely they would’ve been more on guard having been alerted to intruders.

“Where is everybody?” Whatever melody it was you were humming, it cut off abruptly at the sound of Wanda’s voice. Your form tensed very briefly, and it seemed you had forgotten of her presence. Her footsteps were fairly quiet, she’d admit that, and the silence between the two of you did linger for quite a bit before she had interrupted it. She didn’t blame you for losing yourself in your own thoughts as she had hers, but she also wondered just how many thoughts you did have compared to her one during the peaceful stroll. It killed her, not being able to read your mind.

“I’m not sure,” you shrugged, “but we’re here.” You turned sharply, opening a door with no issue. She watched as you entered the room, looking around for a moment. The enemy building was way too quiet, and it set her nerves on edge. You were already on the computer by the time she followed you.

“Do you think you’re going to tell me what you’re here for?” she pried, moving to stand next to you. She didn’t even bother focusing on the screen, the text and images flickering way too fast for her mind to keep up. Instead, she watched you. Your eyes shifted to match the speed of the computer, and your leg bounced as your fingers moved at an incomprehensible pace. “Surely, you’re not here for the same reason we are.”

“And what is it you’re here for?” you returned, leaning back in the chair to look up at her. It gave her a moment to process the screen, yet it was just a jumble of letters and numbers she couldn’t interpret. She had a feeling you already knew the answer to the question, you had managed to complete the mission for her last time. You had to have known. There wasn't a way for you to not to, the way Natasha falsely praised her for a job well done even after having said all the wrong things to you told her you had done exactly what SHIELD was looking for. Speaking of…

“Y/N, I’m sor-”

“Is there a reason you keep trying to say that to me?” You rested your chin in your hand, your elbow on the chair’s arm, as you looked up at her through your eyelashes. The smile, that stupid smile she keeps falling for, seemed to be forever permanent on your face. Engraved in stone. Did you truly forget? It feels like it’s been forever, it could’ve been expunged from your memory if it didn’t really bother you, but that moment… That fleeting moment where that grin of yours had disappeared. She had to clear her conscience.

“Yes,” she declared, a bit more dominantly now. She was putting her foot down, she was going to say sorry and you were going to hear it. “The last encounter we had, I had said some awful things to you.” She was too caught up in the moment to realize your eyebrows furrowing, your hand falling from your face as your posture straightened. “And I just need you to let me apologize because it’s the right thing to do when you regret something you did.” She breathed in deeply, releasing it slowly, waiting for your voice to cut through the air, but as seconds ticked by and nothing was said, she took the opportunity of your stunned silence to say, “I’m-” Her apology, once again, got cut off, but it was her own doing this time. Her voice got caught in her throat as you got to your feet, leaving the computer behind as you made your way to the door.

She trailed after you, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as you stepped out into the hall. The air grew colder the further you ventured, sending goosebumps down her arms and causing her to shiver. It held the familiarity of being outside, having the ability to see her own breath when a huff parted her lips. She kept her eyes on you, watching you move slower than she ever has. She wished she could see your face, to see what you were thinking. Because, despite not being able to read your mind, your eyes gave her enough information to quench her thirst for your thoughts. But, right now, the only thing she could feel was cold.

“We need to go.” If it wasn’t for the bite of cold traveling through the air, your dark, low voice would’ve been the reason for the chills crawling up her spine, forcing her into another tremble. Your hand reached back, and she instantly moved her arm to meet you halfway. Warmth spread through her wrist when you gripped it, giving her a brief yet strong reprieve from the freezing atmosphere. “Come on.”

“What’s going on?” She didn't stop you from tugging her down the hall. For a brief second, she wondered why you didn't just pick her up and run if you were so desperate to get out of here, but the reason for her lacking a certain jacket stuck out like a sore thumb. She didn't need to be losing her shirt at the moment, so she kept her mouth shut as you paused to peek around the corner.

You looked over your shoulder, presumably to make sure nobody was behind you, but your eyes instantly met hers and it looked like all the worrying and dwelling plaguing your irises faded as you allowed yourself to get lost in the fields of grass in her eyes. For a moment, your grip on her wrist tightened, and the burn from your touch only grew brighter. Those damn butterflies manifested to life, fluttering in her gut as her chest felt hot and light. And, when her mind demanded her to blink, she had to force herself to do such a thing, setting you both free of the trance you and her had fallen into. You cleared your throat, your hand releasing her, and she had opened her mouth to argue, but immediately clamped it shut.

You had noted her stance, how she had self-consciously wrapped her arms around herself to fight against the cold the moment you released her, and she watched with curious eyes as you shrugged your jacket off, extending the article of clothing towards her. She hesitated a moment, looking up to your face, and your slight nod convinced her to take it from you - it was the least you could do, a jacket for a jacket seemed fair - and pulled it on. Chills crawled up her spine as your scent seemed to pervade the air - an ozone aroma with a hint of warm vanilla, sweet and pungent. She sucked in a deep breath, letting the fragrance overwhelm her senses. She felt nothing but serenity.

Your hand touched her elbow for a short moment before it left, and she briefly regretted putting the jacket on. Skin on skin contact with you granted her a temporary bliss she desired more of. Finally, you turned away from her and rounded the corner with the curious witch right on your heels. It was a quick moment, how you had been in her line of sight one second and gone the next, and there was a short-lived thought in her mind that you had used your speed to leave her behind (for real, this time) until the floor beneath her feet seemed to start moving. She looked down, her hand pressing against the wall in an attempt to keep her footing as she focused on the thick glaze of pure ice covering the ground, starting from here and going towards the end of the hall. How you hadn't noticed the skating rink before was beyond her. She looked at you, having succumbed to the ice as you slowly, carefully got to your knees, and there was a part of her that held the instinct to help you, to reach out to you, but she was still trying to keep her own balance. She knew that if she gave in to that instinct, she, too, would be on the floor.

"You need to go." You didn't even bother looking in her direction, lifting one leg to place a foot on the frosted floor, and putting your hands behind you to use the wall as a crutch. You were foolish to believe she would follow such an order. There was a reason the floor was iced over, the air was colder, and you were nervous. She wasn't going to leave you behind, just as you hadn't left her behind.

But before she could verbally reject your demand, there was a deep, mocking laugh reverberating around her skull. You managed to get both feet on the ground, leaning against the wall and staying perfectly still when you finally stood up, turning your head towards the sound. She followed your stare, her stomach dropping at the sight of a woman effortlessly strolling towards you. She seemed to have no issue on the ice, walking as if it were just a typical, everyday floor. And Wanda wasn't blind to her hands - a light blue that matched more of the ice than it did the rest of her skin, thin streams of white fog radiating off of her fingers - and her vibrant, snow-silver hair only made her seem more wicked. It was clear that the woman with the sinister smile was at fault for the hallway-turned-hockey-rink.

You did the best you could to stand in front of Wanda, briefly losing your footing to protect her from whatever this woman planned on doing. She laughed some more, continuing her gradual pace, seeming as if she were a hunter stalking its prey, and she certainly looked like she enjoyed playing with her food. You stepped back, forcing Wanda to move along with you, as the woman’s wicked smile deepened. She dragged her nails along the wall, a trail of ice following her touch. "You're usually gone by now, Speedy," the woman's voice, much like her powers, was cold, dark. There seemed to be a subtle echo in her words. "You feel the slightest temperature drop in the atmosphere and you're nowhere to be found." She was smiling, but there was no sign of humor in her words. She was taunting you. And, when her eyes met Wanda's peeking over your shoulder, she gasped. "But it looks like you brought me a friend."

"She isn't yours, Frosty." Your teasing manner had returned, but it wasn’t as loose and fun as it usually is. There was a strain to it Wanda could detect. Your arm - the one that wasn't using the wall as an aid - shot out to the side, another attempt to protect her. "You'd have a lot more of your own friends if you would just… chill."

Frosty, as you had called her, smiled humorously. It seemed your pun made its way to her frozen heart. And her steps had slowed to a stop, resting her hands on her hips as she looked at Wanda peeking over your shoulder. “But she’s so pretty,” she pouted.

"Hey," you whispered, loud enough for Wanda to hear, yet Frosty was oblivious, "you really should run."

"Is she telling you to run?" Frosty laughed, taking a step forward. "Is she telling you to leave? To tuck your pretty little tail in between your legs and vamoose?" She tsked, shaking her head as she rested her cold hands on her hips. "Speedy, Speedy, Speedy. Why are you always protecting the little people?"

"I'm not-"

"Why don't you turn up the heat, Frost, hmm? Make the fight a little bit more even." You were quick to cut off Wanda's defense. She was anything but little. And she certainly didn't need you to protect her.

Frosty let out a howl of laughter before it died to a scoff. "This is the first time you faced me head on in years. You always run away from me, Speedy,” she declared, her bottom lip jutting out in a pout. She crossed her arms over her chest, making her little tantrum complete, but she was quick to shrug it all away. “I think I'm actually going to make it more enjoyable for me." She lifted her hands, the thin, foggy vapor that had expelled from her fingers grew to be a steady stream. The walls frosted over with patches of ice, and the air declined to lower temperatures, causing Wanda to shiver slightly in an effort to fight against the cold. She was ultimately thankful for your jacket, but wondered how you were faring. Frosty's laugh bounced around in her skull as your hand left the wall, standing as tall and as proud as you could on the slippery ground. The witch glanced behind her, and her jaw clenched tightly when she saw that the rest of the floor was no longer safe to walk across, the ice creating a path that disappeared around the corner.

Even if she wanted to leave, it'd take her a while to do that.

Wanda noticed the slight inability for you to keep your footing, your feet subtly sliding as you constantly alternated adjustment. With the frosty floor, it's impossible for you to get enough traction to walk, never mind run. Frosty had an advantage over you; one step and you're already on the ground. This was another opportunity for Wanda to show off. Maybe get higher than a seven.

A seven. She involuntarily scoffed at the memory, and it drew a low chuckle out of you at the sound. It seemed that neither of you were focused on what Frosty over there was saying. Maybe you were lost in your own thoughts as well. She shivered once more, wrapping her arms around herself, as her eyes wandered over to you. The side of your face, she could memorize it. After this, who knows how long it'll be before she sees you again. She didn't manage to get a keepsake, either, so the stem of the daisy would have to do for now.

An image crossed her vision, briefly, but it was long enough for her to see what it was. She wouldn't forget what she looks like, her own face flashing in front of her eyes. She didn't think anything of it, trying to pivot her attention back onto the conversation between you and Frosty now that you decided to return focus on it, but when another picture of her entered her mind yet again, she was no longer concerned about the villainous ice witch.

She looked back at you, delving into your mind in another attempt to read your speeding thoughts. Such degrees of extreme cold not only took away your ability to run, but it seemed to dampen your powers altogether, at least enough for her to make out a few of the images you were picturing in that brain of yours. Her. You were thinking about her. Surely her safety would be on the top of your head, you wouldn't want her getting hurt. But it still warmed her heart to know that she was on your mind.

"Enough." Frosty's harsh, demanding voice cut through her thoughts and whatever it was you were saying, another chill ran through her body as she took a careful step to the side. Her icy, piercing cerulean eyes seemed to melt into Wanda's vibrant green ones, a smirk lifting a corner of her pale blue lips. "Let me show our new friend how fun it is to play with me."

"Why do you have to make everything sound so creepy?" you breathed out, and Wanda had to look down to hide the grin slowly forming on her face. "It just feels like you're trying to lure her into a van, Frosty. Let's try it again, only this time, cool it with the deep voice, okay? You're not Batman."

Frosty straightened her form, her head tilting to the side slightly as her arms lowered, her eyebrows scrunching deeply together with confusion. "Let's play a game?" she offered instead, looking to you for approval.

"Are you even trying to be original because now you're just Jigsaw at this point," you expressed, gently moving your hand towards Wanda to push her slightly. She slid back, pressing against the opposite wall to keep from falling, and she finally realized what it was you were doing. Distracting Frosty just long enough for Wanda to escape. Do you not understand how adamant she was about staying? Push her all you want, she wasn't leaving. "Look, how about we practice over some coffee? It'll warm those vocal chords right up."

Frosty's eyes narrowed as she, too, realized what exactly you were doing. Her jaw clenched, and the furrow of confusion that had formed in between her eyebrows converted to anger. Her hand lifted, but Wanda couldn't tell if she was aiming her fingers at you or her, though it didn't matter. The smoke around her fingers thickened and you moved to pull Wanda towards you just as a barrage of icicles flew past where she was standing, flinching at the sound they made as they pierced through the wall behind her.

The force you had used to pull her, it caused you both to lose your footing as her hand instinctively pressed against your shoulder, forcing you both to fall to your knees. Laughter rang in her ears, Frosty marching towards you as your palms pushed into the ice, leaning into Wanda in an effort to stay in between her and the ice witch. But Wanda couldn't seem to take her eyes off of you.

"You never did like the cold, did you, Speedy?" She continued to laugh as you picked your head up to look at her. You breathed out, a fleeting, misty cloud escaping your lips as Wanda watched your ear slightly move as a smirk tugged a corner of your lips. "I guess I'm to blame for that, aren't I?"

You picked your body up, resting on your legs. Wanda figured it would be no use to get to her feet - she'd most likely end up back on the ground two seconds later - but the cold ice was melting into her pants, numbing her knees.

"It's unfortunate that I'm not allowed to kill you," Frosty continued, her eyes averting towards Wanda as the menacing grin grew wider, "but your little friend, on the other hand, is free game."

Wanda lifted her hand, red slowly covering her green irises, but your fingers wrapped around her wrist in an instant, pushing her arm down. "Wait," you whispered. The crimson diminished in her eyes as quickly as it had appeared, revealing that vibrant green once more. When you spoke again, your voice was louder, aiming your words to Frosty, "Come on, Frosty, you know I'm not going to let that happen."

She hummed, shrugging loosely. "Let's find out." She raised her hand, palm towards you, and you barely had time to react as you turned towards Wanda to wrap your arms around her. You breathed out slowly, Wanda losing herself once more in your eyes. In this moment, in this time, nothing else seemed to matter to her but you. The world fading into darkness, the cold traveling up her legs no longer a concern, and everything slowed down to a crawl as she smiled at you. Lost in another trance, she wanted to feel you, skin to skin. She wanted to let her fingers dance across your jaw, to memorize the feel of your face. But the smile on her face dissolved just as fast as it had appeared when everything caught up to her.

The world, the desensitization in her knees, it all came back into focus as time moved faster. There was a sound… A sound that made Wanda's stomach twist with disgust, and the way you hissed out in pain as your eyes squeezed shut, it made her blood boil in anger. But the only noise she could make was a gasp when the tip of an icicle poked out of your shoulder, a strong, chilling gust of wind forcing you to slide away from her.

Wanda looked up, Frosty closer than she was five seconds ago, as anger appeared in her green eyes. But the ice witch seemed to not be bothered by the fury written on the scarlet witch's face, her marching continuing just as strong and confident as it was before. Your sounds of pain only tipped the scale for Wanda as she struggled to climb to her feet, but a cold, dead hand wrapped around her throat, helping her stand as she was forced backwards until her back and the iced wall behind her violently greeted each other.

She looked into Frosty's pale blue eyes, her jaw clenched with anger as the ice witch's smile remained. "What is it with you trying to protect useless people, Speedy?" Frosty questioned, her voice hinting that she found the whole situation humorous in a sadistic fashion.

“You missed something, Frost,” you expressed, a tired laugh coming from your throat as you sat up against the wall, "she is far from useless. And… she definitely doesn't need my protection."

Wanda's eyes glowed a dangerous red, and it was quick to wipe the smile from Frosty's face. With a flick of her wrist, the ice queen flew through the air, landing on the ground with a thump as she slid back against the ice. Wanda's head tilted to the side, watching her rapidly climb to her feet, and she easily tossed the volley of incoming icicles to the side when Frosty sent them towards her with desperation. They shattered against the frozen wall, and you laughed lightly when the ice witch looked towards you, her face no longer holding that mocking smile. Wanda brought her hands up, red tendrils dancing around her fingers. Frosty’s jaw clenched, rage coloring her features in a glow of hatred, yet none of it was as terrifying as the scarlet witch’s fury.

A ball of red energy formed in between Wanda’s palms, encasing it in a cage made of fingers, but it seems the ice witch had no intentions of continuing the fight. With a wave of her hands, a wall of ice formed in front of her, granting her a means of escape without further conflict. But, the moment Frosty was out of sight, the wrath that caused Wanda to tense her shoulders evaporated, a foggy breath escaping her throat as her eyes landed on you. You were still hurt, and you needed help.

She was on the ground the moment she took a step, but that didn’t dissuade her from reaching you. You breathed out, a puff of smoke passing through your lips, as you nodded in approval. “This could’ve been avoided,” Wanda pointed out, gesturing towards the icicle protruding from your shoulder. You grinned, a cheeky smile that made the uncomfortable feeling in the witch’s gut melt away. If you were smiling, then there was nothing to worry about, yet the piece of ice lodged through your body should tell her otherwise.

“You’re right,” you agreed. “You didn’t leave when I told you to.”

No, of course she didn’t. She wasn’t going to abandon you, but she certainly couldn’t admit that. “Last I checked, you don't hold any authority over me.” You laughed lightly, and the sound alone caused the butterflies to flit about in her stomach. “Come on, you need medical attention.”

You sighed out breathlessly, a soft laugh hidden amongst the puff of air parting your smiling lips. “What hurts today, hurts less tomorrow.” She watched you for a moment, the way your eyes fluttered close as your head leaned against the wall behind you. It would have been a beautiful sight if it wasn’t for the fact that you were bleeding into an icicle.

She moved to pull you to your feet, and your arms wrapped around her in a way that made it feel like a hug. She was frozen for a brief moment, her heart beating rapidly in her chest at the sheer closeness of you, but you tightening your hold on her in an effort to stand up made her snap out of her daze.

Her feet slid as she helped you maneuver across the frosted floor, using the wall as a crutch as the thick barrier of ice was left behind. You were freezing, she could see that by the way your pale, blue lips trembled and body shook, and she knew she needed to get you into a warmer environment before you freeze to death. The further away from the cold you got, the more effective your powers would be.

It was warm enough now that Wanda would feel comfortable taking your jacket off, but that would mean she would no longer be breathing in your scent. She kept it on even when the slow, tear-shaped beads of sweat began to slide down her temple. It was hot, and it only seemed to be getting hotter. She stopped moving when you did, your face grimacing in pain as you reached over your shoulder, but she was quick to grip your wrist in an effort to stop you.

“I need to pull it out,” you breathed out. She was no doctor, but she was positive keeping it in was the best thing.

“Pulling it out isn’t what you need to be doing, Y/N,” she interrupted. “I’m not going to let you put yourself more at risk than you already are.”

“It won’t heal if I leave it in,” you told her.

Her brother flashed across her mind, the amount of bullet holes riddling his lifeless body. His healing power wasn’t enough to save him and, despite how hard she spent comparing the two of you, she refused to see how you and him were any different. Her chest tightened, her jaw clenched, and she had to rapidly blink to get rid of the moisture building up in her eyes. She was too distraught from the memory of Pietro that you managed to tear free from her hold. There was no use in getting you to leave the injury alone, so she turned away from you as you continued down your path of recklessness. She knew you were choking back your screams of agony, but the whimpers she could hear caused her nose to burn. She looked back at you when there was no other sound, her eyebrows furrowed with worry. Your face was flushed, eyes glossed over with unshed tears of pain, yet you still flashed her a wide grin.

“See?” You gestured to your shoulder, the blood of having been stabbed stained your clothes and skin, but there was no other sign of the wound. The skin showing through the hole in your shirt was unmarked. She couldn't help herself, lifting her arm and running her fingers over where the wound once was. She could feel the heat running through her blood, stronger than the high temperature flowing through the air, and she was instantly lost in the feeling of you, skin on skin, though it wasn’t as much exposure as she seemed to desire. You shrugged, holding up the blood-covered icicle as her hand resentfully fell away from you, an “I told you so” smirk lifting your lips, and she shook her head in annoyance. She marched forward, leaving you behind and shaking off the haziness touching you brought.

But, as she turned the corner, she came to a complete stop, releasing a breath at the shirtless, glistening man blocking the path to the exit. His laughter matched Frosty’s - ominously sinister, though it did hold a bit of a lighter tone than his counter part - when Wanda felt you join her.

“Speedy! There you are!” He clapped his hands together, his smile wide. “I was hoping to get to you first, but it seems like you’ve already bumped into my sister.” He gestured towards the icicle in your hand, a low, rough chuckle coming from his chest. “It seems like she didn’t finish the job, though. Just my luck.”

“Blaze! Oh, boy, how I missed you, you sweaty sonuvagun. It’s unfortunate that our little reunion won’t be long,” you expressed, holding the icicle in front of Wanda for her to grab. Which she did, much to her confusion. The frozen piece was melting in her hand, though it was mostly due to the extreme heat radiating off of Blaze.

“Already?” he questioned, and Wanda thought for sure his jaw was going to fall off with how wider his smile got. Does it ever stop growing? “The party’s just starting now.”

“We do have other obligations, Hothead.” As if on cue, water fell from the sky, heavier than a normal, state approved sprinkler system, instantly soaking all of you. The fire engulfing Blaze's aura was smothered beneath the rain, a sizzling sound was subtle beneath his shouts of shock, and a gasp constricted Wanda's throat when her feet left the ground, your arms holding her up as if you were newlyweds walking into your new house.

She didn't get a chance to process much of anything else before her surroundings blurred together in a flurry of irregular colors and abstract shapes. A sense of deja vu filled her gut as the distance between her and Blaze grew with every millisecond, clutching onto you tightly as if you were going to drop her at any moment.

Her stomach fluttered as she buried her head into your shoulder, breathing in your scent straight from the source, yet it didn't last nearly as long as she liked. Her feet were back on the ground a mere second later, stumbling forward as her mind didn't get the chance to process the unexpected stop. She was thankful she had the jeep to keep her from falling, though using it as a crutch didn’t help her realize that she was outside until she breathed in the fresh, cool air. She straightened her form, her hands flying away from the car as she turned around in search of you, and her heart settled in her chest when she saw your smiling face. But she smothered the feeling of warmth, forcing her expression to display exasperation as her jaw grew rigid and her fists tightened by her sides. Though the anger she exhibited was enough to cause someone like Frosty to shiver in her boots, it clearly had no effect on you as you began opening yet another protein bar.

“Wasn’t that exciting?” You grinned widely at her, though your eyes didn’t leave the food in your hands.

“Why didn’t you do that in the first place?” she demanded, your eyes flickering to her. Sure, she already knew the answer to the question, but how else was she supposed to be dramatic if she didn’t demand to know something. You bit a chunk of the bar into your mouth and began to slowly chew, taking a moment to enjoy whatever flavor the bland-looking bar is, staring at her as if she didn’t just ask a question. She threw her arms up as she turned away from you, shaking her head in anger as a scoff scratched her throat. “Why do I even bother with you?”

There was a few seconds of silence before you spoke, “I’m not the biggest fan of the cold.” She recalled you saying such a thing before, though she figured it was just a comment on the natural weather, not on a psychopathic ice witch.

“It makes you slower.” You nodded in agreement, swallowing your mouthful of food. “But you felt her coming, why didn’t you just-”

“Leave?” You made eye contact with the green-eyed witch, a small, warm smile tugging your lips. “I’m not particularly interested in letting Frosty’s kill count go up.”

“You knew I could handle her.”

“I wasn’t going to take the chance.”

“And Blaze?”

“He’s a bit easier to fight than his sister. I just had to wait for the sprinklers to turn on,” you said. “Water and fire don’t really mix that well. And I wasn’t going to run with you when you were dry. What if you lost your pants? I’m definitely not letting you use mine.” You sent her a grin when a light pink colored her cheeks at the thought of losing another article of clothing, causing her to cross her arms over her chest and look down to the ground in between her feet. “You’re welcome for drying you, by the way. I took the long route for maximum dryness.” As if she would’ve noticed which route you took. It was all the same to her - one second, she was facing off against a vindictive hothead, the next, she was leaning against the jeep. “Any more questions, Darling?”

Yes, she had many questions regarding the situation, but… her mind had suddenly focused on the twisting feeling tightening her gut. That name. That silly, little nickname you had given her because you were unclear on her real name. Wanda. She wanted to tell you. To hear it in your voice. To have her name come off your tongue in that annoyingly happy tone of yours. But the way you said darling. Soft, sweet, playful. She didn't want you to stop. And she had thought you did. After the anger she had felt demanded you to get rid of it, she has yet to hear you say it since. It must’ve been a slip, that playful teasing causing you to relax a bit more now that the imminent danger is gone.

She cleared her throat, attempting to suffocate the fire in her stomach, but it was no use. It only grows brighter the longer she’s around you. Yet your soft laugh managed to bring her out of her daze, refocusing on you as you moved the protein bar to your mouth to take another bite. But her question interrupted your actions, “Why won’t you let me apologize to you for what happened last time?” You blinked, and there was a very brief second that told her she caught you off guard by her question as you moved your hand away from your mouth.

“You can’t take away a mistake by wishing it so,” you answered without missing a beat. “You make a choice, don’t look back. Regret and guilt are demons you choose to live with to get what you want.” It felt surreal to hear such deep words come from you, your voice earnest. She watched you take another bite of your protein bar, a faint weight lifting off her shoulders as your resolve seemed to evaporate, smiling at her once again. She knew you knew she was regretful of her actions, and though you didn’t want her to say sorry, you knew she was. That seemed to be enough for her.

A twig snapping in the distance caused her to turn her attention to it, a sigh parting her lips as she watched Natasha step into view, and the quick flash of movement in the corner of her eye told her that you had departed at the sound of the redhead’s arrival once more. “Wanda?” The former assassin made her way to the witch. “What happened?”

Sure, Wanda was new to this whole spy thing, but anybody would’ve noticed the fact that Natasha was drier than she should be. With the entire building’s sprinkler system going off in retaliation to Blaze’s heat, she knew for sure the redhead should be drenched in water. She didn’t really have a speedster to dry her out. “I encountered an issue near the control room,” Wanda answered, shaking her head slightly. “I couldn’t get the data we came here for. Did you have any luck?”

“No,” Natasha responded, sighing lightly as she crossed her arms over her chest, “but we’ve been compromised so we need to go before they bring backup.” She gestured towards the jeep with a nod of her head, and Wanda watched her make her way to the driver’s side as she shoved her hands into the jacket pocket.

When her fingers came into contact with something, she furrowed her eyebrows with confusion and pulled it out. The wrapper from your protein bar, she now remembered you shoving it into your jacket. It gave her the opportunity to get a better look at the design, knowing Russian food like this wasn’t necessarily a common thing around here. The light blue packaging, the bright yellow foreign letters - ТЫСЯЧА - and the lack of nutritional information on the back of the wrapper, it was nothing Wanda has ever seen before. Perhaps it’d make the exotic food easier to track down. Maybe she could recruit Natasha’s help - the Russian was always down to solve a mystery.

She flinched when the redhead’s voice reached her ears, Wanda looking over her shoulder to see the passenger window rolled down and Natasha leaning forward to look at the dazed witch. She blinked, looking down at the wrapper once more before shoving it back into her pocket to load into the jeep.

Should she find it odd that Natasha - the most attentive person the Sokovian has ever met - didn’t comment on her new jacket? Surely she would’ve noticed such an obvious difference. Yet the ride back to the Avengers compound was just as it was on the way to the mission, quiet. Not even the sound of the radio to soothe out the silence. Wanda couldn’t help but send subtle glances towards the seasoned agent, chewing the inside of her cheek as she leaned back into the seat. Maybe Wanda should say something. Should SHIELD know about you? Maybe they’d work to recruit you if they knew of your existence. And that’d give Wanda the chance to see you more than she does because now? Well, now she doesn’t know when she’s going to see you. Would you show up the next mission? Or will it be another three until your next appearance? Or more? This whole thing seemed to only give her a headache.

“Got something on your mind?” Natasha’s voice broke through her thoughts, and the witch looked at her to see the slight smirk tugging the corner of her lips. She was obviously aware of Wanda’s not-so-subtle glances, that was for sure. She should confess, tell the redhead everything. She knew Natasha could keep a secret, and she knew she’d help her track you down.

She sighed, fully looking at the former assassin with pursed lips. Your name was on the tip of her tongue, her heart beating steadily in her chest. This was the chance, reveal everything. And when she opened her mouth, her form straightening with confidence, the only thing she managed to mutter was, “Just a headache.” She closed her eyes shut tightly, disappointed with herself as she breathed out slowly through her nose. Why was it so hard? It should be simple to tell Natasha the truth. All she had to do was say your name and everything would come spilling out, but it was easier said than done.

“There’s some painkillers in the glovebox,” the redhead offered, sending Wanda a soft smile. Though her headache wasn’t that bad, she was willing to take a pill to lead away any suspicion. With a huff, the witch reached for the handle of the glovebox. Yet instead of spotting the bottle of pain relievers, she could feel her stomach drop as she spotted a couple of familiar, light blue bars resting in the small compartment. She reached for one, pulling it out to get a better look at the protein bar because maybe, just maybe, she truly was starting to lose her mind. “I wouldn’t eat those if I were you.” Natasha’s voice - this seems to be happening more often than she’d like to admit - pulled her out of her stupor.

“What is this?” Wanda questioned.

Natasha’s knowing smirk only made Wanda more confused, looking down at the bar in her hands as she tried to wrap her mind around a possible explanation. Why did Natasha have a stockpile of protein bars tucked away in the glovebox? Protein bars that you happily ate. It gave at least one of her questions an answer; this was where you were getting your supply of snacks. But it only gave her more. Was this all a setup? She wondered just how badly the redhead wanted her to dig through the glovebox, to put two and two together, yet she couldn’t seem to do that. She was only left with more puzzles she couldn’t solve. She needed answers, yet it was just a dark, vacant space when the witch surfed the surface of her mind. Not only was she a professional in hiding and carrying many secrets, she apparently had quickly taught herself to conceal her thoughts. Perhaps to keep Wanda’s snooping at bay, though she never had a reason until now to be nosy. What was the redhead hiding?

“Nat.” Wanda turned to face the Russian as much as she can in the jeep, her jaw clenched tightly as Natasha released a breath that caused her shoulders to fall. “What is this?”

“Tysyacha,” she responded, glancing at the witch as she looked back down at the bar in her hand. “Stands for one thousand. It’s a protein bar with over a thousand calories.” Wanda’s eyes widened at the revelation. It explains why the nutritional information was hidden, though it doesn’t necessarily give her an answer as to why it was in the glove compartment.

“Why do you have it?” Natasha risked removing her eyes from the road to meet Wanda’s gaze, a warmth in her green eyes.

“She burns a lot of calories whenever she runs, so she needs as much as she can get.”

Wanda’s mouth parted open slightly at her statement. “You know.” It wasn’t a question, it was obvious now that Natasha was in the know. Yet how long would the redhead be willing to pretend you didn’t exist if she didn’t find the truth now? The back and forth on her feelings - from hate to denying affection - did Natasha know about that, too? It may not have been obvious to you what with Wanda’s constant sour face, yet you didn’t see her in a way Natasha did. “How long?”

“I met her a few months ago.” Natasha looked over at Wanda, eyeing the perplexed expression written on the Sokovian’s face. “I’ll tell you more,” she quickly assured, “but I should take you somewhere first.”

The witch huffed, slouching in her seat as she buried her nose into her shoulder. She breathed in what remained of your scent on the jacket, though it was slowly fading away. If she knew you, then you clearly knew her. And she couldn’t help but shake her head with a smile as she remembered you blatantly confessed to her that fact. I’ve seen your friend before. Though, at the time, she had accepted the declaration as having seen the Black Widow on the news. Now she knows the real meaning behind your words.

She was unsure of how much time had passed by the time Natasha pulled the jeep to a stop in front of an old-looking apartment building. Besides the SHIELD-issued car, the parking lot was vacant. The redhead didn’t miss a beat, killing the engine and climbing out of the vehicle without giving Wanda the chance to question anything. So, instead of being left in the car to wonder, she trailed after Natasha into the poorly-built structure.

Silence. It seemed to be a recurring theme between her and the former assassin, climbing up a couple of flights of stairs before Natasha slipped into a hallway, making a beeline for one of the aged doors. But after stepping into the apartment, Wanda learned the true meaning of not judging a book by its cover. Though the outside of the apartment seemed old and decrepit, the place Natasha had guided her to would’ve proved the opposite. It was a home, Wanda saw that, with multiple posters hung up on the wall by slim strips of duct tape, a desk covered of stripped electronic parts, a large pile of books resting in a corner with a few comic books sitting on top (which seemed to be mostly of Thor from what she could see), a mattress resting on the floor with covers strewn over, a dresser that obscured the only window in the room. Wanda could feel her heart beating loud yet slow in her chest as she ventured further into the room, taking a peek into a box filled with miscellaneous plastic pieces. Out of the entire building, why use only one apartment?

“Where are we?” Wanda finally questioned, turning to look at Natasha, who was watching Wanda, her arms crossed over her chest. “What-” Her voice caught in her throat when she caught sight of an opened laptop resting on a table against the wall, eyebrows furrowed as she took a closer step to get a better view. The screen displayed the all-too familiar HYDRA logo stamped onto a digital copy of a file. Her eyes scanned the words, eyebrows furrowing the longer she read. She fell into a hole of curiosity, wanting to read more of what was on the laptop, thirsty for answers nobody was giving her, but the moment she touched the mouse, the screen went black and the lights flickered off.

“Natasha Romanoff!” It was a deep, reverberated voice she wasn’t familiar with echoing throughout the room, her heart climbing up to her throat as she turned away from the laptop. “You have killed my father. Prepare to die!” Wanda gasped lightly when she saw the moving red dot on Natasha’s forehead, crimson tendrils dancing around the witch’s fingers in preparation to protect her comrade, but the smile lifting the redhead’s lips only brought Wanda to a state of confusion.

“I see you finally watched The Princess Bride like I told you to,” Natasha announced. “Come on, Y/N. You’re scaring your guest.” Wanda felt herself settle down at your name, breathing out slowly as the power radiating from her hands diminished.

“Guest?” The voice that was distorted beyond recognition became the familiar, happy sound Wanda had come to know - and begrudgingly love. She had to look away to hide her smile as you appeared next to Natasha mere moments before the lights flickered back on. You leaned towards the former assassin, your chin close to your chest. “Hey… Nat?”

“Yeah?”

“What did I tell you about bringing pretty women over here?” Your voice was low, and so was Natasha’s, but she could hear you loud and clear. She looked around to pretend she wasn’t listening (and to hide her blush) when you picked your head up.

“We didn’t talk about that,” Natasha pointed out.

“Exactly.”

“What about me?” the redhead questioned, Wanda peeking over at the two of you with curiosity. “Am I not pretty enough for you, Y/N?” She smirked at you, eyebrows bouncing in a playfully seductive manner, but the expression on your face was what caused Wanda to completely turn her back on the two of you. It was easy to muffle her chuckle, it was just becoming increasingly difficult to conceal her smile no matter how hard she bit down on her cheek.

“Ew. What are you doing with your face? Stop it.” Natasha laughed heartily as you pushed her away from you, huffing before clearing your throat to gain the witch’s attention. When she looked back at you, you were only a few feet away from her. “Welcome to my humble abode, Darling.” You held your arms out in a grand gesture as Wanda gripped her hips with her hands. “I’d give you the tour, but it seems you already saw mostly everything.” The witch stared at you with a raised eyebrow, finding no humor in your words. You looked over your shoulder towards Natasha, and the redhead sent you a subtle nod before disappearing into another room. You chewed the inside of your cheek as you rubbed the back of your neck sheepishly, yet a small smile still plagued your lips.

She was beginning to wonder if all those brief moments where your smile had faltered were even real.

“So, you already know the Avengers.”

“Actually, no,” you corrected. “Just Nat. And Clint. And the Hulk- er, Bruce. He knows of me, but we never officially met. He’s the one who made the recipe for the protein bars I eat, so I assume he knows. And now you, I guess. But the others? They don’t know of my existence. And SHIELD. They don’t know about me, either.” You cleared your throat. “Are you thirsty? Hungry? I can get you whatever you want. Chinese? I can run to China.”

“Y/N-”

“It’ll be two seconds. I’ll be back before you can say p-”

“Are you a HYDRA experiment?”

“I was gonna say pickles,” you breathed out, your shoulders slouched, and she was no longer questioning the status of your permanent smile as your lips pinched together in a tight, thin line. No grin in sight. You glanced over your shoulder to where Natasha had gone, and she was wondering if you were seeking for a window of opportunity to disappear, to avoid the confrontation. Yet if that were the case, you would’ve quite literally disappeared.

She stepped closer to you, her eyebrows furrowed. “Is that why you’re infiltrating HYDRA bases?” she pushed. “Because you’re looking for the scientists that turned you into what you are now?”

“No,” you answered, sighing heavily. “I’m just looking for my mom.” You shook your head as Wanda’s form straightened at your confession. A scoff escaped your throat as a small smile once again crawled onto your lips, but the witch couldn’t seem to find any connection to your eyes before you turned away. “She’s the only family I have. They separated us when I was a kid. Took me away from her, along with a handful of other kids so they can run their tests to create their own unstoppable army. I figured since HYDRA keeps records on everything, they have to have something on her.” You looked back towards her. “Nat and Clint have been helping me raid bases to take their data. We go through the intel to see if there’s any information on my mom before they hand it over to SHIELD so they can keep track of HYDRA. It’s a deal that helps out the both of us.”

You watched her carefully, eyeing her expression as she soaked in your words. She wondered if you could hear the gears turning in her mind, trying to work out what you had just laid on her. Though it didn't answer all of her questions, it did give her an idea on how to answer a majority of the other ones. You rested your hands on your hips, chewing the inside of your cheek as your mind ran through a way to break the uneasy silence floating in between you and her.

This was her chance to interrogate you, to make that “open book” act a reality. She had so many questions forming on her tongue, she was unsure which one she wanted to start with. But the softness in your eyes as you looked at her, it caused the questions to catch in her throat. “I’ll help you,” she offered instead. “I already got this far, might as well keep going.” She extended her hand out to you, and your wide grin returned as you accepted the handshake with eagerness. Her stomach twisted at the feeling of you, she knew that’ll never get old.

“I’m gonna have to break up… whatever’s happening here. We’re being summoned back to the compound,” Natasha expressed, walking into the room with a wave of her phone. “We better go before they send the cavalry.”

There was a pull against Wanda’s heart when you pulled your hand away, stepped out from in between the two ladies. She forced herself to look away from you, watching Natasha cross her arms over her chest. She didn’t want to leave you. Even knowing the truth now, she was unsure when she was going to see you again. “Come with us.” The words fell from her mouth before she even had time to process them herself, all eyes turning to the witch as you mimicked Natasha by crossing your arms over your chest. A half smile tugged the corner of your lips as you raised your eyebrows at her.

“To the compound?” you questioned, and she nodded quickly, her tongue flicking out briefly to lick her lips. You laughed softly, readjusting your feet as you leaned more of your weight against the table.

“I’m sure the Avengers would love to have you on the team,” Wanda claimed. Natasha looked at you, watching you carefully as you breathed out slowly.

“I’m not interested in joining the government’s band of superpowered puppets.” Wanda should’ve seen that coming. You were definitely not the type to follow orders. And you seemed to not mind the whole “lone wolf” play you’re putting on. “I’m not a hero, Darling.”

“You’re not the bad guy, either, Y/N,” she countered, unintentionally snapping at you.

“We gotta go.” The redhead was quick to interrupt at the sound of Wanda’s harsh tone, taking a step forward to catch the witch’s attention. The Russian’s eyes were hard, her jaw rigid, and Wanda was starting to wonder just how much you meant to Natasha. She nodded towards the exit, letting her arms fall back to her sides as she started to walk away. “Come on.”

You met Wanda’s gaze as she stepped forward, but you quickly averted your gaze to the floor. No more words were exchanged between the two of you as she trailed after Natasha, and she felt a harsh twinge in her heart as the door closed behind her.

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It was difficult for her, she realized. The more time she spent with you, the harder it became to stay away. Her reluctance, in the beginning, seemed to be a foolish thing. There was no denying the affects you have on her, she knows that now. Yet she couldn’t stop the memories of her brother entering her mind, flooding her with guilt. Guilt in not being able to protect him. Guilt in not being there for his last breath. Guilt in finding solace in somebody else. A speedster, just like her brother.

Nearly a week has passed, and it would be useless of her to deny how much you’ve been on her mind since. You have no intentions in becoming a hero - a path she, too, had no intentions of landing on, yet here she was. Living in the Avengers compound. And she had found herself waiting for Natasha to appear at her door, to ask her on another mission. A mission that would lead her to you once more. Yet, she never came. Instead, she’d end up sitting on her bed, twirling the dead stem in between her fingers.

It was a night such as that, quiet in the compound. Wanda smiled softly at the stem, sitting against the headboard and watching the petalless head spin at the will of her gentle fingers. She hadn't realized she dozed off until she was startled awake, a gasp slipping past her lips as she sat up. She brought her hand up to eye level, relieved to see that the token was still intact. She sat up, eyebrows furrowed as she placed the stem back onto her nightstand.

She climbed out of the bed, her eyes darting around the room for a brief moment, her gut twisting and lurching, a feeling of a new presence lurking in her chest, but upon seeing the dimly lit room vacant of any other soul, she made her way to the dresser. Since she was awake, she might as well change into something more comfortable before going back to bed. Her fingers glided over the fabric of your jacket, a small smile plaguing her lips. The hint of you remained embedded between the stitching, tugging the collar over her nose to breathe in the sweet, pungent smell. She didn't want to take it off, not right now. So, her fingers danced down to the button of her jeans, but she didn't get much farther than that when a light, subtle clatter coming from within her room caused her to freeze. She strained her ears, holding her breath as she listened closely for the sound once more.

Maybe she was hearing things. The noise was soft, barely there. It was an easy thing for her mind to trick her ears with a noise that small. Yet, when it happened again, her head snapped towards the direction it came from.

The rectangular window resting above her bed, another sound as a flash of a small, gray blur hit the glass. Curiosity won her over as she walked back over to her bed, climbing on top and gripping the edge of the window to steadily get to her feet. She furrowed her eyebrows, sliding the window open and going on her toes to lean her head out of it. All the confusion wiped off her face, replaced by a smile when she saw you standing below. You sent her a single wave, and she laughed lightly when your other hand released a handful of pebbles.

"You do know the compound has a front door," she called down to you, resting her chin in her hand. "I'm pretty sure it's always unlocked."

You looked away from her - presumably where the front door was - before you picked your head up, meeting her gaze once more. "What's the fun in that?" you returned. "Do you mind backing up? It's a little cold out here." You made a show by rubbing your arms, your body shaking terribly, and she rolled her eyes at your dramatic act.

"Why didn't you wear a jacket?"

"I gave my one and only to some lady so she didn't freeze to death." You huffed, placing your hands on your hips as a playful smirk lit up your features. She sucked on her bottom lip to hide her growing smile. "I'm probably never going to get that back, now that I think about it."

"I'm sure you can work something out with her," she replied. You shook your arms out, bouncing on your toes, and she straightened her form, her hand falling away from her face. Your little routine was similar to the one you had done when facing off against the juggernaut, and her eyes widened when she made the connection. "There's no way you're going to make it up here, Y/N."

"Just step back, Darling."

"It's two stories," she claimed. "You're going to get-" She gasped when you vanished, pulling away just before a pair of hands appeared in front of her, gripping the edge of the window tightly. She could feel a fit of laughter bubbling in her chest, yet her mind was quick to force a barrier to prevent the escape as she peeked her head out once more, looking down to see your face much closer than it was five seconds ago. "Are we just hanging out now?"

You grinned, your feet scratching against the surface of the building in a desperate attempt to find traction as you dangled two stories off the ground. "The window looked bigger from down there," you admitted.

She pulled back once more to help you, her fingers brushing against your knuckles, but a mischievous smile grew on her face as she moved forward again. "I could help you," she practically sang, resting her chin against her palm once more, leaning to the side as she dragged an index finger over your knuckles gently, "all you gotta do is ask."

You breathed out a laugh, shaking your head as you locked eyes with her. Your jaw clenched with resolve, the tip of your tongue sticking out past your smirking lips, and she straightened her form with eyebrows furrowed in curiosity. Your nails turned whiter the harder you gripped on the ledge, and with a determined glint in your eye, your hands let go of the windowsill. The next few milliseconds felt slow to Wanda, her heart going still in her chest, her eyes widening, and her chin falling open. Terror froze her bones, locking her in place as she stared at the seemingly large space between your fingers and the ledge for what seemed like forever, but it was just mere seconds later that your hands launched forward, catching the other side of the windowsill. She felt her body relax as you laughed, a breath of relief passing her lips as you rested your chin on the surface.

"Help me." Your eyes sparkled at her, brighter than the stars shimmering above, and she was nearly tempted to give into you right then and there. But she only stared at you, your fingers curled around the windowsill in a vise-like grip. "Please help me, Darling." Your voice was soft when you said it, a quiet whisper only audible in the air between you and her. It caused her heart to lurch forward, her stomach to twist. She sent you a smile as she gripped your wrists, and you released your grip with a small breath of relief as you showed exactly just how much you trust the witch. Your touch, as always, sent a wave of fire through her veins burning away any stress that had loaded up on her shoulders.

She forced herself out of her daze with a subtle shake of her head. She pulled as hard as she could, and she couldn't stop a chuckle from slipping past the barrier she put up when her hands slipped, falling back onto the bed with a bounce. But when she looked up at you, half in the room, half out, the laughter that had been bubbling in her chest finally boiled over, and you grinned at the sound.

"I'm glad you're enjoying this," you expressed, your arms falling down to rest against the wall. “I am here to please, after all.” Your hands gripped the bars of her headrest, and a gasp escaped her when the bed lifted slightly at your strength when you pulled against it to heave the rest of your body into the room.

She watched with a wide smile as your head pressed against the pillows, kicking your legs the rest of the way through the window with a grunt. Your body swayed to the side, and her hand covered her mouth to suffocate the gasp when your foot knocked into the lamp resting on the nightstand, her laughter muffled against her palm as everything fell to the floor with a crash. You groaned as your legs remained on the now-empty nightstand, your torso buried amongst the pillows as you stared up at the ceiling.

"I'll use the front door next time," you announced breathlessly, looking at her over the pillows when she laughed once again. "Hey, that looks familiar." You pointed at the jacket, her chin resting against her chest as she remembered she was wearing it. A light pink painted her cheeks, picking her head up as the bed jostled underneath your maneuvering.

She opened her mouth, her brain working hard to come up with an excuse, but a soft knock against the door behind her had her mouth clamping shut. Her eyes widened as she, without thinking, shoved you off the bed. She bit her bottom lip to stop a smile from forming at the noise you made when you hit the ground mere moments before the door opened, repositioning herself on the bed to watch Vision step into the room.

"Are you okay?" he questioned, his tone low and gentle. She sent him a friendly smile. The android was always one to show her kindness, displaying a patience towards her nobody else seemed to grasp. She was thankful for the warm welcome he had given her when she had first arrived, and will always consider him a close friend at the end of the day. "I heard a crash." His eyes landed on the clutter of objects that had fallen to the floor, head tilting slightly as he took a step forward.

"I'm okay, Vis," she assured him, adding a small smile. "I just bumped into the nightstand."

Vision nodded, turning to walk out of the room, but pausing mid-turn. “I read your report from the last mission you did.” Wanda’s back straightened when she heard you scoff lightly from your spot behind the bed, and the urge to kick you was strong. “It seems that none of the other members of the team have encountered these sort of… powerful people before. They must be new to the area.”

“I speak from experience when I say they are definitely not,” you muttered. Wanda had to bite her cheek to muffle the incoming grin threatening her posture. She cleared her throat, an attempt to give you a warning to quiet down, as her eyes remained on Vision.

“I’m just glad you’re okay,” he admitted, and the muffled aww that came from you caused Wanda to subtly push a pillow off the bed in hopes it’d land on your face. “I’m keeping you awake. I’ll leave you to sleep.” He sent her a small, hopeful smile as he nodded, turning to leave the room. “Sweet dreams, Miss Maximoff.” The witch’s eyes followed his retreating figure until it disappeared behind the door before moving to lean over towards you.

“You really don’t know how to stay quiet for-”

Her voice caught in her throat at the lonely pillow sitting on the floor, eyebrows furrowed deeply with confusion.

"Is this what I think it is?" She gasped at the sound of your voice behind her, turning her head quickly to see you standing on the other side of the bed, the petalless flower held in between your fingers as a cheeky, playful smirk grew on your face. "You kept this?"

"No," she snapped, reaching over to pluck it from your hand. You lifted your arms up in a surrender fashion as you stepped away from the bed. She sighed softly as she looked at the stem for a moment before placing it back onto the nightstand, her eyes finding you as you started to wander around the room, smiling warmly as she watched you snoop.

“Who was that guy?” You stopped in front of her dresser, running your fingers along the surface before stopping to pick up a tiny, cardboard box filled with jewelry she’d most likely never wear. “Vis. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of him before.”

You turned your head to look at her, an eyebrow raised as a playful smirk tugged a corner of your lips. “He came around the same time I did.” The box fell from your hand and landed on top of the dresser with a jingling smack. “How’d you even know which room was mine?”

“Magic, Miss Maximoff,” you replied, smirking at her. Her heart felt as if it was attempting a breakout by how fast it was beating, causing yet another blush to form on her cheeks. You turned away from her to spin the globe as if you were completely unaware of what you had just done to her. If this was how she reacts to you calling her by her last name, she can’t even begin to fathom what would happen when you finally figure out her first name.

She settled on assuming you had gotten the answer from Natasha. She could only imagine what would’ve transpired if you ended up knocking on Steve Roger’s window.

“This place doesn’t really seem lived in.” It was an instinct for her to look around. Though some of the stuff in the room held her own personal touch, she’d be the first to admit that it still held that “guest room” vibe.

“I’m not really focusing on room décor at the moment,” she said, watching you poke at a feather pinned to the shelf above the dresser. “Did you come all the way here to judge my room?”

You turned away from your prodding to look at her, leaning your hip against the dresser. “No,” you confessed, your lips pinched together yet, somehow, they still formed a smile. “I’ve been thinking about what you said.” She perked up at your words, your fingers picking at each other nervously as hopes rose in her chest. Are you going to join the Avengers? Become a hero? Work with her? She couldn’t slow down her heartbeat when the thought of you being a permanent part of her everyday life materialized in her brain. “I’m not going to join SHIELD’s little band of heroes” - her shoulders slouched - “but I’m willing to step out of the shadows and become… known.” You sighed, crossing your arms over your chest as you stepped away from the dresser and towards her.

She wondered if you had issues with SHIELD by the way you said their name. Emphasized, like you were forcing yourself to say the word. Though if you were with HYDRA since you were a kid, it would be difficult to trust an organization you were raised to despise. Having lost trust in something you’ve never encountered, having lost trust in something you had grown up with. What did you have left to put your faith in? You standing here now, right in front of her, in a building ran by SHIELD. Was it her?

“Look, maybe coming here was a mistake.” She snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of your voice, blinking as she watched you make your way to the door. The doubt seemed to catch up to you, and she found herself becoming desperate to keep you here. “I’ll use the front door this time.”

“Do you trust me?” Your muscles locked up, freezing just before your hand touched the doorknob. You chewed the inside of your cheek as you turned your head to meet her gaze, straightening your form as she climbed off of the bed. She sauntered towards you, her footsteps were slow, seemingly calculated, gradually closing the distance between you and her. Her eyes stayed locked onto yours, bringing her bottom lip in between her teeth as your body automatically turned to face her. “Do you trust me, Y/N?” she asked once more, an eyebrow raising questioningly.

Your head bobbed up and down fast, quickly affirming her suspicion, but the lack of words appeared to not be enough for her.

“I’m gonna need you to say it.” She paused directly in front of you, her heart leaping in her throat, her stomach transforming into a vortex. Her hands subtly shook, nervous as she became close enough to catch the delicate scent of vanilla hidden beneath the ozone aroma you obtain from running in the wind.

“I trust you.” Your voice was soft, low, as if you had trouble getting it above a whisper. You breathed in a trembling breath, and Wanda couldn’t help but smirk at your nervous state. Were you experiencing the same feelings as she was? The desire to close the distance, the thirst to feel your bodies pressed together, the need to press her lips against yours. When your eyes flashed quickly to her lips, she was willing to bet the answer to her unspoken question was yes.

You both stepped forward at the same time, her fingers grazing your jaw as your lips collided with hers in a kiss that sparked a fire in her gut. It was undeniable, the heat that coursed through her veins as your arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer against you. And, as her lungs quickly began begging for air, she knew without a doubt that this is where she was meant to be. In your arms, protected, safe, comfortable. Fit together like a missing piece finally finishing the puzzle. Her lungs thanked her when she was forced away from your lips, breathing in a desperate drink of fresh air as her eyes seemed to be glued to you.

Her hands pulled away from your jaw, one returning to her side as she let the other one trail down your arm. You remained silent as she gripped onto your wrist and tugged you into the direction of her bed, a smile tugging the corner of her lips as you followed her compliantly. “I need you to do something for me,” she offered, reaching for your other wrist as she stopped at the edge of the bed. She pulled you closer to her, just enough to wrap your arms around her before finally releasing you.

You leaned your forehead against hers, her eyes fluttering close at the feeling of you as your noses brushed together just faintly, and you swallowed harshly before you said, “Anything for you, Darling.”

“Stay…” she breathed.

She opened her eyes to the warmth of the sun washing over her face, eyes squinting against the sudden brightness as she stretched in her spot underneath the covers. She turned her head, breathing out softly when she saw the neatly made bed vacant of you. She sat up, chewing the inside of her cheek as her eyes landed on the light sitting perfectly on the nightstand. Was everything that had happened merely just a dream? The heart-warming laughter? The fire-sparking kiss? The bone-chilling touches?

She begrudgingly kicked the blankets off of her, sighing when she saw that she was still wearing the same outfit as she had been last night. She huffed, settling on changing her pants and shirt, yet she shrugged your jacket back on as she made her way out of the bedroom, rubbing the grogginess out of her eyes with the back of her hand as her brain replayed last night over and over in her mind, desperately trying to convince herself that it wasn’t just a dream. That the way you had held her in your arms as she drifted off to sleep to the sound of your soft humming was real.

She stepped into the kitchen, sending a halfhearted wave to Natasha and Clint sitting at the table before stopping in front of the coffee pot. The steam coming from the cup told her that it was made fresh, and she released a soft sigh. At least this morning wasn’t completely full of disappointments.

“Think about it.” She couldn’t stop the smile forming at the sound of your voice behind her, her heart performing somersaults in her chest as she placed the coffee pot onto the counter. Excitement rushed through her, yet her eyes remained forward despite the craving desire to turn around and see you. “Right now, at this exact second, someone somewhere in the world… is eating a doughnut.” The smile on her face partly faded with confusion, a crease in between her brows forming when they furrowed together. Curiosity was what made her finally turn around, her breath catching in her throat to see just how close you truly are, yet a laugh managed to escape her as she crossed her arms over her chest, watching you shove as much of a doughnut as you can into your mouth. You met her gaze behind the doughty treat, her green eyes shining brightly with amusement as you bit the chunk off and slowly started to chew. And though your voice was extremely muffled by the fried dough you had shoveled into your mouth, she was almost certain she heard you say, “And that someone is me.”

“What’d you do to get Speedy to step out of the shadows?” Clint questioned, his voice cutting through the air, causing you to take a step away from the witch and lean against the counter behind you. She silently cursed the archer’s inquisitiveness. “Nat and I have been trying for months.”

“Let’s just say she has a certain… magical touch.” You looked towards the table, a smirk stretching your lips as you raised the doughnut to him. Clint's eyebrows furrowed as he looked down at his empty plate before looking back at you.

“Is that my doughnut?” You quickly shoved the rest of the doughnut into your mouth before anything else can be said, drawing out a soft chuckle from the women as Clint shook his head in mock disappointment, though even the archer had trouble muffling a grin.

Wanda continued to stare at you, seemingly lost in a trance as you teased Clint. She wanted to touch you, her burning hands itching to feel you, her lips aching to be against yours, but she fought against the insatiable desire. She didn’t think it appropriate to put on a show in front of people. She crossed her arms over her chest tightly, an attempt to keep her fingers at bay instead. “Did you meet the other Avengers yet?”

You nodded, quickly swallowing your mouthful of dough. “Everybody but Thor-”

“He’s off-world, Y/N,” Natasha claimed, laughing softly as she stood up. She grabbed her empty mug and made her way to the sink next to you.

“He’s always off-world,” you stated, a light pout forming on your lips.

“He does have a whole kingdom to attend to, sweetie,” the redhead expressed with a small grin, and you rolled your eyes. Wanda couldn’t stop the pang of jealousy ripping through her as she watched Natasha place a comforting hand on your shoulder, but your desire to meet the long-haired man shouldn't have been a surprise. The witch remembers the Thor comics you had back at your apartment, and she smiled softly as she realized your admiration for the God of Thunder.

“Oh!” You clapped your hands suddenly, snapping Wanda out of her daze. “I haven’t met-”

“Agent Romanoff, Agent Barton.” Everybody turned towards the entrance of the kitchen to watch Vision float in, but Wanda’s attention was pulled away from the android when she felt you step next to her, the widest of smiles plastered on your face. “Miss Maximoff…” His greetings trailed off with confusion when his eyes landed on you, an unfamiliar presence to the android.

“Whoa,” you breathed. Wanda felt her face soften at the awe written across your features, a small smile tugging her lips. But your closeness to her didn’t last long before you were gone, appearing directly in front of Vision, causing him to pause his movements with furrowed eyebrows. “You’re an android, dude.”

“My apologies,” Vision expressed, head tilting to the side with curiosity, “but who are you? You’re not in any of the databases.”

“Databases?” Your face contorted to confusion for a brief moment before you playfully smacked him in the shoulder. “No way! You have a whole computer in your head?” You paused, taking a step back as you added, “Wait, your voice sounds familiar.” You turned your head to look at Wanda, pointing at Vision. “Is he-”

“Vis,” Wanda interrupted quickly, “this is Y/N.”

“You never told me he was a robot!” She laughed softly at your excitement.

“I’m not a robot,” Vision confirmed. “I’m a synthezoid.” His brow furrowed once again as you moved to poke his cheek, though his body slowly leaning away from your finger indicated that he wasn't fairly interested in being touched. That didn't seem to stop you. Wanda’s eyes were glued to you as she felt her heart swell.

She didn’t even look away from you when Natasha rubbed against her arm when the Russian stepped next to her, crossing her arms over her chest as she grinned. “I see that look on your face.” The witch finally broke free from her hypnotic state to look at the redhead, eyebrows furrowed deeply as Natasha continued to keep her gaze forward, watching the interaction between you and Vision.

“What look?” Wanda questioned.

She looked at the witch, her head tilting in a way that tells the Sokovian to quit playing dumb. “Like she’s the only one that matters.”

“Nat!” Your voice cut through their conversation, both women turned to you. You pointed at Vision, grinning widely, as you said, “He’s coming on the mission with us.”

“Mission?” Wanda looked to Natasha, puzzled. “What mission?” But the only thing the former assassin did was send her a sly wink before walking away.

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“I have to put this thing in my ear?” Since Wanda failed to suppress her grin (again), she was forced to look down in an attempt to hide it. She could hear your voice in the earpiece nestled against her eardrum, walking slowly towards the towering mansion before her, with Vision right by her side. “It’s so small, Nat. What if it gets stuck in there?”

“Has she not worn communication devices on missions before?” Vision’s soft-spoken question only added another to her arsenal. It wasn’t something she had ever thought about until now. How did you manage to communicate with Natasha and Clint during your HYDRA raids? She was going to have to find time to slip one of her many questions in, cross them off the ever-growing list. She decided to simply shrug at the android's inquiry.

"Why would the suit be made of leather, Y/N?" Wanda breathed out loudly through her nose, a semi-failed attempt to smother her laughter. She had wished she could hear the rest of your bickering, but Vision cut in, making it near impossible to hear what you had said in response to Natasha.

"How did you come to know Y/N?" She glanced at him, sighing softly as the memory came to mind as if it had happened just yesterday. The first time she laid eyes on you - that cocky grin, the overconfident attitude, the know-it-all state of mind - she had despised you. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with you for how much you had reminded her of her brother. Yet, the more time she spent with you, the more she came to fall for your charm. She was quick to judge you, yet you were quicker to show her just how truly wrong she was.

"We met on a mission," she answered, stopping at the bottom of the grand staircase leading into the fancy manor. She turned to face him - the tux he had decided to wear suited him fairly well, yet she was sure the black bow perfectly knotted at his neck was supposed to match with her backless, dark green dress. "She saved my life." In more ways than you'll ever know.

"I find it odd how I can't find her in my database," he uttered, seemingly talking to himself out loud as his eyes drifted away from Wanda for a fleeting moment before he snapped back onto her. "Have I told you you look wonderful tonight, Miss Maximoff?" He held his elbow out towards her, and she smiled softly as she looped her arm through his before he led her up the stairs.

A frown plagued her lips briefly when she realized just how quiet the comms had become in her ear, but the emptiness in her gut didn't last long when her eyes instantly found you standing by Natasha's side at the buffet table upon walking into the ballroom. It was like you sensed her, too, as you picked your head up. She could tell your mouth was full of food by the way your cheeks puffed out, and she laughed lightly as you sent her a wave, but you quickly pulled your arm down when the Russian sent you a subtle elbow into your stomach. She watched from the other side of the room as you offered Natasha what looked like a finger sandwich. She has been caught in yet another trance, captivated by your victorious grin when the redhead accepted the food from you, enthralled by the laughter that she could hear above all other noises present in the room when you mockingly presented Clint a doughnut from the table.

“I ordered you a drink.” Wanda turned to look at Vision, leaning his elbows against the bar with an untouched drink sitting in front of him. She doesn’t remember making her way to the bar, though it could’ve been the android guiding her away from the vacant dance floor. Surely if he hadn’t, she would’ve made a scene by crossing no man’s land to get to you. He slid the drink towards her, and she pursed her lips together tightly before forcing herself to turn her back on you. “I don’t see why we can’t enjoy ourselves during a mission.” He smiled warmly at her as she wrapped a hand around the cool glass.

He unintentionally reminded her exactly why they were even attending this ball in the first place. The owner of the mansion, a man in ties with HYDRA, has been reported to be in possession of some sensitive information regarding a certain project that held a few participants; some willing, others… not so much. If there was any information on your mother, it'd be here.

"Would you care to dance, Miss Maximoff?" She looked at Vision, blinking out of her daze as she watched him offer her his elbow. She hadn't realized that the event had started until he asked, and she was already looping her arm through his once again, letting him guide her to the semi-occupied dance floor.

The two of them settled into a proper position; hands interlocked, his other hand resting on her shoulder blade as she felt the fabric of his tux underneath her fingers when she, too, placed her hand against his shoulder. They swayed in sync with the music, following in step with the other dancers. Though it seems that not everybody wanted to begin dancing just yet, the very few couples that made it onto the floor were more than eager to get the ball rolling.

Literally.

It wasn't much longer that your voice crackled to life in her ear. "Y'know, if you would just let me use my powers-"

“Do not use your powers, Y/N,” Natasha quickly interrupted. “And stop pressing your finger against your ear. You look ridiculous.” Vision swayed to the left at just the right time, giving Wanda the perfect opportunity to watch as you pull your hand away from your head. She smiled as you leaned against the bar, a glass of what seemed to be whiskey just barely hanging in between two delicate fingers, though you didn’t seem to be interested in drinking the amber liquid at all. “Does anybody have eyes on Malick yet?”

“Negative, Ghost Rider,” you proclaimed.

“Maybe you’d do a better job at locating him if you weren’t attached to that bar,” Clint teased; she could hear the smirk in his tone.

“Hey, Alfred, there’s some people at table three waiting for more of those finger sandwiches,” you countered, and her eyes found Clint to watch him stare daggers at you across the room, a silver tray of tiny food in his palm, before he ducked into the crowd, disappearing within seconds.

Wanda looked back towards you, her heartbeat speeding up the moment her eyes connected with yours, and the playful smirk that tugged a corner of your lips caused her stomach to twist, but it all ended too soon when Vision swayed back to the right. Her line of sight was ultimately blocked by the android. “Y/N’s an interesting character,” Vision commented. “I have yet to see her in action, but her beating heart lives to tell the tale of her adventures. Perhaps she’d fit in well with the other team members.”

The witch focused on Vision's face, smiling softly at him. “Y/N isn’t interested in becoming an Avenger,” she assured the android. “She doesn’t see herself being a hero.”

Vision pursed his lips, eyes drifting away from her as he took a moment to think. “You said she saved your life.” He looked back at her in time to see her subtly nod. “Then I believe she’s a hero already.”

Wanda stared at the android’s smiling face, her mind at a loss for words to defend your decision, as Vision stepped away when the song came to a slow end. People that hadn’t been interested in dancing with their loved ones during the first round finally stepped onto the dance floor just as the second song kicked on, and it wasn’t that much longer that the area became crowded, leaving Wanda no chance in hell in finding where you were.

She sent a look towards the bar, yet the untouched glass of whiskey only remained where you had been standing before her view of it became obscured by the gathering crowd. She sighed in defeat, stepping around swaying couples in an attempt to get off of the floor, but a hand catching her wrist forced her to stop. She didn’t get a chance to look over her shoulder before whoever grabbed hold of her pulled, the force of the tug causing her to spin, and her breath caught in her throat when your arms caught her before she fell. Your face was mere inches away from hers, and though your usual vanilla scent had been masked by whatever cologne Natasha had sprayed on you, she could still catch a hint of that ozone aroma that seems to always radiate off of you.

“I didn’t think of you as much of a dancer, Y/N,” she commented, wrapping her arms around your neck as your hands delicately gripped her waist. You laughed lightly, and she was close enough to you to have your minty breath wash over her face.

“I’m not,” you admitted, “but I’m a fast learner.”

“You seem to be fast at everything.”

You grinned, tilting your head slightly. “I’m nothing if not fast.” But then you leaned forward, your lips brushing against her ear as your hands slid up her body, your fingers gliding over her exposed back. A ripple of chills erupted throughout her spine at your touch as you whispered, “But there are a few things I’m willing to slow down for.” She was grateful when the gasp that built up in her chest got caught in her throat as you pulled back to look her in the eye.

“Malick has entered the area.” Clint’s voice cut through Wanda like a hot knife, the archer forcefully dragging her out of the hypnotic daze you had put her under. The witch tried to peer over your shoulder, scouring the crowd to get eyes on the man, but you tugged her closer to you, her shining emerald irises melting into you as a smirk grew on your lips.

“Eyes on me, Darling.” Have you forgotten about the mission? Was Clint's voice not a reminder of why you were here? She couldn't really bring it upon herself to question it, your hands on the small of her back had her mind reeling with feelings she had a hard time controlling. Chills erupted through her as if she had stepped foot into an ice bath, yet her face was hot to the touch as she was sure a bright, obvious red stained her cheeks. With her eyes lost in yours, the outside world didn't seem to matter much to her. “You look absolutely stunning this evening.”

Her eyes tore away from yours to glance at the suit you were sporting, and though the dark green tie wrapped around your neck didn't match Natasha's silky black dress, it did make your smile seem impossibly brighter. The two of you seemed to match better than your “dates.”

“And you look very dashing,” she returned, her eyes snapping back onto yours like a magnet.

She felt as if she were in a bubble with you that not even the sound of the music penetrated, protected from the world around her as she continued to spin in your arms. She never wanted this moment to end, the way you looked into her eyes as if you were finally breathing for the first time, the way your fingers made her skin so hot that it could start a fire, yet so chilling that it caused her teeth to shiver.

“Natasha tried squeezing a dress on me, but I'm not particularly a big fan of the breeze down there when I run.” She laughed lightly, and you smiled at her as she followed your steps, twirling around the other couples as her focus was locked onto you.

“Should we talk about last night?”

“The part where I expertly climbed through your window or the part where we spooned half-moon style until you dozed off?”

“How about the part in between all of that?” she suggest. You stopped moving suddenly, her body pressing against yours as your noses gently brushed together, and a tight knot formed in her gut, her breath hitching in her throat. Just a tilt of her chin and she’d be able to relive what had happened last night - the kiss that never seemed to leave her lips.

You grinned at her, doing the very thing she had thought about doing as you tilted your chin, yet your mouth only grazed hers in a ghost of a kiss. Her eyelids fluttered closed. “Would you like to recreate the moment?” you whispered, your lips moving against hers, and the knot in her stomach tightened with anticipation as the desire to close the distance in between your mouths burned in her chest.

“Y/N…” she breathed, her voice pleading, and her eyes opened to look into yours. There was a fleeting though in the back of her mind, something trying to break free from the hypnosis she had been caught in, trying to clear the fog your closeness had brought into her brain. It was quiet. No music, no other sounds of conversations. Not even the sound of the team spewing mission nonsense in her ear. Whatever it was scratching at her thoughts seemed to win as she tore her eyes away from you, a gasp escaping her throat as she saw everybody around her just… standing there. As if somebody had pushed pause on a remote. “What’s happening?”

You looked around, an indentation forming in between your eyebrows as you, too, saw what she sees. She watched you as you closed yours eyes, released a breath, and took a step away from you. She felt the bubble that had formed around the two of you break, the dancers continuing on with their twirling, the music playing through the air, and the team’s voices coming through the comms tucked away in her ear as if nothing had happened. You looked at her, seemingly frozen in the spot a few feet away from her, breathing out a sigh that caused your shoulders to fall, and she had just taken a step towards you when you finally decided to move. She called out for you, but you continued pushing your way through the dancers, and she didn’t hesitate to follow off of the dance floor.

She watched you reach into your ear, pulling out the earpiece and dropping it to the ground just as she managed to catch your wrist, pulling you to a stop. You turned to look at her, a melancholic smile drawn on your face as she felt you almost instantly relax the moment she touched you. “What-”

“Let’s have some fun.” Using her grip on your wrist, you were the one to start pulling her away from the crowd, guiding her through a random door to put some distance between you and the ballroom. She didn’t have the heart to let go of her hold on you, the sensation she gets from touching you has been something she craved ever since that first time.

The two of you ducked down a hallway, the smile growing on Wanda's face as adrenaline pumped through her blood. There was a high chance of them getting caught now that they snuck away from the event, their covers blown almost instantly if they were spotted for even a split-second, yet that was what made this exciting. And, with you right by her side, it couldn't have been better.

"We weren't getting much done in one room," you proclaimed as your arm slipped from her grasp. "Besides, I already forgot what Malice looks like." She didn't even bother correcting you on the name, she knew it was something you weren't interested in. What's a name to you when you were inches away from finally getting the information you wanted? It was close enough anyway.

"What was that thing you did in the ballroom?" Your walking gradually stopped as you slowly turned to look at her. Two white, swinging doors rested to your left and, peeking through the slim windows, Wanda could see the kitchen on the other side.

"I don't know," you confessed.

Her mouth opened, but she stopped herself from speaking when a pair of white, double doors swung open, nearly smacking you as a waiter balancing two silver trays stepped into the hall. She didn't pay either of you any mind as she scurried past, hurrying to bring the food to the ballroom.

Both of your eyes followed the scrambling waiter for a moment before she turned back to you. "Is that what you see all the time?"

You looked at her. "Not all the time." You crossed your arms over your chest in a protective manner. You paused for a moment, your eyes melting into hers as if you were searching for something, and she was unsure whether or not you found it. The doors swung open once more, another waiter dashing in between them with a tray. You sighed, shaking your head slightly as your arms fell to your side, and you turned to continue walking just when the door flew open. Her hand covered her mouth to muffle a gasp when a waiter stepped out in front of you, the tray of drinks held in his palm hitting your shoulder and the glasses fell onto you. The clear liquid soaked into your white button-up and black suit jacket as the tray clattered to the ground loudly.

The waiter mumbled an apology as he fell to his knees to clean up the mess, but you seemed to be frozen in place. Wanda gripped your elbow and tugged you further down the hall, away from the kitchen. "Y/N-"

"I don't know how I did it," you quickly interrupted, a soft yet small smile tugging the corner of your lips as your gaze fell to the floor. "I didn't even know I could-"

"Hey…" Her voice, as soft as silk, trailed off as she stepped towards you. She brought her hands up to cup your face, gently guiding your head up to meet your eyes as she sent you a warm smile. "There's some aspects to my powers I'm still learning. Not understanding a power you've had for less than a year is nothing to be ashamed of."

You leaned into her touch and she yearned to know what you were thinking as you stared into her eyes. She knew the end results, yet she still attempted to catch a glimpse of your thoughts. She breathed out softly when she saw what she expected - blurred splotches of random colors, shifting way too fast for her to latch onto even a single comprehensible thought.

Suddenly, you collapsed into her. The scent of alcohol burned her nose when she caught you on instinct, her arms hooking under yours as your head rested against her stomach, a gasp escaping her throat, yet she had just opened her mouth when a deep voice cut through the air.

"Hey!" Wanda's head snapped towards the source, her eyes widening as she felt you slowly straightened your form, though a hand tightly gripping onto her elbow prevented one of her arms from falling back to her side. She held onto you by your waist as you leaned into her, a wide smile stretching your fingers as your arm flew up into the air, causing her to wobble as you sent the two suited men an enthusiastic wave. They closed the distance, arms crossed over their chest as they glared at you and Wanda. "What are you two doing back here?"

"Hello, sirs," you greeted, your words slurred together, slipping out of Wanda's arm to fall into one of the men. He, too, caught you out of instinct, yet he seemed to have regretted it by the face he made at the smell of the wet alcohol stain on your shirt. "Do you even understand how beautiful this lady right here is?" You lazily picked up an arm, a finger pointing right at Wanda. She could feel her face flushing, sucking on her lips to fight against the smile threatening her posture.

"Y/N," Wanda urgently whispered, reaching for you, but you easily dodged her. She sent the men an apologetic look.

"Thee best girlfriend I ever had," you announced. Wanda reached for you again, gripping the hem of your jacket and tugging you back to her. "My beautiful, beautiful Darling." You placed your palm gently against her cheek as her arm wrapped around your waist, letting you use her as a crutch. She was doing everything in her power not to let the smile win. The heat building in her cheeks was bad enough.

She returned her look to the gentlemen, deciding to send them a rueful smile. At least this way the battle between her posture and her feelings would meet a stalemate. "I'm sorry. I've been trying to keep her on a tight leash, but she's a slippery one."

"Well, neither of you should be here," the first man expressed, his voice a bit more softer than it was in the beginning. "Let's get you ladies back to the party. And you should make sure she's cut off." The men took a step forward as Wanda nodded, but you placed yourself in front of her, swaying ever so slightly so perfectly well that even she thought you were going to fall.

"Come on," the second man declared, raising his arm to grab onto your elbow, but the movement was so fast for Wanda to process that the man just crumpled to the ground in milliseconds. It even took the other one a moment to realize what had happened, though he didn't have much time to reach for his gun before he, too, fell to the floor.

You turned to her with a wide grin, arms spread out wide as if asking her if she was impressed. And, to be honest, she actually was a little impressed. "I saw that in a movie." Your arms fell back to your sides as you looked down at one of the unconscious men. "The drunk bit," you clarified.

She furrowed her eyebrows, looking over her shoulder towards the kitchen doors for a brief moment before turning back to you. She took a step closer to you, raising an eyebrow with curiosity. "Is that why you got a waiter to spill alcohol on you?" she questioned. "How'd you even know when they were coming out?"

You scoffed, grinning at her. "Why do you think I attached myself to the bar?" you returned. "The waiters stick to a pattern. Two trays of food go out first, followed by the tiny little drink samples." You shrugged, nodding your head towards the rest of the hall before turning to step over the men. She watched as you walked away, a smile tugging her lips as she shook her head softly. From past experiences with you on missions, she had just assumed you were the punch first, ask later kind of person. But she sees now just how strategic you could be. She quickly followed you.

“I’m sure there would’ve been a quicker way we could’ve gotten past them without drawing it out like that.”

“Nat doesn’t want me using my powers,” you said. “Besides, I kinda always wanted to try that little act. And it was more fun.” Though you did use your powers, just slightly, she doesn’t deem it necessary to point that out. However, there was a little something she did want to bring up, and the thought of it made the butterflies in her stomach throw a fit.

“Girlfriend, huh?” She grinned at you when you glanced at her, and you laughed softly as you turned a corner at the end of the hall.

You weren’t looking at her, but she could see the hints of a smirk imprinted on your face as you added, “I’m sure you loved being called my girlfriend.” You weren’t wrong. The idea of being called your girlfriend made her low-key giddy, but she’d never admit that to you. Not in a million years.

“You never did tell me how you met Natasha and Clint,” she claimed, an attempt to calm the butterflies in her gut by changing the subject.

You hummed thoughtfully, your lips pursed together as if you had to think about the moment of meeting the redhead and the archer. “It was a dark and stormy night-”

“Y/N.” She laughed softly as your name rolled off her tongue, shaking her head as she playfully shoved you.

A grin stretched your lips as you looked at her. “Let’s see…” You trailed off, breathing out heavily. “Well, I had just escaped HYDRA’s death grip and I was out on my own for the first time. I had always thought about finding my mom whenever I got out of that place, so it quickly became my priority.” You met her gaze as the two of you continued walking down the hall. “I knew of one of their small bases in the suburbs of New York, so I figured I’d start there first. Turns out, SHIELD had information of it, too, and decided to send Red and Robin Hood. Long story short, I saved Nat’s life even though she’ll deny it.” You smiled at her as you turned your gaze on the area before you.

“What was your mom like?” She could see the falter of your smile, though this one lasted a bit longer than it normally does. She figured you didn’t fully know the answer to that, though your mind could have created an image of her through the very few memories you have.

“She used to sing me this song at bedtime. It had always helped me fall asleep.” Your smile appeared reminiscent, the ghostly echoes of your mother hidden in plain sight at the front of your mind. “It was her own little rendition of a Guns N’ Roses song.” She grinned warmly at you as you hummed a sound that seemed similar to Sweet Child O’ Mine, yet slower and softer. And then you laughed softly, shaking your head as you said, “She was much better at it. She said the words and everything. I just…” You trailed off, biting your bottom lip as your brain worked overtime, and Wanda only wanted to know what it was you were thinking about.

“She seems like a great mom,” Wanda expressed, her voice soft and gentle.

Your chest puffed out, your eyes twinkling when you looked at her, nodding. “She was,” you concurred. “One of the best. She always took care of me.” And then you sighed, your shoulders slouching as you cleared your throat. “One time, I fell and scraped my knee. I was screaming my head off, but… she brought me in her arms and rocked me until I settled down.” She slowed to a stop when you did, your eyes glued to a spot on the floor as you chewed the inside of your cheek, a thin, comfortable layer of silence flowing through the hall before you turned to face her. “And then she brought my face into her hands and told me, ‘What hurts today, hurts less tomorrow.’” She was almost certain she could see a gloss covering your eyes, tears threatening your care-free structure, but you looked down to the ground between your feet before she could fully confirm it. “That was the last thing she said to me before I was taken.”

She wanted to reach for you. To bring you into her arms and hold you. She refrained. You seemed to be internally struggling to keep your posture, and hugging you would only shatter that resistance.

"She was wrong." Her eyes refocused onto yours when you picked your head up. There was a hardness to them she hadn't seen before, shutting off the emotions threatening to put you in a vulnerable state you weren't ready to reveal. "What hurts today only hurts more tomorrow."

"Y/N-"

"Let's go through here." You nodded your head towards the closest door near you, breathing in deeply as you turned away from her. She watched as you reached the door, twisting the knob and disappearing into the room. "Do you think Malice has a dungeon?" you questioned when she joined you, her eyes scanning the empty bedroom briefly before they found you rummaging through the nightstand. She couldn't help but smile softly, yet the worry she felt towards you was thick in her mind as she moved to another side of the room, eyeing the framed picture of a family resting on a desk in the corner. "A man who has ties with HYDRA and a house like this is just bound to have a dungeon. It's practically textbook."

"What would be in this dungeon?" She figured she'd play along, get your mind off the past and onto the present. She glanced at you when you didn't answer right away as she opened a drawer of the desk, shaking her head when she caught you snooping through the bookshelf.

"Probably evil things," you replied, her eyes casting down to the contents of the drawer she had pulled open. "Experiment tables. Science equipment. Prison cells of indisposable victims forced to succumb to these so-called tests." She pushed past all the usual things you'd find in a desk - pens and pads of papers, scissors and paper clips, items that held no value to the mission.

She furrowed her eyebrows, stepping back to eye the drawer. It seemed bigger than it actually was, which only meant that there was a false bottom. As she pried her fingers underneath the panel, you spoke again.

"Or maybe he uses it for personal pleasure," you suggested, yet she was barely processing your words as she lifted the board out of the drawer and peered to the bottom. "You know how self-indulgent these kinds of people can be." She picked up the handful of files, but before she could open the topmost folder, something fell out of the pile and landed in the drawer with a deep thud. “Hedonist.” She reached into the compartment, her fingers wrapping around a small object. With furrowed eyebrows, she began flipping through one of the files. “I asked Vis for the word of the day.”

“Y/N.”

"Actually, if you think about it, performing experiments on unwilling participants is probably his guilty pleasure." You shrugged loosely, and though she wanted to look over at you, to see you, to know exactly what was written in your eyes as you spoke, she was too enthralled by the files in her hands to turn away. "Y'know, evil scientist and all that jazz."

"Y/N-"

"He probably has a whole second dungeon for all his fantasies. Gross." She heard a soft click, followed by the sound of gears turning. When she looked at you, the bookshelf you had been standing in front of had disappeared into the wall, revealing a staircase leading down into darkness. You met her gaze, a smile crawling on your face, as you said in a spooky tone, "Dungeon." You laughed excitedly, nodding your heads towards the entrance. Before she could stop you, you stepped through the hidden doorway. Her eyes returned to the small object she picked up, a flash drive, your name written in neat, black ink on a piece of tape covering the top of it. And the files, enough to put Malick away for a long time.

Her finger hovered over her ear, her mind racing as she thought about bringing the team into this. Your lack of comms was deemed useful as she pressed against the earpiece, turning on the device with a single tap, and her mind was flooded with the voices of the others.

"Are you coming?" Your voice came from the darkness, a slight echo in your words. "I need your glow stick hands! Come on, Darling." Her heart lurched uneasily in her chest as she closed the document and placed the stack back into the drawer, slipping the flash drive into her bra before moving to join you.

"How'd you even know this was here?" It couldn't have been a coincidence that the first room the two of you enter gave you access to an actual secret dungeon.

"I told you, Darling," you expressed. "It's all textbook. Evil scientist plus big mansion equals secret dungeon." You glanced at her as the two of you stepped off the final stair, the darkness illuminated in a red glow from Wanda's fingers, and a smile could be seen in the dim light. “Let’s just hope we don’t find what makes Malice… happy.” She raised an eyebrow at you, though the hint of a smirk tugging her lips didn’t go unnoticed by you. "I memorized the blueprints of the house, gave the building a quick run through with my amazing speed, and noticed the place didn't match the design." You shrugged nonchalantly as you continued forward, your body vaguely seen the farther you marched away.

“So, you did use your powers?” It was difficult to see you now that you were outside the radius of the glow, but she could just make out your frozen figure as you slowly turned around to look at her.

“Don’t tell Nat.” She laughed softly as she walked towards you, her glow-free hand resting on your shoulder in an attempt to pat it, but the instant spark she felt jolted through her among feeling you only caused her touch to linger. You met her gaze, sensing your muscles relaxing underneath her palm.

“Consider it between just the two of us,” she assured in a low voice, her stomach churning excitedly when your tongue slowly flickered out to run across your lips. The voices in her ear pulled her out of the hypnotic state your eyes drew her into, turning her head away from you as her hand fell from your shoulder. That was her fault, she supposed, forgetting to turn off the comms the second time around. Still, she continued forward with your trailing behind her for once. “So, when you were a kid-”

“Some may argue I still am,” you interrupted and she glanced back at you to confirm what she had thought - the biggest, cheekiest smile making your face glow somehow brighter than her fingers. She grinned softly, shaking her head as she returned her gaze forward.

“It’s been, what? Twenty-something years? But you had your powers for just a few months.”

A scoff came from the bottom of your throat and she didn’t really need to look at you to know you were shaking your head. “Not all experiments were successful, Darling.” The statement caused chills to dance up her spine, her jaw clenching tightly at the rage building in her chest. It made her sick to think about how willing she had been when HYDRA first approached her and her brother, not knowing there was a whole other side of the corporation they were keeping hush-hush.

But it was you running (at human speed, to her surprise) ahead of her when the light at the end of the dark hallway came to view not too long later, laughter bouncing off the walls, that had sedated the anger growing in her veins. Going through years of torture didn’t seem to negate your high spirits. The pain you had endured at the hands of scientists seemed to only make you stronger, showing how hard it is to truly knock you down.

Her eyes seemed to struggle at the sudden bright light flooding through the hall when you touched the door, pushing it open and leading her through the entrance into a lab full of tools she couldn’t even begin to understand. “See? Experiment tables. Science equipment. Now all we’re missing is the prison cells and I’d be 100% right.”

She watched as you made your way to a table, surgery tools lined up perfectly on the surface. A flash of discomfort crossed your features, though she couldn’t see your whole face to be completely sure. “Are you okay, Y/N?” You blinked, and she saw your shoulders relax at the sound of her voice before you turned your head to look at her. A melancholic smile tugged your lips once again, and she sighed softly as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Maybe we shouldn’t be here,” she suggested.

“If this Malice guy has anything on my mom, it’d be here,” you declared, moving away from the table.

“You can memorize blueprints, but you can’t remember his name?” You stopped to look at her, eyebrows furrowed deeply with confusion.

“The guy’s name isn’t Malice?” You hummed, shrugging carelessly as you made a beeline for a filing cabinet. She walked further into the lab as you combed through the drawers of the cabinet, sifting through folder after folder.

She didn’t even know where to begin searching, but a quick scan of the counters, she spotted a laptop resting on top of a pile of papers. She made her way to it, opening it, and she had half a mind to pull out the flash drive out of her pocket and plug it in, though your voice cutting through the air pulled that thought away from her.

“There’s nothing in the cabinet,” you claimed. “Y’know, maybe Malice isn’t even the scientist. He’s probably just the guy funding it all.” You were by her side before she even blinked, her heart leaping in her chest at your sudden appearance. “What’d you find?”

“It’s locked.” She showed you the screen requesting a password, watched as you chewed the inside of your cheek for a moment as you stared at the laptop. “They’re not just going to leave a piece of paper lying around, either. This isn’t a movie.”

“No,” you agreed, “but maybe we can collect enough clues to figure the password out.” She furrowed her eyebrows as you stepped backward, meeting her gaze as you grinned at her. “Passwords are almost always sentimental to the owner. Sentimentality is all over the place if you look closely enough.”

She didn’t have a chance to say something before a rush of air nearly knocked her over , suddenly being left alone in the creepy lab, and she huffed in annoyance as she turned back to the laptop. She didn’t know where you had gone, or how long you’d be, but the inclination to plug the USB into the portable computer had her reaching towards her neck.

The password was fairly easy to guess - simply enough, they were one of those people who put the answer within the hint, which is nearly just as bad as those who put it on a sticky note and hang it near the computer. Even so, she got into the system without any issues and, with you being nowhere near her, she pulled the flash drive out of her bra and plugged it in.

Her heart fell at the picture attached to the digital file the USB pulled up. A little kid that she could only assume was you. A look of fear written on your face, eyes wide and lips tugged into a frown. She scrolled through it, a sad, soft sigh coming from her nose as she read through the file. Taken at the age of six, you had been poked and prodded for twenty years. A list of surgeries done on you in an attempt to grant you powers, protocols to ensure you stay on their side. All failed. Because not all experiments were successful. Pictures tracking your growth - kid, teenager, adult - yet each one showed just how badly they had treated you. She wondered how close to death they brought you before they finally managed to get their hands on-

The door opening behind her caused her to jump, pulling the USB out of the computer and tucking it back into the safety of her bra before she spun around, eyes wide and hands instantly in the air as soldier after soldier filed into the room. An older woman in a lab coat strolled in the midst of them, the armed fighters parting like the red sea.

She paused a few feet away from Wanda, her lips pursed together as she looked the witch up and down, surveying her. “You’re not the one I’m looking for,” she finally claimed, crossing her arms over her chest, an eyebrow raised as her eyes roamed around the room, and her shoulders fell slightly when she failed to find whatever it was she was seeking. She met Wanda’s gaze once more, gesturing to the Sokovian to drop her hands. “There’s no need for that, honey. We’re not going to shoot you.” Yet, despite her words, the soldiers did not lower their weapons.

“Who are you?” Wanda asked, her voice low and dangerous.

“Dr. Wanker!” You appeared in the middle of the room, a gust of wind pushing against Wanda's face, all the weapons were now focused onto you, though you didn’t seem too concerned about that. You crossed your arms over your chest, grinning widely at the scientist. "And here I thought I was never going to see you again. Did you know that you made top three of my list?"

She turned her attention back to Wanda, her eyes holding a hint of irritation as she moved her hands to grip her hips. “My name is Dr. Robin Banker,” she claimed, ignoring you. Wanda met your gaze, your eyes sparkling despite the current situation, and the smile on your face put her at ease. She wasn't worried, there was no need to be. Not if you were here.

"My hate list," you stated, speaking to Wanda now. "She's number two." You held up two fingers, laughing lightly as you took a step forward, yet the click of the guns aimed right at you caused Wanda to tense. "Oh, please, Dr. Wanker, you know these guns aren't going to stop me." She rolled her eyes, seemingly annoyed with your cocky confidence. Or she was irritated by the play you're making on her name. "Besides…" you smirked, your voice lowering as you continued, "I'm not even the one you should be worried about."

"You don't think we already know of Miss Maximoff's talents?" Robin laughed softly, shaking her head. "Sweetheart, she's more like you than you think." She strolled her way to Wanda, moving to run her fingers down the witch's face as if they were old friends, but she pulled away just before the doctor could touch her. She ignored it as she added, "She joined HYDRA. She got her powers from us, just like you."

Wanda looked at you, meeting your eyes, silently pleading. For what? Forgiveness? Understanding? She couldn't be sure.

"And, yet, here she is. Going against the bad guys to fight with the good guys. She's everything you hate, just like me." You smirked, shrugging loosely as humor filled your sparkling eyes. How could you be so nonchalant with a squadron of guns pointed directly at you?

Wanda couldn't stop Pietro from entering her mind, her muscles locked in place with fear. Were you to meet the same demise?

"Oh, sweetie." The doctor's voice was condescending, moving behind Wanda to stand slightly behind her, her hands lingering on the witch's shoulders. "She volunteered."

Your smile has yet to falter. You didn't seem to take Robin's words to heart; you see that Wanda had deviated just as you had, volunteered or not. It didn't affect your opinions on the witch. No, it seemed to only make you more relaxed than you were five seconds ago. Perhaps finally finding something out about the Sokovian's past made you feel better. She'd be the first to admit she hasn't exactly been sharing much with you. Hell, you still have no idea what her name is.

"HYDRA just can't seem to keep their subjects in check, huh?" You took another step, Wanda's eyes flashing to the cluster of soldiers in time to see their trigger fingers tense. Her heart was in her throat at this point, giving her lungs a difficult time to catch some air. Witnessing just how on edge you make these soldiers, moving every centimeter you moved, she finally figured out what it was she was silently pleading for - she wanted you to stop moving.

The heavy huff Robin breathed through her nose told her that she wasn't too pleased with your teasing. She was trying to get under your skin, yet you were only getting under hers. And you made it look so easy. "What did I tell you, my naïve child?" she declared, her hands falling away from Wanda, and the witch saw the slight movement in your shoulders. Letting yourself relax even more now that the scientist wasn't touching the witch. "You shouldn't trust anybody."

"I learned that when you started treating me like your little guinea pig," you claimed.

"Those trials made you what you are!" she proclaimed, aggravated, enraged. Betrayed? She appeared to have this sick, twisted vision in her mind that you were her own flesh and blood, and being in cahoots with HYDRA's greatest enemy… She looks at that as being stabbed in the back. "I gave you a gift and you're taking it for granted!"

You chuckled, but Wanda seemed to have a difficult time finding the humor in the sound. "You have no idea what I am or what you gave me," you countered. "Super speed isn't my power. I am super speed." Wanda's gasp seemed to be heard despite the softness of it, the thick silence in the room could be carved with a butter knife. I'm nothing if not fast. "Do you understand how frustrating it is for me to move this slow? You can't begin to fathom how painful it is to force myself to slow down enough to even have this conversation!" She could see the fury in your eyes, the clenched jaw, tight fists, the hatred you held towards Robin, towards HYDRA. You were… angry. Genuinely so. The playfulness Wanda had always seen on you was nowhere to be found, and it caused shivers to erupt up her spine as she processed what she was feeling. Fear.

It wasn't even a second later that you had appeared directly behind Wanda and Robin, nobody being able to process the movement until your voice cut through the air once more, causing the women to nearly jump out of their skin.

"I'm faster than a bullet. I'm unkillable. Practically immortal, but I still feel pain." At your words, the soldiers waved their guns to point at you, but it was too late. You were already gone, the gust of wind caused by your sudden disappearance nearly knocked the ladies off their feet. "Shoot me!" Wanda followed the sound of your voice, her eyes landing on you between the cluster of soldiers.

They separated, scrambling apart to point their guns at you once more. Your arms were held out wide, palms facing her, as you quickly became surrounded by weapons. "Y/N, stop!" Wanda pleaded, your gaze meeting hers. Your arms lowered, and the rage she had seen in your eyes vanquished the instant you breathed out. "Please." She took a step, her arm reaching for you, watching the relaxation of your constricted jaw, the slight tilt of your head as you nearly met her outstretched hand.

Robin saw it at that moment. The connection between you and Wanda is as clear as day. "You never did listen to me when you were growing up," Robin announced. "You were always the trouble child out of the class. Even now, I see just how little my words affect you."

"What are you on about?" you questioned.

"Trust. It's such a delicate thing, isn't it?" Robin grinned. "You've come to trust SHIELD, yet do they trust you?" Your form straightened, your feet shuffling at the scientist's words. "I'm aware of the others. The android, the archer. The assassin. We know they're here." She crossed her arms over her chest, knowing she had your attention by the way your eyes snapped onto hers. "Let's see just how fast you truly are, my child." She laughed softly, a taunting sound.

A gunshot echoed throughout Wanda's head, her heart stilling at the sound, her breath hitching in her throat, yet your eyes met hers within seconds. It took her only a moment to process that it had been heard through her comms, not here. You were still standing, but that couldn't be said at whatever was happening on the other end of her earpiece. It took you even less time to piece Robin's words together. Within seconds, the soldiers were on the floor and you were nowhere to be seen before she took a step towards you. Wanda didn't hesitate to run to the door.

“Fascinating…” Wanda ignored the soft-spoken word Robin breathed out, desperate to catch up to you, but she knew it’d be too late by the time she reached you. "She doesn't know much about you, does she?" The scientist’s voice stopped her dead in her tracks, turning to look at the woman Wanda quickly came to loathe. "You have something of mine." The flash drive tucked away in her dress seemed to only grow heavier, yet the witch stood her ground, her jaw locked, her hands clenched into tight fists by her sides. "Despite many of Y/N's thoughts about me, I do have a nice side. Consider it a gift, from me to you." She looked away from Wanda, releasing a heavy sigh as she pondered the mess of unconscious guards, humming a soft, familiar song as she turned to walk deeper into the lab.

Wanda took this as an opportunity to leave, racing down the hall and up the stairs, desperate to recall the way to the ballroom to catch up to you. When she burst through the doors, time only seemed slow as most of the guests - all gathered in the middle of the dance floor - turned to her at the sound of her arrival. Her foot kicked something that drew her attention, her eyes averting to the ground to see the bullet steadily roll away from her, and it only took the one for her to notice the many. Bullets riddled the floor, yet nobody in the area seemed to be harmed other than the unconscious HYDRA agents scattered around the room.

Her heart seemed to beat loudly in her ears the closer she got to the gathered group. She had yet to find you, her hands shaking as she pushed her way through the mass of party goers. She passed Vision, his face etched with sorrow as he opened his mouth, but she couldn't hear what he had said. Not with the steady hammer banging away in her eardrums - she thought for sure her heart was about to leap out of her chest.

Clint was at the front of the group, blocking whatever it was that had drawn everybody to the dance floor in such a bundled manner. She placed a hand on his shoulder, but she didn't feel him as she gently shoved him out of her way, stepping past the archer to finally see…

Her heart stopped. Frozen in its place to the point where it was no longer rendering her deaf. In the midst of the crowd, you sat on the floor, your face bright pink and puffy. Tears gathered in your eyes as you seemed to be incapable of taking them off of Natasha, wrapped tightly in your arms as you rocked back and forth. Your hand, stained red with blood, pressed against her stomach in a desperate attempt to keep her away from the ledge. Wanda couldn't determine the state of the redhead - was she alive? Dead? Were you too late?

She called for you and, at the sound of your name in her voice, you picked your head up to meet Wanda's glistening emerald eyes. Your chin trembled, and your hold on Natasha only seemed to grow tighter.

Dread filled her veins as your whispered words echoed in her head… “I wasn’t fast enough.”

Chapter 2

[thenatashamaximoff]

Brain On Fire; Ch. 2

Summary: There’s nobody you can trust when your life becomes altered. How will you know what’s real and what’s a simulation?

Pairing: WandaNat x Reader

Warnings: blood, death, brainwashing, simulations, depression, suicidal tendencies 

Words: 17,507

✎ | ⍟

♞please be cautious of the warnings and read at your own risk♞

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Please note that this story does not glorify depression and everything that comes with it. Do not hesitate to reach out to someone if you are struggling. Remember that you are loved, there are people who love you. Stay safe. 1-800-273-8255 ❤️❤️

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Wanda couldn't take her eyes off of your sleeping form, her head propped up by her elbow as she scanned your thoughts for an opening. Being unconscious, you couldn't keep the fire burning in your brain, your barrier extinguishing into nothing but smoke that distorted a path into your memories. And she fell down a path that you were failing to protect and, the longer she dove into your mind, the more she understood why you were struggling to decipher between reality and simulation. 

To her, it felt like she was looking through warped glass, barely capable of seeing the horrors HYDRA put you through, a new way to mold soldiers to do their bidding. She watched as you replayed several moments over and over in your head, meeting your untimely demise by the hands of the people you had considered family, but what broke her heart the most was the sacred moments you'd have with her or Natasha or both, the amount of trust you show the women… only to meet the same fate as all the other simulations.

She sees now that she can't fully blame you for not trusting anybody, no longer having any reason to be frustrated with your slow progress to welcome her and Natasha back with open arms. And she's clueless as to how to get you out of this. The empty feeling in her stomach was the helplessness she felt throughout her body, incapable of dragging you out of the fire. She wanted nothing more than to hold you in her arms and let you know that everything’s going to be okay, that the three of you would get through this together, but she knew it wasn’t that easy.

She had just moved her free hand to gently place it against your cheek - the need for your warm touch had grown stronger throughout the years they had thought you were dead - when a voice cut through the air. "What is it?" Her eyes flickered over your peaceful face to see Natasha settled in a similar position as her, the redhead looking at the witch with confused concern. "What's wrong?"

Sometimes, Wanda hated how easily Natasha could read her expressions. The former assassin knew something was wrong by the way her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, how her nose was barely scrunched in concern. Natasha could see the way her eyes softened when she looked at her, the sadness hidden behind the emerald greens seeping into the spotlight the longer she contemplated the soft-spoken question that broke the silence in the air.

"I don't think there's any chance at saving her from this, Nat," Wanda confessed quietly, licking her lips and shaking her head subtly. She sucked in a deep breath, looking back towards your sleeping form, not being able to stop her thumb from automatically tracing circles against your skin. “She might be too far gone.”

Natasha pressed her lips together to form a tight, thin line as she, too, looked down at you. All the years she had dreamt about touching you again… she thought she had the ability to be able to do that once more when she had found out you were alive, but now? That would just have to remain a dream. “I’m not giving up.” She looked back at Wanda, sighing out heavily. “I will do whatever it takes.”

Wanda picked her head up to meet the former assassin’s gaze once more, her tongue flicking out to wet her lips as she breathed out slowly. “Together.” The witch nodded confidently, reaching over your body to rest her hand against Natasha’s cheek, relaxing when she leaned into the touch.

“Together,” Natasha agreed. Wanda was still learning how to control her expressions, the former assassin was highly skilled in scoping out the signs of frustration and relinquish that were exhibited on the rookie's face. And just as talented as she was to catch slightly hidden expressions, her skills matched that of her hiding them herself. Wanda couldn't see the exhaustion concealed behind the sparkle of feign hope in the redhead's green eyes.

The only thing preventing Natasha from throwing in the towel was her heart, how it beat so lively for you.

The words of the ladies you had once loved were being planted into your mind. It felt as if you were listening to someone search for a strong signal on the radio; fading in and out in the midst of static, distorted but comprehendible. Together. Was this another one of HYDRA's games? You could feel the faint touches against your cheek seemingly glitching in and out of existence; there one second, gone the next. Was this their way of telling you you've done a good job? Were they trying to reward you for behaving? The desire to believe in the reality of the situation was quickly growing stronger, and you knew that's exactly what they wanted.

And you had to get away.

Wedged between two women would’ve been a dream come true… if they weren’t dreaming of your upcoming demise. Their peacefulness in sleep brought you into a sense of tranquility, too, but it could only last so long. The edges of this simulation were malfunctioning like a TV with bad reception, your vision blurring as if you were incapable of being able to focus on just one thing. You couldn’t tell if it was your imagination or if it was real. 

The lullaby… That was something HYDRA couldn’t have possibly known, right? The sentimental value to it, hummed lowly in your ears whenever you needed to hear the melody. And out of all the simulations you had gone through, this was the first time they had used it. Why would they wait until now to use something so meaningful? They surely should've known you would've been wrapped around their finger if they had exploited the simple cradle song in the beginning.

You had to get out of here without waking them, which is easier said than done. They had you positioned right in the center of the bed, Natasha's arm thrown carelessly around your stomach while Wanda was nestled against your side. If you moved to get up, they'd surely wake. 

The softness the ladies showed you, the realness in their gestures... it made you not want to hurt them - though you've always had trouble before. It made you wish for the idea that this was real and not some twisted scenario HYDRA has conjured up. 

You never fully understood why they're subjecting you to this kind of torture. You never really had the chance to ask them, considering your jaw was always clamped shut by that torturous mask, and when it wasn't, you succumbed to their antics while you were given the opportunity to actually rest. You had preferred the darkness over the light. The light would waver, fake with warmth and love in the form of your friends, your family… the loves of your life. The darkness was the only true thing now, the only thing that brought a sense of comfort to your never-ending nightmares. Because the darkness didn’t lie to you, the darkness didn’t tell you it loved you one second, and stabbed you the next.

This was just another simulation, another test they expected you to pass. 

When Natasha's arm left your stomach, spinning around to have her back to you, you found this as an opportunity to get up. 

"How long have you been awake?" You felt your heart launch itself into your throat at her sudden voice, your eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment to give your mind the opportunity to come up with an answer.

You couldn't bring yourself to look at Wanda, already predicting what'll happen if you see her green eyes, knowing how soft they are when she just wakes up. You'd lose yourself, you'd want to reach out and touch her, to pull her against you. You'd want to let down the defenses you've built inside your head; the fire in your brain, as she calls it. If you looked into her eyes, you'd let her inside. And, simulation or not, that'd haunt her for the rest of her life.

"I don't know." It was honest, truthful. You truly did not know how long you've been awake for; you don’t even know if you ever fell asleep. Their conversation - though distorted - was fresh in your memory. Another way for HYDRA to make you believe you were no longer in a simulation; making Wanda and Natasha seem upset that there was no way to save you, showing their sentimental side in a moment when you were seemingly asleep to get you to surrender. You weren’t going to.

You can’t.

Wanda released a quiet sigh as she rolled over to face you, propping her head up with her elbow. You could make out her face in the corner of your eyes - the bunched eyebrows, the flared nose, the pursed lips, all showing just how worried she is - making you want to tease her at how easy it is to read her expressions. And when she tried to graze the top layer of your thoughts, she was met with the burning inferno you keep tending to once more, only making it stronger and stronger. Her lips formed a pout, something that you had always dreaded. "Why won't you let me in?"

You stared at the ceiling above you, your jaw clenched tightly to fight against the tears burning your eyes. Your answer came out broken, a cracked whisper in the silent room, "I can't… trust you." It was four words that always destroyed you whenever you told her, though this simulation seemed to be a lot harder than the previous ones.

Then again, that's something you always think.

Wanda's lips parted slightly to show her disappointed shock, her eyes growing softer as she stared at you. And, boy, were you glad you weren't looking at her. "Y/N-"

"I've been through this too many times. It all ends the same way." You sat up, kicking the blankets off of you and stirring Natasha awake. You felt the redhead reach for you, but you easily slid out of her groggy grip as you climbed out of the bed. You made a beeline for the door.

Wanda didn't hesitate to follow you, calling out to you sternly. Your hand was reaching for the doorknob when you saw the red tendrils swirl around your fingers, undeniable in the soft darkness, your eyebrows furrowed in anger as she prevented you from opening the door. You could hear her soft footsteps march towards you, muffled thuds against the carpet, and Natasha's voice was thick with sleep when she called out for you and Wanda, though you both ignored her as the witch continued stalking towards you.

You felt Wanda grab onto your free hand, a tight grip around your wrist as she forced you to look at her. You tried not to let your fear show when she pinned you against the door, wondering if this was it. If this was the moment where this soft episode turns dark and bloody. You could see the red replacing the warm green in the mellow darkness, pure hatred, pure anger, just like any other simulation.

Foolish of you to believe that either one of them would let you go in peace.

"Go ahead," you sneered, fighting your hardest not to show just how truly afraid you were in this moment. Showing anger in return to their fury only pisses them off even more, not giving them the satisfaction they're seeking when they have you trapped in a corner. And you'll be damned to let them be satisfied with this cruel joke. "Just do it already. There's no point in trying to string me along with this touchy feely stuff. I know how this ends, so end it."

Her jaw clenched tightly and you couldn't tell whether it was anger or hurt. The way her eyes were glowing that dangerous shade of red, you settled on anger. 

You couldn't help but let your shoulders slump in disappointment when she stepped away from you, her jaw still locked yet her eyes fading back to her normal green. Her hand remained on your wrist, a loose grip, as she shook her head. She wasn't going to fight you, the anger she had shown was just frustration. And looking into her eyes, the softness being portrayed in the emerald irises, you felt the sensation that she was being genuine. A brief moment of amnesty granted, letting you breathe. You didn’t understand what angle HYDRA was playing with this simulation, but you knew you couldn’t let them trip you up.

The moment of absolution didn't last long before you twisted your hand so you could grab onto Wanda's wrist, slamming her onto the ground with a swipe at her legs. Light flooded the room a moment after she gasped at the sudden loss of air, your movements faltering for a moment as you looked at the bruise around her neck, your eyebrows furrowed in confusion. And in that hesitant moment, a pair of arms wrapped around your throat from behind, tugging you off of Wanda. 

You scrambled against Natasha's hold for a moment, having been taken by surprise. Wanda slowly climbed to her feet as you used your metal hand to easily pry the assassin's arms from around your neck, knocking her legs out from under her and pinning her to the ground.

"Y/N, stop!" Wanda pleaded loudly behind you, but you ignored her, desperate to keep Natasha pinned underneath you. 

The assassin was quick to flip you off of her before you could make your grip firm, climbing over your body with urgency to keep you down. She gripped your chin tightly in her hand, trying to force you to look into her eyes. “Look at me. This is real, Y/N,” she grunted through the struggles of you trying to get her off, but you managed to settle down when you finally met her gaze. She breathed out, tired, as her strong grip on your chin loosened slightly. “HYDRA doesn’t have you anymore. You’re home, you’re safe, milyy.” Darling, a simple pet name. Natasha was one to use endearments when she was about to kill you, though she’d say it condescendingly. She didn’t say it so supercilious this time, her voice genuine and true. Concerned, worried, everything but patronizing. She didn’t sound like she was going to hurt you.

You felt your body relax underneath her, an old instinct that caused your heart to start hammering in your chest with confused fear. You wanted so badly to believe her, to fall back into the safety net they were seemingly providing you. And you could see the hope crossing Natasha’s face when yours fell, your hard expression softening the longer you looked into her eyes. “‘Tash?” Your voice was low, fragile, cracking on a one syllable word as your pupils dilated in horror. What was HYDRA’s play here? You had grown used to the heartless, emotionless Natasha and Wanda, only having shown any display of affection for a few minutes before they ended the simulation with death. But it’s been longer than just a few minutes.

She heard the terror in your voice, her grip loosening almost immediately when she felt you relax beneath her, and you could barely hear Wanda’s soft gasp. The fire in your brain dwindled down; not a lot, but just enough to grant her another peek into the damage HYDRA had riddled you with. She was desperate to get more answers, to see more of the scars that were planted in your mind. And everything quickly came to an end when the bedroom door was thrown open. Natasha saw the moment your wide pupils narrowed, stressed with the sympathetic spurs initiated with the escape response, and Wanda pulled out of your mind with a sharp breath the second the roaring blaze came back to scorch her. Natasha had you, even for a split second, she had you believing that this was real, that she wasn’t going to hurt you.

You used your metal arm to throw her off of you, not reacting when she slammed into the wall behind you as you jumped to your feet. You made eye contact with Clint, who tilted his head at you in confusion. He was clearly questioning how you managed to get out of your cell, but he didn’t have time to say his thoughts out loud before you were throwing punches at him. He narrowly dodged your throws, blocking your human arm with his forearm, but not being able to do the same with your metal one. You pushed your hand against his chest, sending him flying across the room.

You had to leave, already knowing that you were going to lose this battle. The simulations were always rigged to end in your death, and you wondered what would happen if you went against that cliché. You were always abiding by their rules, staying on course with the silent requirements HYDRA had given you. You were the perfect little soldier, fearful that you’d receive an even greater punishment for rebelling against their games. But what’s the worst they can do?

You marched out of the room, stepping out into the hallway to be greeted with a few stray SHIELD agents. They didn’t seem too bothered by you, some of their eyes lingering on your fading form as you stumbled past. You felt your legs speed up, running down the hall as fast as you could, desperate to get away from here. Your heart pounding in your chest, your feet hammering against the floor, your thoughts racing as you ran. 

You knew there was no way you could get out of this. If HYDRA sees that you’re straying from the path, they’d probably pull you out. You haven’t tried it before, the fear and confusion kept you in check, but with the current softness the ladies are showing you, how long it’s going on, you didn’t want to hurt them. You just wanted to run.

When you turned the corner, your steps faltered to a stop when everything around you began to melt away. Your limbs froze in place, your jaw locked tightly as if something was hindering it shut. Your surroundings slowly changed, the shining, electric white of the fluorescent lights dimming into a soft, warm, yellow glow, the bright walls of the SHIELD compound evolving into dark walls, bricks falling apart due to lack of care. Your heart squeezed tight in your chest, your breathing erratic as your eyes looked around the room. You couldn't move your body no matter how hard you tried, the cackling laughter of the cold man you had grown familiar with bouncing off the crumbling walls. 

Chills erupted up your spine at the sound of his harsh voice. It caused you to clench your teeth as hard as you could as your eyes closed tightly in preparation for the inevitable electrocution. The same spark of energy that sends you on your way to the next nightmare induced by the man behind the voice. Fear rushed through you, your tight heart beginning to pick up speed to match the terror in your veins.

You were suddenly pulled out of the reality, a hand tugging against your elbow causing the dark room surrounding you to fade back to the SHIELD compound right before your eyes, frozen in the same spot you had last been. And in the motion of rapidly blinking, you felt a singular tear escape its prison behind your eyelids, sliding down your cheek. Long before it reached your chin, Natasha appeared in front of you.

"Y/N…" She said your name softly, fear hidden in the thickness of her voice only you were trained to hear. She was scared, too, but you couldn't understand why. "Please, Y/N." She was begging… for what?

HYDRA screwed up. The glitch that sent you back into the dark room was clearly unintentional. The simulation wasn't done, you didn't die. They pulled you out prematurely. This has never happened before. Yet it gave you everything you needed to know: this is, in fact, a simulation. And everything around you isn't real.

The softness Natasha's revealing to you in her green eyes is fake. It's not genuine. And you were angry you were tempted to believe it. Angry that HYDRA was showing you softness and kindness that never seems to be ending, the sides of Natasha and Wanda that made you feel loved. Angry that they were giving you a false sense of safety in a place that is the exact opposite.

It wasn’t until your name was being called behind you by a certain Sokovian that you had reached out and grabbed Natasha, knowing she wasn't going to let you through without another fight. You pulled her gun out from waistband as your metal arm wrapped around her neck firmly, the barrel of the firearm pressed against her temple. You turned around in time to see Wanda rounding the corner, skidding to a halt and holding her hands in the air, showing you that she was unarmed.

Natasha didn't struggle in your grip, though she did hold on tightly to the metal arm around her neck. Maybe she feared you would choke her, knowing now just how easily you could snap her neck just by flexing. She kept her eyes on Wanda, noting the panic-stricken look on her face. 

Wanda said your name calmly, moving to take a small step towards you, but immediately halting when she watched you force Natasha's head to the side by pressing the barrel of the gun harder against her temple. Her hands continued to be held in the air, showing you that she held no true threat.

"You don't have to do this." Wanda shook her head slowly, biting the inside of her cheek nervously. You readjusted your grip on the gun, your jaw locking in a tight clench. She watched as your eyes narrowed, almost cat-like, when she readjusted her footing. “Y/N, please, just put the gun down.”

There was a part of you - however small that part might be - that still wanted to love Wanda and Natasha even after everything HYDRA put you through, but this new game that was being played was really throwing curveballs at you. If this was the new type of simulation you were forced to engage in, how would you ever know if you truly escaped? How would you know if Wanda’s soft, sympathetic looks were real? How would you know if Natasha’s featherlight, loving touches were genuine? How were you going to be able to tell when they were going to turn dark?

“Look at me.” You hadn’t realized your gaze had slowly drifted off of Wanda until she spoke up to break you out of your thoughts. She was smart, having used the moment of distraction to move closer to you a few feet. 

There was a crowd gathering before you, you had come to realize. All the SHIELD agents you had passed had formed a wall behind Wanda, guns in their hands yet pointed at the ground on the witch’s command. Even Clint had appeared, having shaken off the quick fight and joining Wanda. Your heartbeat was rapid, your grip instinctively tightening around Natasha’s neck as you slowly took a step back. You couldn’t stop yourself from eyeing all the people prepared to shoot you on command. And, though you had suffered death after death after death in several of these nightmares, you had always done everything in your power to avoid it on instinct.

“Eyes on me, darling,” Wanda had ordered once again, even taking a step forward to gain your full attention. Your eyes snapped onto her, taking another step away with Natasha tight in your arms. “Loosen your grip, baby, please.”

It was second nature to follow Wanda’s command. The moment you slightly relaxed your arm, Natasha gasped for air quickly, desperate to fill her lungs with oxygen to breathe. Your eyes burned with unshed tears, red forming around your pupils as your jaw clenched once again to fight against the urge to cry. “Let me go.” You had said it, you know that, but the voice that came out of your mouth felt as if it didn’t belong to you. “We’re going to walk out. Nobody has to get hurt here.”

“Take me.” It was said without a moment of hesitation, and the look that flashed on Natasha’s face told Wanda that she was pissed. But, at the moment, it didn’t seem to matter to Wanda how angry the former assassin was. “We’re going to hunt you when you walk out of here, Y/N, and we’re not going to stop until you’re found, you know that.” She took another step towards you, but you mirrored it by taking one back. Her jaw was set, her eyes were focused, her posture was straight.

For the first time in your entire life, you couldn’t read Wanda.

“No, take me,” Natasha pleaded, shaking her head against your arm. “Don’t listen to her.”

Wanda managed to maintain eye contact with you despite Natasha’s contradicting begging. She was determined. “I can help you, Y/N,” Wanda continued and you tighten your grip slightly when you feel Natasha try to escape, pushing the gun into her head once you had come to realize that you were no longer holding it against her. She took another step closer to you, but you couldn’t get yourself to move any further back. “I saw some of the stuff they did to you. I'm more of a threat, right? Take me instead.”

You stared at her for a moment, biting down on the inside of your cheek. The determination in the green eyes, the tight jaw, the set stance; you were beginning to get frustrated that she wasn't easy to read as she was once before. You had always found it simple to tell whether she was upset, easier to know whether you should console her or not. But you knew she was right, she was a bigger threat than Natasha was. And if you had Wanda tied up, you'd be able to find a way out of this simulation. You'd be able to find a way out of HYDRA's hands. You'd be able to find a way home.

You sent her one stiff nod and, for a split second, you watched the strong-minded expression waver to a look of relief,  nodding her head confidently as she moved towards you in assertive strides.

“Wanda-” Natasha suddenly tugged against your arm in a desperate effort to reach her, but it caused you to snap out of Wanda’s mesmerizing eyes to remember the situation on hand. You kicked the back of Natasha’s legs, forcing her to kneel on the ground in front of you. With your hand gripping her shoulder tightly, she couldn’t go anywhere when you pressed the barrel of the gun to the back of her head. You looked down at the red hair, grown out longer with time. She was shaking her head subtly towards the witch, angry that Wanda was doing such a thing.

Wanda reached you, stepping to your side. She didn't dare touch you, staring at you carefully. “Y/N-”

“I have to do it.” Your finger pressed against the trigger lightly, sucking in a deep, shaky breath. “I don’t want to, but I have to.” You scoffed as Wanda chewed the inside of her cheek, looking at the side of Natasha's face with helplessness. “That’s what they want me to do. That’s the whole point of the system!”

“You don’t have to, Y/N.” Clint’s voice made you look up, seeing all the SHIELD agents behind him now aiming their guns at you. With Wanda no longer in control of the situation, they had all taken to the archer’s command. “This isn’t who you are. You love her, you’re not gonna shoot her.”

You met Clint’s eyes, eyebrows furrowing at the sudden spasm of pain in your bones when you felt your shoulder twitch in rhythm with the glitch that flashed across your field of vision, being aggressively reminded of HYDRA's game. You wondered why Wanda didn't move to prevent you from shooting Natasha, why she didn't move to kill you. She was only watching, her hands still slightly raised to show her innocence.

“You got me, Y/N,” she whispered. She was so hellbent on being taken as hostage, you couldn't help but wonder why. "There's no need for anybody to get hurt. Just let her go."

Your nose burned in accordance to the tears begging to form in your eyes. You were vaguely aware of the small, quick steps Clint was taking to get close to you. You knew his intention. Though Wanda and Natasha were taking it slow, showing you an extended soft side, you knew they could make Clint be the one to end that.

You had no other choice but to raise the gun up and aim it at the man you had once viewed as a friend. "Stop."

"I can't let you go, Y/N," Clint announced, listening to your command. "It doesn't matter what Wanda says."

"It's not up to you," you snarled, shaking your head. "Not anymore." You pulled the trigger, the sound of the shot triggering the flurry of bullets from the agents standing guard behind him. 

Wanda was quick to react, throwing up a red, translucent shield to prevent any harm coming your or Natasha's way, the bullets bouncing off harmlessly. You watched through the shield as Clint fell to the ground. You didn't show the regret you felt at the sight of your fallen friend, and you didn't show the relief that flooded through you when he moved to hold the wound against his shoulder.

If you wanted him dead, he would've been dead.

"Stop shooting!" Natasha's shouts were barely heard over the clangor of gunshots, resorting to waving her hands at the agents until they got the hint. You had taken a step away from her, aiming your gun down at her when she spun around to look up at you from her spot on the ground, her eyebrows creased deeply and you couldn't decide if she was angry or worried. "Y/N-"

"Don't." You shook your head. 

"This isn't a game, Y/N, this is real," she declared. "You’re going to kill someone and there’s no restart button. So, please, just-" She flinched at the sound of the gunshot, yet she remained unharmed. If it wasn't for Wanda, the red tendrils of her magic swirling around your wrist to force your arm to aim at the ceiling, you would've killed her. Your jaw was set, your eyes cold; she saw that you wouldn't have regretted killing her.

 "We're leaving, yeah?" She nodded her head in sync with yours, the red shield she was holding up evaporating as she took a step back.

Natasha watched you and the witch walk away, her body subtly shaking as she breathed out.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ও━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Wanda watched you carefully; you could feel her eyes burning a hole in the side of your head, but you kept your eyes focused on the car in front of you. Her expression - based on what you could see in your peripheral vision - was soft and understanding yet curious and wary. The one-handed grip you had on the steering wheel didn't go unnoticed by your companion, how the pressure of the taut grasp caused your knuckles to be bone-white, while your other hand - the metallic arm hidden by the sleeve of a sweatshirt - remained firmly in your lap, a loose hold on the gun aimed at her. 

"Y/N." Your head tilted towards her at the sound of her voice, but you refused to acknowledge her calling for you. She was soft-spoken, a light murmur in the air between you and her, and your jaw clenched tightly as you fought every instinct in your body. You wanted to look at her, to revel in that warmth showing in her eyes, but your head couldn’t fully wrap around anything but the fact that this wasn’t real, and it was only HYDRA’s mirage.

You knew you were going to have to switch cars, or start trekking on foot. Shooting Clint brought a huge advantage, if HYDRA wanted to keep that genuine feeling going, you were safe to assume that Natasha would seek him immediate medical attention before diving into the hunt for you, but with the GPS trackers installed in every SHIELD vehicle, they would find you relatively quickly; head start or not. You had to ditch the car.

“Y/N.” You finally tore your eyes away from the road to look at her, eyebrows scrunched in confusion. You met her gaze, the sparkle in the green irises never failed to make your stomach churn. You had to look away from her, looking back at the car in front of you. Why wasn't this car moving? Traffic in New York was always a nightmare, but it was never this bad.

"Why?" 

Silence. No response. Was it HYDRA trying to figure out what to have her say? You couldn’t help but laugh at the situation, shaking your head as you breathed out a heavy sigh. 

“Why what?”

You turned to look at her once more, your lips pursed together tightly as you silently berated yourself for always getting lost in those damn eyes. “Why are you not-” You cut yourself off, shaking your head as you chewed the inside of your cheek. There were a million questions running through your mind and you found it difficult to focus on just one of them. Why was she not killing you? Why was she being so cooperative? Why is she so soft and warm and patient? Why, why, why, why?

“I don’t know what you want, Y/N,” she responded cautiously. “I can’t read your mind.”

“I don’t want you to read my mind,” you quickly assured with a scoff. “I’m not going to let HYDRA play anymore mind games on me.”

“You let me in before.” She was whispering now, barely a mutter that reached your ears, but you heard her loud and clear. She watched your eyes narrow as your jaw set, your eyebrows furrow in distaste as you tilted your head to the side dangerously. She cleared her throat, knowing she should pull back from this conversation, but the desperation to reach the person you once were was stronger than any other instinct she had. The next words out of her mouth were louder, “It was you, me, and Nat. We were in… in a car. And, out of nowhere, you started to… strangle her.”

You didn’t think it was possible, but your jaw clenched harder than it was five seconds ago. Your head shook, water forming at the bottom of your vision, and your grip on the steering wheel only tightened. You wanted her to stop talking, but you were incapable of unlocking your jaw wide enough to warn the Sokovian.

“I was sleeping, but I woke up,” she continued, her eyes melting into yours, “and you… did whatever it took to stop me from helping her.” You remember, the sound of her bones breaking in your hand always managed to make you flinch.

You managed to choke out her name, a desperate plea for her to stop, that she had already said enough, and there was a moment of pause in her story. A hesitation in her next words as she looked at you, her shoulders slouching as she breathed out slowly. 

“But you couldn’t do it,” she muttered, sucking on her bottom lip for a moment. “You couldn’t kill her, you couldn’t kill me. They didn’t break you. Three years, Y/N, and you still won’t kill us.”

Your movement was quick, the gun in your hand aimed right in between her eyes in a heartbeat. “Won’t I?” Your chin trembled as you breathed in gradually, the click of the gun’s hammer reverberating in your head. Your hand was steady, but your heart was hammering in your chest at an unbelievable pace. Wanda remained quiet, the tension in the air suffocating you as you met her gaze behind the weapon. And when you looked down at her neck, you huffed in frustration as you brought the gun back to your lap, averting your gaze to the steering wheel. You were unaware of the relieved breath Wanda released as you smacked your palm against the wheel as hard as you could, ignoring the sting spreading throughout your hand. “Why are they doing this?!” Your voice strained your throat with how loud you had yelled. “I just want them to stop!”

You felt your muscles tense when there was a knock against the window, your head snapping towards the source and your grip on the gun tightened. Wanda was quick to position herself in the crossfire when she saw your finicky response, your eyes narrowing as you looked at the police officer over her shoulder. Wanda moved to roll the window down, ignoring the quiet word falling from your mouth in an attempt to deter her.

"Good morning, officer." You didn't need to see her face to know she was sending the man a friendly smile, the man bending down to peek into the car. With the way Wanda was positioned, though, he couldn't get a good view of the gun in your lap. And you were finding yourself grateful for the vehicle to have a set of clothes stowed away in the trunk, granting you a hoody and a glove to hide the arm you had grown to despise. 

How odd was it for a policeman to just walk straight into traffic just to knock on someone’s window?

"You two okay?" He glanced over her, making eye contact with you for a brief moment. You purse your lips together, sending him a tight, stiff nod. “I heard you yelling, thought I’d check in.” His face was compassionate when he looked at Wanda, but his eyes were analyzing when he looked at you. “Are you sure you’re okay, ma’am?” He returned his attention to Wanda, and it couldn't be any more obvious that he was staring at the bruise on her neck. You were sure the smile she was sending his way seemed to be forced; it really wasn’t looking good for you. You tilted the gun up a little more, lining it up with the man’s head just in case.

“We’re okay.” You looked away, tracing the car’s logo engraved on the steering wheel with your eyes as realization hit you. Wanda was no longer bad at hiding her emotions, lying to the officer so expertly. Hell, even you almost believed her. “Thank you, sir.” The man sent one last look towards you before going on his way. As Wanda rolled up the window, she asked, “What’s the plan here, Y/N?”

“There’s not much I can do in the middle of a traffic jam.”

“We’re not in traffic.” You could feel her eyes on you once again as you furrowed your eyebrows, picking your head up and looking at your surroundings. "We've been parked for twenty minutes." 

She was right, you had been sitting on the side of the street; no wonder why the car in front of you wasn't moving. But twenty minutes? Time was always wonky in the simulations, feeling as if only five minutes have passed when it's really been an hour. You weren’t presented with any way to keep track of time in this world, the clocks planted around were always off. You had given up trying to time out the simulations a long time ago, figuring it was no use. One could last merely ten minutes while the next one could last five hours. But this one? Well, this one seemed to be the longest so far. You just wanted it to end.

Wanda continued to watch you, relaxing back into the seat as your grip on the steering wheel finally loosened. You turned towards her once again, your lips pursed together in thought.

With your hand gripping Wanda’s shoulder tightly to keep her in check, the two of you marched down the streets of New York. Your eyes couldn’t seem to stay straight, inspecting each face you pass. It was typical for the amount of people out and about this early, making their way to work or school. You didn’t know where you were going, just that you were trying to get away. You had almost shot Natasha, killed her just like HYDRA has been training you to do. And if Wanda hadn’t gotten in the way of that, you would’ve pleased them. It’s all a part of their game. Wanda always saves Natasha. The Avengers always save each other. They never save you. And it’s just a matter of time before they accomplish what they’re programmed to do. You only had to beat them to it first.

“Where are we going?” Wanda’s head remained forward, voicing a quiet inquiry that caught your ears despite the loudness of your surroundings. You had no intention of answering her question anyway, risking a glance over your shoulder as you continued marching forward, but the gasp that escaped Wanda’s throat caused you to bring your attention back in front of you. “We’re sorry,” she quickly stated, feeling your hand grow empty when she kneeled down. It took you a moment, but you had realized that you had led her into bumping against someone, the briefcase in their hand unclasping open, papers spilling out onto the sidewalk. You couldn’t help but roll your eyes at the ultimate cliche HYDRA was hand delivering. They were stalling you, giving the Avengers more time to find you and end the simulation. This is what they wanted. They don’t want you to run, they want you to fight.

You had no patience for this, leaning down to loop your hand around Wanda's arm with the intention of pulling her to her feet. There was no point in helping the man pick up his papers, and it wouldn't do you any good wasting time offering him a hand. It wasn't necessarily your fault that he wasn't watching where he was walking, though it was absolutely your fault that you weren't watching where you were walking. You felt your body jerk along with the pain-inducing glitch flashing across your vision, catching a piece of paper on the ground transform before your eyes, the letters that formed seemingly boring words shift to display something you’d find in a file. It was your name that caught your attention, causing your jaw to lock tightly, bending down further to scoop it up, quickly scanning sentences despite the amount of redacted words.

The asset, Y/N, has displayed a fear of hurting the █████, specifically Agent █████ and █████. Dr. ████er has yet to show what she is truly capable of through the simulations. Don’t trust █████. 

“Y/N.” You came back to your senses, sniffling your dripping nose as you looked up. The business man held the opened briefcase towards you, waiting for your cooperation in placing the few pieces of paper you held onto tightly to the unorganized stack. You blinked away the burning sensation in your eyes, your eyebrows furrowed deeply as you slowly straightened your form, the other two following suit.

“Thank you,” the man said, still waiting for the rest of his work, though you could tell his patience was quickly wearing thin. You needed the rest of the papers. Though some of it is redacted, maybe there’s was something hidden amongst the mess HYDRA’s trying to hide, something that could tell you why they were doing this to you. The glitches in the simulation were causing them to lose their touch. They were revealing themselves. And this was your chance to get a step ahead of them.

“Give me the briefcase,” you expressed, ignoring Wanda’s curious eyes. The man’s face fell into confusion, his head tilting to the side as you used your free hand to reach for the case, but it was his instinct to pull away from you. He shook his head quickly, rejecting your command. “You’re stalling.”

“Look, just keep the papers,” he expressed, snapping the briefcase shut. “I’m already late for work, I have to go-” His voice immediately caught in his throat when you moved swiftly, reaching behind you to pull the gun out of your waistband, holding the case against his chest as he took a small step away from you.

“Give me the briefcase,” you said more slowly, dangerously. You knew you were being sabotaged, the man doing everything in his power to give the Avengers more time to catch up, making your large head start be wasted. “I don’t want to kill you, but I will.”

“Y/N-”

“Shut up,” you snapped, not bothering a glance at Wanda. “It’s a simulation. He’s not going to actually die. He’s not real.” Just like you. You breathed out, shaking your head. There would be no harm in shooting him, you realized. No, it isn’t real life. He wouldn’t actually feel it despite being programmed to portray pain. He would scream out in agony, fall to the floor and coddle his wound, but it was only a ploy to get you to feel bad. You couldn’t afford to be arguing with him over his briefcase, and the gunshot that echoed in your head caused everybody around you to scramble away in a panic.

Wanda gasped sharply when the man fell to the ground as you had predicted, clutching his bleeding shoulder as he shouted. You gestured for Wanda to grab the briefcase, your hand gripping her wrist tightly once she followed your command. You held the gun in your other hand as you continued down the sidewalk, pushing against the scrambling people as you reached the corner. You needed to think, and the screams of the pedestrians weren’t giving you the silence you needed to do that.

You looked around, trying to pinpoint exactly where you were. Knowing that if you knew your location, maybe it’d be easier to find somewhere to hide for a second. To give yourself a quiet place to think. But nothing was coming together in your mind, incapable of piecing it like a puzzle. You hated to admit it, but the past simulations seemed to be much easier for you. You weren’t on the run, desperate to try and find where the hell you were because they had placed you in similar places. The compound, the park, jewelry stores, banks. It was the same places scattered without pattern. Now you were in new territory, adventuring on your own. Why wasn’t HYDRA pulling you out? Were they - just as you - curious to see how far you could go? Or was this their way of finally breaking you? Giving you that small feeling of hope that you'd escape only to drop the hammer when you finally let your guard down.

You needed to get out of here. And to get out of here quickly, you needed a new car. Your feet were moving before you had time to come up with a plan, marching up to a car waiting at a red light and tapping the barrel of the gun against the window lightly. You opened the door before they could peel off, waving the gun at them as you ordered their vacancy from the car. “Get in,” you told Wanda, handing the driver the keys to SHIELD’s vehicle as you tucked your weapon into your waistband. You half expected her to run away, to use her powers to stop you, so you were surprised when she rounded the car to get into the passenger’s seat, placing the briefcase on the floor by her feet as you soon joined her in the vehicle. You didn’t bother waiting for a greenlight, veering off to the right and ignoring the honking coming from irritated drivers behind you.

Wanda watched you carefully as you drove down the street, shaking your head as you mumbled under your breath. Her eyes were gentle, and the desire to touch you only burned brighter with each second she watched you mentally struggle through your eyes. “You shot that man,” she expressed. “Y/N never would’ve done that.”

“He’s fine,” you quickly stated. He isn’t real. None of this is real. Nobody’s actually hurt. You needed those papers, and he wasn’t giving them to you. You had no option but to shoot him. He didn’t give you the choice. He was being stubborn, keeping the answers to the problem to himself, letting you suffer pure torment. 

Wanda watched your grip tighten on the steering wheel, your knuckles turning bone-white on your human hand once again while your metal arm seemed to have not flexed at all. Her eyes flickered to the side of your face, replaying that moment in the bedroom in her mind. If you wanted to, you could've ended Natasha and Clint easily with your new arm; just a heavy fist to their chest could crush their ribcage as if you were punching through water. But you didn't. You pulled back your attacks to spare them. As you had when shooting Clint. She knew your skill with a gun, the archer would've been dead in mere seconds if you wanted him to be, but you shot him in the shoulder instead. No lethal harm done.

But it still remains; you would've executed Natasha if Wanda hadn't gotten in the way.

Your head tilted to the side briefly as your jaw clenched against the sudden jolt of pain, a twitch spurred on by the glitch that crossed your field of vision, and the movement didn't go unnoticed this time. She wanted to reach out to you, to touch you, but she bit back that urge. "Where are we going?"

"Away." You wanted to get as far from SHIELD as HYDRA would allow you. They would pull the plug on you eventually, they have to. Especially with one of your missions sitting in the seat next to you, unharmed, untied, free. Maybe they just wanted to see what exactly you were capable of, knowing they were guiding the Avengers to your location with every passing second.

You couldn't get away from them no matter what you did.

"The bruise." You cleared your throat, sending a quick glance towards Wanda to confirm the discoloration was still plaguing her neck. It was. "Why is it still there?"

"It takes longer than a day for a bruise to heal," Wanda returned softly. She continued to watch you, licking her lips quickly as she added, "What can I do?" You risked taking your eyes off the road to briefly glance at her, your eyebrows furrowing deeply at her question. Not only was she not killing you, but she was offering to help you. 

"I need to think." You shook your head, your jaw clenching tightly as your thoughts ran circles in your mind. "And stop looking at me with those-" You huffed, looking out the window to your left briefly in an attempt to avoid her gaze. "Just… stop looking at me." You figured it would’ve just been easier to let them end the simulation at this point. The stress from trying to survive, from trying to escape, it was wearing you down. Everything up to this point, you always knew how it was going to end. But this world… you didn’t know what to expect. You were going in headfirst without any clue as to what you’re going to end up facing.

Wanda had followed your command, diverting her attention to the windshield in front of her. You couldn’t get your mind to process your surroundings no matter how hard you tried, feeling as if you were looking at an unfocused picture of the city. Your heart picked up speed once again at your incapability to point out any landmarks you should be able to recognize, nothing jumping out at you as you drove down the road. Were you even in New York anymore? 

“Where are we?” Wanda's head turned back towards you at the sound of your voice, pursing her lips together in a tight line as she watched you survey the environment, eyes frantically searching for anything that looked familiar. After all the years you've driven through this city, having memorized practically every building you'd pass, you were ultimately lost. "I just need to know where we are."

She tore her eyes off of you to look out the window. She knew where you were, having taken this route many times with you and Natasha, but she figured it wouldn't do any good to point out a random building and claim to know what it was. Your trust was wavering enough as it is. But, knowing what was coming up as you finally slowed down to obey the law and stop at a red light, she turned back to face you. "Take a left."

You sent her a wary glance, eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly as your thumb tapped impatiently against the steering wheel. She could hear the gears turning in your mind, most likely listing off the pros and cons of listening to her. Were you really willing to follow HYDRA's command so quickly? If anything, the entire logical side of your brain was screaming at you to do the exact opposite of Wanda's direction, your hand twitching to turn the car to the right instead.

When the light turned green - and way against your better judgement - you took that left. It wasn't until you drove down the street that you saw it, the large, abandoned warehouse that sat at the end of the road, clearly untouched for years. Your grip on the steering wheel went slack as the memory flooded through you, nostalgic with love and smiles.

"You remember?" Wanda's voice cut through your mind, bringing you back to the present. You glanced at her, the car continuing to roll forward. "This was our first mission after becoming official, just the three of us. You, me, Nat. We prevented an organization of inventors from creating a weapon that had the potential to destroy the city." You had to look away from her, that warmth in her eyes returning to lure you into yet another trance.

You were tired of falling for it.

"You had gotten cocky," she continued as you watched the building get closer and closer, "and you wanted to make it a challenge. Whoever incapacitates the most people wins." You could feel her eyes bleeding into the side of your face, your fingers flexing tightly around the steering wheel as the car came to a slow stop. "Natasha, of course, was game, but I took just a little bit more convincing."

"This proves nothing," you whispered, looking at her. 

"But the competition went a little sideways." She carried on as if you hadn't spoken, causing you to roll your eyes and turn away from her once again. "You got hurt, and my heart…" You remember it, the pain from seeing the tears on Wanda and Natasha was a lot worse than the pain from getting shot. But those were much, much simpler times compared to now. "Tell me this, Y/N" - the way she said your name pulled your attention back to her - "does HYDRA know that that was the day I decided I would do anything to save you and Nat?"

"Wanda-"

"Do they know that was the day my love for you came to be?"

"Enough."

"Do they know that I was an absolute mess when I was told you died three years ago?"

"I'm still dead!" Your jaw clenched so hard, you could've sworn you heard it lock into place. And then you laughed, a humorless, monotone sound. "At least it feels like it." You scoffed, shaking your head as you chewed the inside of your cheek, looking into those brilliant, emerald irises as the anger and fury flooded through your blood. "I'm not who you think I am and you're not who I think you are. This - all of this - is HYDRA mind-fucking me and I'm not going to play by their little rules anymore. The only reason you're still alive, Wanda, is because you look and sound like one of the women I love." Loved… but you weren’t ready to face that yet.

You saw the hurt flash in her eyes, her lips pursing tightly to prevent the emotion from showing on her face. And, though it was hard to witness, you knew it was just another play by HYDRA to deceive you.

You reached behind you, discharging the weapon and waving it at her. "Let's go." 

She breathed out slowly, bringing her bottom lip in between her teeth before she ultimately opened the car door and climbed out. She gripped the briefcase tightly in her hand as she walked around the car, meeting you on the other side only for you to gesture to her to keep walking. You followed her, the gun aimed promptly at her back. This was your game now, you controlled the outcome.

SHIELD had made quick work of clearing out the warehouse back then when the mission had been completed, and it has been vacant ever since as evident by the boarded up windows and dust covering what was left of the cheap furniture. Your body tensed as if you were being tased, another glitch crossing your field of vision granted you a brief look at what the warehouse used to be as if it was pulled straight from the deepest part of your memories, but you ignored it as you led Wanda through the main area and into the winding halls. Your eyes were searching, scanning the doors with faded stickers labeling what was what.

“Y/N-”

“Stop.” You huffed, looking at the back of her as she continued walking forward. “I didn’t take you to be nostalgic. I took you because you’re the biggest threat the Avengers had that was in reach.” Quite honestly, it was foolish of her to volunteer to be your hostage. Not that you were complaining, you just couldn’t help but question what the hell HYDRA’s deal is here.

She stopped walking, turning to look at you with her bright, sparkling green eyes. “I was going to say the manager’s office is right here.” She gestured towards the door she stopped in front of. “This is what you’re looking for, right?” You looked at the door, barely capable of catching the words on the ripped label, and you nodded as you gestured for her to enter.

The manager’s office was the only room in the warehouse that granted you a full view of nearly every entrance that led into the place, with the exception of the back door, but you recall it having been sealed shut a long time ago. The moment HYDRA decides to throw you another curveball and lead the Avengers here, you’d see them coming. You felt more in control here, rather than being placed with the team, they were being placed with you. And you weren’t going to let them win anymore.

“Open the briefcase.” You watched her set the case onto the old desk as you closed the door, her features contorting into confusion as she looked down at it.

“It’s locked,” she explained calmly, her voice soft, turning it around to show you the numbered dials on the front, securely locking it shut. She shook her head, looking down at it as she added, “I don’t know the password.”

Your jaw clenched shut as your fist tightened around the gun with care. You shook your head, stepping towards her. “You know it,” you countered. “Of course you know the code. It’s a simulation that you’re a part of! You're literally programmed to know!” You laughed, but there was, once again, no humor to be found in the sound. “Stop playing this stupid little game, Wanda, and just put the code in.”

She shook her head slowly, cautiously, and you pressed your hands against your head, feeling the cool metal touch of the gun and robotic fingers against your temples as your eyes fluttered close. “I’m sorry, Y/N, but I really don’t know it.”

Your hands clenched into fists as you removed them from your head, opening your eyes to look at Wanda. Her sudden ability to hide her emotions from you - displaying only a screen of smoke in her eyes to conceal what used to be an open book - bothered you. It made you grind your teeth in frustration, tucking the gun behind your back as you crossed the small office to reach the desk. She didn’t know what was going to happen, her pupils dilating in fear to the point where only a sliver of green can be seen, but you disregarded the brief moment of the open window to her soul as you gripped the briefcase in both hands. The metallic snap the case made when you broke it open satisfied the irritation briefly as you gripped the top paper in your hand.

You couldn’t stop the indent appearing in between your eyebrows when they pressed together at the irrelevant graph printed out on the paper. You shook your head, mumbling disappointment under your breath as you tossed the report to the ground and grabbed the next one, only for it to hold the same useless information. Nothing seemed to make sense to you anymore, your mind scrambling to find what you were looking for as you tore the briefcase apart, paper flying as you moved through it quickly. You lip curling in rage, fury boiling your blood as you threw the case against the wall, defeated.

You didn’t know what to do anymore. HYDRA had plenty of time to fix the mistakes and glitches that you had encountered from the time you saw it. You were never one step ahead of them as you were led to believe, they were always fifteen steps ahead of you. And the realization of that dawned on you, your shoulders slumping with exhaustion as you turned your back to Wanda.

Her eyes were glued to you as you took a few steps away from her, interlacing your fingers behind your head as a somber laugh escaped the back of your throat. “Y/N-”

“They sure do love their games,” you expressed. Your head shook as you turned around to face her, but you couldn’t look at her; she could see the vulnerability written on your face for the first time since the hospital room. The only difference between now and then, this time it feels more genuine. “I was never going to win. I’m never going to get out of this. I am never going to see them again.” Your lips pursed to form a thin line, your head still shaking as your arms fell back to your sides. “I’m just going to have to suffer this… these lies every day for the rest of my life. These fake versions of- of the women I-” You huffed, breathing out lightly as you took your bottom lip in between your teeth to stop it from trembling. And when you spoke, your voice was a soft whisper, "I just want them back."

She watched your form straighten, your eyes sparkle with another idea. And, for a moment, for a split second, she held onto hope. Hope that you had finally faced the truth that this is all real, and her lips twitched up into a brief smile. She took a tiny step towards you, her hand yearning to reach out for you, to hold you as you accepted the reality.

“You won’t kill me,” you conveyed. “HYDRA is- is…” Wanda’s hope faded away when you pulled the gun out, watching the barrel aim right towards her. She was frozen, eyes hard as she looked at you. You couldn't see anything anymore, having pulled up the divider to conceal her true feelings once more. Yet, even as your finger hovered over the trigger, you couldn't bring yourself to shoot. No, this version of Wanda was too similar to the real one, the one you hold dear in your memories. It made it more difficult to kill. So, with a shake of your head, she watched in horror as you pressed the gun against your temple. This was a change in the game they couldn't have seen coming. “I have to show them that I won’t play by their rules anymore.”

“Y/N, no.” She held her hands up slowly, her head shaking as she sucked in an uneven breath fueled by fear. She moved forward when your eyes snapped onto her, readjusting your grip on the gun as your finger pressed very lightly against the trigger. “Please, don’t.” Her voice was trembling, her hands held out towards you as she took small, wary steps towards you. “Don’t do this, Y/N, please. This isn’t their simulation. This is real. I'm real. If you shoot yourself, you will be gone forever. And- And I can’t lose you. Not again. Not like this.”

Your eyes were red with tears as you held up a finger at her, taking a step back. “No. No. I’m not going to fall for the softness anymore.” There was a thumping you could hear, muffled yet loud, and it took you a moment to realize that you could hear just how fast Wanda’s heart was beating in her chest. And, when you looked into her eyes, you noted that she had once again let go of that smoky screen in those green irises to show you just how truly afraid she was. “I just want it to stop, Wanda. They can’t control me if I don’t let them. And the only way it ends is when I die."

"No!" The way her voice strained in desperation forced you to freeze, your finger pressing against the trigger as her head shook rapidly. She took another step, small and stealthy, and you were too lost in her eyes to notice it. “There’s a voice in your head,” she started, her voice soft and gentle, “saying it’s all pretend.” You suddenly lost the ability to move, your limbs frozen in place, your breath shaking as it escaped the small part in your lips. Your finger poised on the trigger, tensing in preparation to finish the job for her, but there was something telling you to wait. To listen. Because the look on Wanda’s face screamed realism. When you blinked, she was closer than she was two seconds ago, her body mere inches from yours. “Please, Y/N.” Her hands were slow, moving to cover yours on the gun. You didn’t fight back when she gradually moved the weapon away, and you hated how easily you allowed her to take it from your hand, giving you no form of defense. No tool to end it. “Don’t listen to that voice.”

The clattering of the gun falling to the ground echoed in your skull, but you made no move for it. Instead, you leaned into Wanda’s touch when she brought your face in between her hands, her touch warm and light and it filled your veins with a burning desire to close the distance. “Wanda…” Your voice was small, weak, broken, and she smiled softly at you as your shoulders relaxed underneath her fingers. You gave in, allowing yourself to believe that this moment between you and her wasn’t a simulation conducted by HYDRA, that the Wanda standing in front of you was the real Wanda, the loving and gentle Sokovian you had fallen in love with.

She started humming, a familiar Russian lullaby that caused your shoulders to slump even further as you fell into a state of tranquility. It was an instinct, a second nature to move closer to her as you, for the first time in what felt like forever, permitted yourself to believe that you were free from HYDRA’s hold and was back in the arms of one of the women you love.

“I’m so sorry,” you whispered, incapable of bringing your voice louder than that in fear of ruining what was happening as your eyes averted to the dark bruise on her neck. You suddenly felt exhausted, your eyelids heavy as you blinked once, twice, three times before you found it suddenly difficult to open your eyes, pressing your forehead against hers. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay, Y/N.” Her voice, such as yours, was low. A gentle murmur in the space between you and her as she, too, didn’t want to disturb the moment with anything louder. She could feel her thumb catch a tear that rolled down your cheek, and she released a soft breath when she had come to the conclusion that she had done what she thought was impossible. “I love you so much.”

Your mouth formed the sentence, having the simple three words that held a deep, personal meaning on the tip of your tongue. Your lips brushed against hers, and everything inside your body wanted to give in to the feeling, to feel her soft, warm lips against your own, but it all ended way too soon when you heard the approach of a car, tires rolling against the broken asphalt just outside the doors. Your eyes snapped open, removing yourself from Wanda as you marched past her, stepping up to the window in time to watch Natasha enter the warehouse. Most of the Avengers soon followed, a few random SHIELD agents sprinkled in there as well. Anger was quick to seethe your blood, obliterating away any inch of softness that you had allowed in. Your fists clenched tightly by your sides, your teeth grinding harshly as your jaw locked. It was a trap. And you were, yet again, fooled by HYDRA.

“Y/N-” Wanda gripped your arm from behind you, but you were quick to throw her off. You didn’t flinch when her body flew into the wall, and you didn’t bother checking on her unconscious form as you stormed out of the manager’s office with a brand new agenda.

If HYDRA wanted you to take out the Avengers, then you were going to take out the Avengers. 

“Spread out into groups,” Steve declared, releasing an irritated grunt when he saw that Natasha had already gone off on her own. “We pinged Wanda’s phone to this location, so they have to be here. Don’t separate.” Steve turned, watching as Clint and Tony went off on their own, a couple of agents following them.

The shadows had grown to become your friend, not just from your time in the simulations produced by HYDRA, but as a SHIELD agent in the real world, too. It allowed you to hide, blending into the darkness to near perfection, fooling whoever walked by in the hall as you pressed yourself against the wall. Your breathing was slow, your heartbeat steady, and your footsteps were silent as you slunk into line behind them, gradually advancing like a tiger hunting its prey. Your arms wrapped around the nearest agent the moment they were at arms length, your hand clamping over their mouth as you dragged them into the shadows before the other two could notice your arrival. They struggled in your grip, their heart beat loud in your ears as terror engulfed them. Your eyes were glued to the wall across from you, allowing your mind to drift as your hold on their throat tightened. Your jaw clenched, and it wasn’t much longer that your heart was the only thing beating in your ears as their struggle came to a complete stop.

Their body fell to your feet as your hold on them loosened gradually, a breath parting your lips as your head slowly turned to where Tony had gone. Your mind swam, foggy and disoriented as you felt the moment you fully accepted your role in this game. Pawn, asset, machine, killer. The new fist of HYDRA. You were to be whatever they wanted, to do whatever they needed. It finally clicked inside of you, snapping into place as you had grown tired of being pulled into the pits of love only to be deceived over and over and over again. 

Your strides were confident, quiet. As strong as an ox yet as sly as a fox. You closed the distance between you and the second agent, pulling her out of sight just as Tony turned around. He found that he was alone, doubling back as he searched for not only you, but his small team. You could feel the bone in her neck crack underneath your hand, making quick work of this agent, forcing Tony to stop dead in his tracks as the fallen agent collapsed into view. His heartbeat was off the charts as you stepped over the body, into the dim light when he grew closer, slowly turning to face the billionaire. You could hear his breath catch in his throat when he looked at you, his hands raised, stripped of any weapon, but you were too smart, knowing Tony Stark had more than a few tricks up his sleeves.

“Y/N.” His voice was steady despite the raving party in his chest, and he took a small step back as you walked towards him. It was typical for Tony to have his usual carefree and overly confident self in these simulations, but right now? Fear, that’s what was covering his face. You had assumed he was filled in on the situation, the story told by Clint and Natasha in what had transpired in that hallway back at the compound, how quickly you had turned against them. “We can help you.”

Your jaw seemed to have been clamped shut, and you were forced to a knee the moment your body tensed at the strong glitch crossing your field of vision, a mirage of colors blending together on the screen of a TV with bad reception. The walls around you changed, fading into the familiar dark-colored bricks crumbling with time, the laughter of the man without a face ringing in your ears. This gave Tony the chance, a tap of his wrist and his hand was covered in his Iron Man armor, the reactor on his palm glowing when you were suddenly thrown back into the computerized world, picking your head up to look at the playboy.

“You’re suffering, Y/N,” he stated as you climbed to your feet, shaking off the temporary feeling of pain caused by the malfunction in the simulation. “I can fix that.” His head shook as you continued to close the distance, his lips pursed together tightly, but it was too late. You were already gone, and he could see that in your cold, dead eyes.

You barely got near him when you felt the invisible pressure of what felt like an eighteen wheeler crashing into you, your body flying back a great distance. A gasp made its way out of your throat, constricted as it seemed like your ribs were caved in by the nonlethal shock wave. You should’ve expected the retaliation, yet you didn’t and it only seemed to piss you off more as you climbed to your feet. Tony made his way to you, his armored hand held up just in case you needed to be blasted once more. A growl formed in the back of your throat as you looked at him, your hands clenching into fists by your sides.

“How about you eat a Snickers, Y/N,” Tony suggested, shrugging nonchalantly. “You’re clearly hungry.”

You breathed out heavily, frustrated. You knew HYDRA wasn’t going to go easy when presented with an opportunity to make your job more difficult. Taking Tony out would be simple if he didn’t have that damn suit protecting him, even if it was only a partial. You eyed him carefully, familiar with all the ways Tony had stored his suit on him, and it seems that he just came prepared for hand to hand combat, no suit required. After all, it was just you he was after, and he was always the over achiever. Maybe he didn’t come fully prepared in the hopes to get done what the others can’t.

“Your nonlethal tactics won’t work on me, Stark,” you stated. “Either kill me, or I kill you.”

He shrugged, contemplating the idea for a moment before ultimately denying your offer with a quick shake of his head. “I choose the third option. You come in quietly without anymore deaths and we get you the help you need.”

“So be it,” you calmly stated. You sucked in a deep breath before charing towards him, knowing exactly his reaction in this scenario. You didn’t get far before he blasted you away again, but as your body slid across the floor from the impact of the shock wave, he didn’t see you getting back up. 

Your body laid there, motionless. Not even the slight movement of your chest to signify that you were breathing, and he waited with bated breath, his eyes glued to you, for what seemed like forever before he finally made his way to your paralyzed form. His footsteps were hesitant, slow, and when he crouched down upon reaching you, his heart felt to be in his throat as he moved his bare hand to your neck, but it didn’t last long. The moment your eyes snapped open was the moment his heart dropped to his gut as your arm shot up, wrapping around his throat. Your enhanced limb caught his hand, crushing his suit as if you were clenching a dried leaf in your fist. You slowly climbed to your feet, forcing him down on to his knees as he stared up at you with pure terror in his dark brown eyes.

And, with the way your hand gripped his windpipe, he couldn’t make a sound as his hand succumbed to the damages your cybernetic fist was doing to his bones.

Steve, unlike Tony and Clint, had opted to go alone on his hunt. You figured he didn’t need them since he had the amplified senses a super soldier has to protect himself. You wouldn’t be able to sneak up on him, not with his boosted hearing, but it didn’t deter you to try. Attached to the shadows once again, your footsteps were quick and careful as you approached him from behind, but the way he was walking, casually, not as if he was seeking someone, you knew he was aware of your presence.

You stepped out of the shadows, making yourself seen in the light brought to you from the sun peeking through boarded windows in the hallway, Steve slowing his walk to a complete stop before turning around to face you.

The last you have physically seen of the patriot was before you had been converted to a HYDRA experiment, taken early on a mission under the premise that you were to canvas the area only for him to conduct a conversation about your happy relationship with the two redheads. That was the last thing you remember of him before waking up in a case molded to fit your body, trapping you in a nightmare you may never escape from. The ire swimming through you was stronger than you have ever felt, and you wondered if he could see that by the way he sighed.

“It’s been a while, Y/N.” The hand free of his shield rested on his hip as he watched you carefully. “Y’know, Buck… He went through the same thing you’re going through.” He couldn’t help but chuckle, a small smirk lifting a corner of his lips. Where he found the humor in the situation was beyond you. “He was brainwashed by HYDRA. They used him as their puppet, such as you. Now he’s living his best life up in Wakanda.” He took a step towards you, but you only continued to stare at him. “We can do that for you, too, if you let us. We can break you out of this hold they have on you and you can live your best life.”

Despite yourself, you couldn’t stop the eye roll from happening, a shake of your head as you, too, took a step towards him. “I was living my best life,” you confessed, a scoff escaping the back of your throat as your jaw clenched. “Now it’s changed, and I’m changing with it.” You started to close the distance, your legs gradually growing faster as he prepared himself for impact.

He got down on his knee when you were close, his shield going up just in time to stop the metal fist that would’ve blown apart his jaw, and the sound of metal against metal reverberated throughout the hallway. The vibration in the arm from the collision caused your whole body to shiver, but you ignored it as you managed to block Steve when he tried to use his shield against you. Fighting Steve would always be easier than fighting Natasha - the redhead had the agility the man lacked, capable of crawling around you like a spider. The only thing the patriot had to him was his strength, and now that you can now match that power, it was easier.

You had to wait for an opening, blocking his attacks as best you can, but he sure does know how to put that shield to good use. It wasn’t until you managed to get a good punch on his chin that you finally got the upperhand, becoming the one to throw the punches as he was forced to back up. You used the anger boiling in your body, letting it control how hard you hit as you drove your robotic fist into the shield as many times as you could. Though you knew you wouldn’t get anywhere, watching the dents form in the strong metal underneath your punches seemed to satisfy that anger you were feeling.

“Stand down, Y/N!” You could barely hear his voice over the sound, but you did hear and you didn't listen. Your efforts only became stronger at the sound of his voice, tears burning your eyes. Steve had no choice but to slowly lower to the ground the more powerful your punches became.

Steve's grip on the shield slipped, falling to the ground just as your fist connected to his jaw. You saw it, feeling yourself move in slow motion as you had just barely managed to pull back the force on the punch, but it still did a fair share of damage as he collapsed at the impact. You gripped his shirt in your fist, crumpling the fabric as you raised your arm. This would be a fatal blow, you had realized. The soldier was exhausted, all the fight in him seemingly gone, but it didn't feel as if your brawl with him lasted long. 

“We don’t have to do this,” he whispered. His cerulean eyes pleaded as he looked up at you, hoping to get through, hoping to pull what the others couldn't, but you saw right through his act. “I don’t know what they did to you, Y/N, but we can help.”

You breathed out, exasperated, releasing his shirt and moving to pick up his shield. As you shook your head, you hovered over him, gripping the guard tightly in both of your hands, holding it high above your head. “It’s too late for that, Steve.”

Clint would be an easy fight since his arm was suspended by a sling, a consequence of having a bullet go through your shoulder, and you couldn’t help but wonder why HYDRA wasted their resources to send the injured Avenger to hunt you down. Maybe they were giving you a second chance to finish the job, knowing exactly what you were doing when you shot the archer. Your aim wasn’t off, the through and through in his shoulder was intentional. At the time, you didn’t want to kill him, but plans change. This simulation is bound to be coming to an end in this warehouse, it was just dependent on whether you were the one to die, or you were the one to kill.

You followed the three of them from behind, Clint leading the two agents down the hall. And, unlike the agents following Tony, these two had their guns out and poised, ready to shoot when necessary. Maybe it was on Tony’s orders, figuring he was thinking he’d succeed in tricking you. It was unfortunate that he was wrong, but at least you satisfied HYDRA for the time being.

The eagerness to get out of this make believe world resulted in your heart to beat rampantly in your chest, knowing just how close you were to finishing the task at hand. It caused you to skip the stealth, wrapping an arm around the closest agents neck and ripping the gun out of her hand. You didn’t bother hiding when the other two spun around at the sound, Clint immediately stopping the second agent from shooting by putting his uninjured arm in front of him. You couldn’t help but laugh at that, recalling just how ready Clint was to end you not too long ago.

Plans really do change.

“What are you doing, Y/N?” His voice was steady, and you couldn’t really seem to focus on anything but your own heartbeat. “This isn’t you.”

You scoffed, furrowing your eyebrows slightly as your head tilted to the side, pressing the barrel of the gun to the agent’s temple. This was a little bit of a déjà vu moment for Clint, wasn’t it? For you? Well, you’ve been here before. Multiple times. Everything was déjà vu for you. “Why does everybody keep saying that?” You shook your head, leaning forward, and you could hear the agent in your arms whimpering lowly, scared. As she should be. “In this game, this is who I am. I believe it’s time for me to accept that.”

“This isn’t what you think it is,” he expressed, stepping towards you. “HYDRA isn’t here, they’re not controlling you anymore. This game you think you’re playing? It’s real life, Y/N, and everything you do today is permanent. There are no redo's. That man you shot on the street? This” - he gestured to his shoulder - “will always be there. And it’s your doing.”

“No.” You shook your head rapidly, your grip tightening around the agent’s neck. 

“Today is going to be on your conscience forever.”

“No, you’re lying. That’s what you do! You lie and lie and lie to get in my head and- and I’m not going to listen to it anymore.” Your arm seemed to have loosened, and the anger filling your mind distracted you from the agent in your arms, not feeling her reach into her pocket, not processing the click of a pocket knife.

“Y/N-”

“Shut up!” You released the agent in your arms to aim the gun at Clint, yet the woman was much braver than you had given her credit for. She didn’t hesitate to turn on you, driving the blade of her knife into your shoulder. Pain erupted through your arm, instinctively moving to shoot her instead out of revenge. The sound the gun made, it didn’t match that of a normal gun. It wasn’t loud, it was soft and high-pitched, muffled yet there was no silencer on the weapon. You eyed the gun in your hands more carefully, barely registering Clint ordering the agent next to him to run. This gun was nonlethal, you could see that by the lack of blood coming from the woman on the ground when you looked at her. But why was SHIELD suddenly being nonlethal? Tony’s pressurized shockwaves did no harm, and Steve was real quick to throw in the towel after only a few moments. And Wanda. She had multiple opportunities to kill you, yet she only ever closed that window when it opened.

Clint took advantage of your daze to move closer to you, his feet quiet and cautious. “We don’t want to hurt you,” he spoke up, pulling your attention to him. His footsteps halted where he was when you made eye contact with him, your eyebrows furrowed in confusion as the light gun in your hands suddenly became heavy. “We just want to help.” 

You grunted as you pulled the knife from your arm, and it fell to the ground as your body tensed, a glitch crossing your field of vision once again. The gun did not survive the clench of your robotic hand, crumbling to pieces to the floor, yet the fault in the simulation only brought you back to realism. This is what HYDRA wanted you to believe. Let Clint get close to you under the false pretense of safety only to be stabbed in the heart by a knife he was surely hiding. No, none of them had any intentions of helping. The only thing they were programmed to do was lure you into fallacious security only to kill you seconds later. 

Clint was an easy fight since his arm was suspended by a sling.

You’re not really sure what made you double back to the manager’s office, but you stumbled through the door moments later to find Wanda still laying there, unconscious. You released a heavy breath as you fell to your knees next to her, swiping away any strands of hair that was covering her face gently before moving your hand against her neck. You sighed in relief when you felt her pulse push against your fingers in a steady rhythm, instinct taking over you as you shrugged your jacket off, balling it up and delicately placing it under Wanda's head. Your eyes fluttered close with sudden exhaustion as you pulled away from her to sit down. Your arm still throbbed from the wound, and you knew that the only reason you were still in this simulation is because you haven’t fully completed the job. Not yet. You still had two targets in the area, but as you looked at one of your next victims - her closed lids could never hide what you know to be one of the most lovely pair of eyes you’ve ever seen - you couldn’t seem to get yourself to move.

Movement in the corner of your eye caused you to finally look away from Wanda, down to a piece of paper resting underneath your leg. You watched as the useless graph you saw earlier slowly changed to form words that held more meaning to you, snatching the paper into your hands quickly to read what you can before the malfunction is corrected.

The fear of hurting the ███rs seems to be becoming an issue. Having been given the chance to █████████, the asset remains hesitant in completing the job. While █████████████████, both Agents ████ and ███ff are shown to still be alive. 

Asset replacement is imminent.

Replacement? Your incapability to not kill your friends comes at a cost, it looks like. You should’ve guessed that HYDRA’s patience in your disobedience can only go so far. You weren’t the only asset, knowing your partners on your excursions at the more public settings were also from SHIELD, remembering some of their faces from the last real thing you experienced. 

You released the paper in your hand and climbed to your knees, desperate to search for more information. If your replacement was imminent, then you would have to start following HYDRA’s command. Although, death in the real world would be a better solution than having to endure these nightmares every day, but that left you no chance in escaping, even if the chances for that were extremely slim already. The next piece of paper you picked up, the letters on the page began moving once more, forming words that seemed to be more important to you.

Dr. ████ has reason to believe that with just enough time and patience, the asset will display ████████████. In that case, we will be able to release her and continue on with the mission at hand.

You could feel your heart stop at the word. Release. There’s a chance you could be freed from this nightmare? That you can go back to Wanda and Natasha. The real Wanda and Natasha, not the illusion that has been regulated by evil scientists. But would it be the same? How would you be able to tell the difference between reality and simulation? You couldn’t trust HYDRA, you couldn’t trust the Avengers. You couldn’t trust… them, even though the desire to trust them was strong in your heart, but your marred brain told you otherwise. 

Yet, just the thought of being untethered to these simulations was enough to get your stomach churning. And, though the objective has been redacted, you knew what you had to do to achieve freedom, but as you tore your eyes away from the paper in your hand to look at her, you still couldn't find it in yourself to move from your position on the ground. She was peaceful, content. Her eyes were being deceitful, her smile wasn't crooked, her words were laced with dishonesty. Her chest raised up slowly, down even slower, and you knew you could stay in this spot all day.

You had to move. You had to finish the job, it was one step closer to amnesty. One step closer to feeling something real. You knew that, once you were free, you couldn't go back. As much as your heart desires it, your mind holds the inadequacy to trust anybody. 

As you climbed to your feet, you glanced down at the paper in your hand one last time, and felt yourself freeze as the words on the page changed once again. You breathed out, watching the letters swim around, blurring together, before finally settling.

The final result made your blood run cold.

Her footsteps reached your ears before her presence reached your eyes, picking your head up as the paper in your hands floated to the ground. She stood in the doorway, her eyes glued to Wanda's unconscious form. Blood had appeared on the witch's face, though you were uncertain where it came from. You could hear her heartbeat falter as she stumbled into the room, a gasp constricting her throat as she fell to her knees. Her hands flew to her neck, and the relief that eased her shoulders upon feeling the pulse was obvious to you. 

It wasn't rare for Natasha to show this kind of love to Wanda - there have been circumstances before where you had almost achieved HYDRA's goal, causing the vigilant assassin to rush to the injured witch without hesitation, and the tenderness in her eyes would dissolve into sheer anger when she looked at you. You had expected it. When Natasha's head turned towards you, you braced yourself for the wrath. But when the softness in her eyes didn't fade, a thin layer of tears making the emeralds shine, you felt yourself fall into the pits of confusion. Was she not angry? Wanda was hurt - possibly even bleeding, you were still unsure about that - but instead of being peeved about it, Natasha looked at you with… forgiveness.

Another trick, you've decided. Why wouldn't the redhead be angry at you for hurting Wanda? How protective she was of the witch. It has always made you jealous to see such love in the simulations between the two women, seeking that kind of affection. How was it fair for them to hold the same intimacy for each other as they did in real life? 

You took a step back when she got to her feet, feeling your foot bump into something on the ground. You didn't need to look at what it was, knowing it was the gun Wanda had dropped earlier. 

The longer you looked into her virescent eyes, the more you felt yourself succumbing to the same hesitation that was mentioned on the papers. You couldn't shake off the feeling of adoration no matter how hard you tried to convince yourself. Your heart was winning this battle, it seems. Even if freedom was on the line.

Neither of you said anything, silence settling in the entire warehouse. You were waiting for her to make the first move - was she going to kill you? - just as much as she was waiting for you. 

"I don't want to play anymore," you found yourself whispering, and the way Natasha's eyes softened at your words tugged at your heart. You leaned down, scooping the gun into your hand and taking a step towards her. "Please." You held the weapon out to her, but she only stared at you, not even bothering to give the firearm a glance. "I'm tired."

She refused the gun, her eyes watching you carefully as her head shook subtly, such a minute movement. You had to really focus in order to notice it. “I’m not going to hurt you, Y/N,” she expressed softly, tenderly. This was the affection you had always seeked in these games you’re forced to play, but did it really mean anything if it was all fake? Forged in a dark room by scientists that worked for HYDRA, the sentimental endearment shouldn’t mean anything to you, it was all worthless when it comes down to it, but why did it make you feel whole?

“Please,” you tried once more to appease to who Natasha truly was at the hand of the evil organization, programmed to do what the real Natasha would never be capable of doing. Because, if she didn’t take the gun and kill you, you’d use it to kill her. There was only one way out of this simulation, you had no choice. “Shoot me.”

At least HYDRA got one thing right when mapping out this Natasha lookalike - she’s still as stubborn as all hell. Her refusal to do what you’re begging of her was starting to get irritating. Why were they making her so obstinate? It only made it more difficult to get what you wanted.

“Shoot me!” Her flinch at the loudness in your voice was suddenly, you overlooked it. You knew you could be as loud as you want; there was nobody to hear you, nobody left to lead here to save her. Almost everybody that had stepped foot into this building was gone, no longer a concern. You were so close to finishing the job, so close to pleasing HYDRA, and now, when faced with the ultimate challenge that held eyes that made emeralds jealous, red hair that ignited memories in your mutilated mind, and lips that you wanted to feel so badly, you couldn’t be the one who brought this simulation to a close. “Just shoot me!” Maybe you were wrong. Maybe - as the gun twirled in your artificial hand to face the redheaded beauty - you could be the one. “Or I shoot you.”

Yet, the spy stood her ground. Her jaw locked, her arms crossed taut over her chest, her eyes rock solid as she looked at you from behind the barrel of the weapon, she didn’t waver. She knew, just as much as you did, that your empty threats were just that; empty. And your laughter was solemn when your arm lowered.

“That little voice saying there’s still hope?” You tapped the barrel of the gun against your temple, scoffing as a somber smile stretched your features. “It’s lying.”

Her chin lifted slightly at your words, swallowing harshly as she eyed you. “I’m not going to hurt you.” And then she sighed, her tongue flicking out to lick her lips as she took a small step towards you. “I know you’re not going to hurt me. I mean, look what you did to Wanda.” She gestured to the unconscious witch behind her, your sweatshirt used as a pillow to support her head, yet the blood on her face still remained. How did it get there? “Deep down, Y/N, you still care about me just as much as we care about you.”

“Stop.” Your nose burned as your head shook, looking down and pressing your hands against your temples once more in a sense of déjà vu. You huffed, your heart banging against your ribcage. “Stop, stop, stop.”

“You either kill me,” she continued, blatantly ignoring your command, “or you put the gun down and we leave. Together.” Another quiet step towards you. There was a part of you that wanted to believe her, a part of you that wanted to take her up on her offer. To leave, to walk away. But you couldn’t. “Put the gun down, Y/N.”

Pain. That familiar feeling, like electricity pulsing through your bones, triggered by the glitch obscuring your vision for a brief moment. The walls around you dissolved, and your breathing trembled greatly with anxiety as you found it difficult to move. Trapped in your body cell once again, the familiar dark room of crumbling bricks and dull lights. Your eyes widened, and you tried to beg them for release, but the mask clamping your jaw shut made it difficult for anybody in the room to hear you. Your heart became desperate now, panic and dread causing it to become to your ribcage what a jackhammer becomes to cement. You wanted out, but your screams only died against the metal covering your mouth. Your squeezed your eyes shut tightly to hide the tears forming. And, though you knew it was no use, your body convulsed in a hopeless attempt to break free.

“No!” You could hear your voice now, but with your eyes squeezed shut, you didn’t fully process that you were back in the manager’s office. “Let me out! Let me out! Let me out!” Your cries tore against your throat, pure fear igniting the fight or flight response in your mind. “I don’t want to be here anymore! Please!”

“Y/N!”

“Stop it, stop it, stop it!” Your hands clawed at your head, tears escaping your closed eyes to crawl down your cheeks.

You felt fingers catch your wrists, preventing you from doing further damage to yourself. Your eyes flew open, bloodshot with tears as you met the soft eyes of Natasha in front of you. She sent you a smile, but it didn’t last long before you ripped your hand free to wrap around her neck. Another malfunction, it reminded you just how powerful HYDRA is. Freedom was on the line now.

You pinned her against the wall, her hands gripping your wrist as the tips of her toes barely scraped the floor. The softness in her eyes was quickly replaced with fear, and you knew exactly how she was feeling at this moment because you, too, were scared.

You couldn’t help but furrow your eyebrows when you felt the warm wetness coloring Natasha’s neck, tearing your eyes away from hers to look down. You could see the bright liquid in between your fingers, staining her neck a red color. Blood. But where did it come from? You weren’t holding anything sharp, and there was no blood on the assassin five seconds ago.

You found yourself releasing her, listening to her fall to the ground and catch her breath as you took a closer look at your shaking hand, eyebrows furrowed with confusion. You followed the red trail up your arm, eyeing the bleeding wound in your shoulder. Of all the things HYDRA has done to you, seeing your own blood was not one of them. Your breath hitched in your throat as you staggered backwards, moving your prosthetic fingers to touch the injury, and the pain you felt upon contact pulled a hiss out of you.

“This is real?” You looked at Natasha, wide eyes as she climbed to her feet. “‘Tash?” You felt a sudden wave of dizziness, swaying back and forth as the edges of your vision darkened. You fell to your knees, and the redhead was quick to join you. Her hands cupped your face, keeping your head straight so you could look into her eyes.

“It’s okay, milyy,” she said quietly, and you smiled weakly at the genuine affection, “I’m here.”

“I’m sorry,” you whispered, shaking your head. “I- I… killed them.”

It was becoming more difficult to keep your eyes open, but that didn’t seem to matter anymore. As darkness surrounded you, you could hear a high-pitched noise, soon followed by a jolt of electricity flowing through you.

And, as you slipped out of Natasha’s grip, the words on the last paper circled in your mind.

Don’t trust yourself.

[thenatashamaximoff]

Broken Love; Ch. 6

Summary: You and Natasha break up after finding out about her secret affair. Wanda’s there to comfort you.

Pairing: Natasha x Reader; Wanda x Reader

Warnings: mentions of cheating, death, blood

Words: 17,236

✎ | ❦

Please keep in mind that this is a reimagined version of Dangerous Love and it goes a completely different route. Please do not expect anything to be the same aside from the love triangle aspect. I hope you enjoy!

you do not have permission to repost/translate my work or claim them as your own.

soundboard: @tquick99​

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The brief hint of a smell that wafted through the air stirred her awake, a moan scratching the back of her throat as she realized that, soon, she'll have to open her eyes. For now, though, she chose to keep them close, enjoying the darkness that brought her comfort the light couldn't replicate. 

She was aware that her body was sprawled across the bed, her legs crossing over the unspoken line in the middle. It was nothing out of the ordinary for her to be laying like this, the freedom of being single and having a decently-sized bed was the ability to lay in it however you wanted, but this time was different. This time, she felt a sense of emptiness as her legs lay across the half-empty bed. Loneliness tugged at her heart when she swung her arm over to land on the vacant spot, and she finally opened her eyes to see the truth.

You were not in the bed with her.

Her stomach twisted with disappointment, breathing out heavily as she slowly came to terms that what had transpired last night was merely a dream. But you felt so real, the kisses, the touches, the moans and groans, the way you said her name in needy breaths. She could still feel the heat from where you had touched her; the softness of your fingers tracing a delicate line up her abdomen, the warm kisses trailing over her neck and across her jaw until your lips met hers in such a burning passion that it would've been on her mind for weeks. 

She groaned miserably as she kicked the blankets off of her, moving to put a pair of fresh clothes on before leaving the room. She paused when the scent she had thought she smelled earlier reached her strongly now, following it to round the corner into the kitchen. She watched you curse under your breath as you dug a spatula into a pan rather aggressively, a soft smile on her face as she let herself believe that maybe last night wasn't a dream. That it was real.

She walked the rest of the way into the kitchen, managing to hear the soft humming coming from you when you weren't busy cursing at the food in front of you. She chuckled lightly as you jumped when she placed her hands on your hips, stepping closer to you so she could place her chin on your shoulder. Her lips tickled your earlobe, your eyes closing and your head instinctively tilting to the side to give her better access, but she didn't go much further before her breath was brushing past you. "You're up early."

Your eyes flew open as she dragged her lips up and down your skin, a sheepish grin littering your face as you placed the spatula to the side to spin around, facing her and automatically draping your arms over her shoulders. The energy drinks you had at Tony's made it nearly impossible to rest, and she has yet to notice the obsessive cleaning you've done throughout the house to pass the time, having been still on the adrenaline high from the caffeine and the urge to kill Bruce Banner when, in reality, the only thing he truly did wrong was indulging in Natasha's experiment to find out if she still truly loved you.

You blinked that thought out of your mind, shaking your head subtly as you met Wanda’s eyes in front of you. "I'm on a mission today." You smiled proudly, confidently, as if your life wasn't slowly unraveling. "I have to be at the compound in about an hour."

She mirrored your smile, her hands moving to cup your jaw gently and all she felt at this moment was warmth. "Dr. Woods cleared you?"

You released a soft breath, chewing the inside of your cheek for a moment before subtly shaking your head. "Tony approved-"

She pulled away from you, her face pinched in concern. "Tony?"

"I went to Tony's house last night, asked him for a mission, and he gave me an easy one." You raised an eyebrow at her, tilting your head just slightly. The concern was expected, but you couldn't help but wonder whose side Wanda was on by the way she said Tony's name. "It's a simple undercover mission. An arms deal."

She pursed her lips together, a slight frown plaguing her features. "When is anything really simple in this life, Y/N?"

You could see the apprehension in her tight eyes, coloring her face in worry. You understood what was going through her mind. You weren't cleared to go back to the field, and going over both your therapist's and your boss's heads was just another sign that you weren't ready to go back, but it was done. There was nothing you could do to change it… and there's nothing you would do to change it. "Everything will be okay." 

You stepped towards her, wrapping your arms around her waist to pull her flush against you. What she needed right now was reassurance, something to let her know that it’s not as bad as she’s letting herself think. Tony was positive this mission was easy, and you trusted the billionaire with everything you had. But as your noses brushed against each other, your lips mere inches away from hers, you knew that your simple words of comfort weren't going to dent the worry she was portraying on her features.

"How about" - your voice seemed to refuse to go above a whisper, her eyes fluttering close as your breath fanned across her jaw - "I keep you updated every twenty minutes?"

"Ten minutes."

"Fifteen." 

Her eyes bounced back and forth between yours, skeptical, but it wasn't much later that you could feel her fall deeper against you, succumbing in the fantasy of your lips against hers. It was at this moment that she wished you could read her mind just so you could see the burning desire to lift you up and set you onto the counter in a moment of passion that would be shared only between you and her. But she had settled on teasing you instead, fighting against the hunger as she pulled back slightly when you moved forward to catch her lips with yours.

Her laughter was light, slightly relieved, when you pulled back to look at her with a pout. Your proposal seemed to put her more at ease. And you felt her shoulders relax when she finally gave in to the craving itching her needs, her lips pushed softly yet firmly against yours in a kiss that brought fire to your cheeks and explosions in your gut. She was quick to take your breath away in the moment of intimacy, ignoring the burning in your lungs as they pleaded for air. You were more than willing to faint, you decided.

Dizziness washed over you when she abruptly pulled away, seemingly having trouble opening your eyes, and you knew you definitely would've fallen if she wasn't holding onto you. But it wasn't until her body left you feeling cold that what she had said finally processed in your spinning head, "What's that smell?"

The smell of burning food reached your nostrils just before the smoke alarm went off right above you, turning on your heels in time to see Wanda drop the hot pan into the sink. She looked at you with a raised eyebrow and your lips instinctively lifted up into a wide, innocent smile. You cleared your throat, shaking your head as you raised your voice to be heard over the squealing alarm, "You're a very good distraction."

As she started to fan away the smoke in an attempt to silence the detector, a few heavy knocks could be heard against the rhythm of the alarm. 

"We can stop for breakfast on the way to the compound," you offered, flashing her a cheeky grin. You decided to ignore the interloper interrupting the moment and stepped towards Wanda in an attempt to help, but she only looked at you with a soft smile before ordering you to open the door. You sighed out, returning her grin before making your way to the door, but the smile didn't last long when you opened it, meeting the technological, cool blue gaze of Wanda's ex, "Vision?"

"Y/N." His eyes flashed over you in an attempt to steal a look into the house in hopes to catch a glimpse of Wanda, and he didn't seem to be too disturbed by the fact the smoke alarm was still going off. He didn't even question it when the squealing was cut off abruptly, engulfing the house into silence. "I'm here to see Wanda."

"She is still sleeping." It was an automated response, the words having left your tongue before you could even process anything. Despite having been avoiding him at all costs, Wanda could've easily changed her mind in talking to him. "Today is her day off, so I am letting her sleep in a little bit before I head out." You crossed your arms over your chest as if you were a bouncer guarding the entrance to a club, raising an eyebrow at the android. And even though you were putting on a bravado façade, you couldn't stop your stomach from twisting tightly with guilt. 

He made the noise of clearing his throat - you weren't really sure what he was clearing - as his eyes landed on your face. He seemed to have given up trying to get a peek of Wanda scurrying about in the house. "Did she tell you?" You couldn’t stop the confusion from crossing your features; a quirked eyebrow, pursed lips, eyes focused intently on his face. He could probably hear how hard you were making your brain work, trying to look past all the things that have happened to find the last interaction with him, but you were only coming up blank. “Did you find out why she broke up with me?”

That little feeling in your gut, the one guilt was wringing like a wet towel, it was only coiling tighter and tighter the longer Vision looked at you with those warm, analyzing eyes. How were you supposed to tell him that the reason Wanda broke up with him is because of you? How were you supposed to tell him that the only reason she didn’t answer the door last night was because of you? How were you supposed to tell him that you’re the reason she’s avoiding him? This, to you, should be considered a crime. The guilt wrenching your stomach was almost equal to the remorse you felt when you had accidentally killed Kyle, your fellow SHIELD agent.

And with only a few more words, you managed to make that feeling so much worse, “No, she did not say anything to me." You could've sworn you saw a brief moment of hurt flash across his face, the way his artificial eyebrows furrowed. You knew exactly how he felt, losing someone you loved for a reason you didn't know. And, if history tracks, he'll find out eventually.

You just didn't want to be the one to break it to him.

"Look, I have to go to work," you expressed, pulling the robot out of his thoughts. He made eye contact with you and you can now officially compare the guilt to a knife being twisted in your stomach. 

But as you stepped back to close the door, he threw a quick question out into the air between the two of you, "Can I talk to her?" He seemed to choose to ignore your statement, putting his hand out to stop you from locking him out.

All he wanted to do was talk to her, to understand why. You couldn't relate to that. Even though you wanted to know why Natasha cheated, you couldn't bring yourself to face her to get the answers you sought. Vision had more bravery than you did, that's for sure, but Wanda was a different story. She needed to match that courage in order to tell Vision the truth. The band-aid needed to be ripped off without hesitation, though, just like you, she was hesitating. And you didn't blame her because the knife of guilt surely would've killed you if it were real just by looking at him.

"Sorry, Vision, but I'll have her call you when she can." You pushed the door closed, releasing a heavy breath as you turned to look at Wanda.

She was still in the kitchen, leaning against the counter as she stared at you, but her eyes seemed to be looking past you. You could see the expression on her face, pensive as she chewed the inside of her cheek. You wished you could read her mind, to know what was racing through her thoughts, but you had to go about it the normal way.

You took a step forward and your movement caused her to snap into focus, the green emeralds melting into your eyes as she sent you a soft, weak smile. "What did he want?" She heard the conversation, she knew the answer to her own question, you were aware of that. The cracks in her smile told you she did, but you didn't know if she was relieved you subtly turned him away. She felt just as bad about the situation as you did, maybe even worse. She's the one breaking his heart, after all.

"He wanted to talk to you." You wanted to look away, the instinct to look anywhere but her during this awkward conversation swarmed through your veins, but the softness in her eyes kept you in place. You couldn't break the locked eye contact even if you tried. "You can't keep avoiding him."

"I know."

"You have to tell him, Wanda." You took a small step towards her and coldness ran through your body when she looked down at the counter, ultimately doing the exact thing you thought you wanted; break eye contact. But now that it has happened, you just wanted her to look at you again. 

You wondered, if you hadn't had the guts to kiss her that day, if she would still be with Vision. It was safe to assume she would've been, she had no reason to break it off with him. You were the reason they got together, is it fair that you're the reason they broke up?

"If I hadn't kissed you-"

"Don't."

You chewed the inside of your cheek nervously, looking down as she picked her head up. You could feel her eyes on you, staring a hole through you with her steely gaze. You wouldn't be able to say what was on your mind if you were looking into her eyes. You continued as if she didn't interrupt you, "You two would've been fine."

Now that you managed to get that out into the air, you lifted your head up to look into her eyes. Her expression was clear of any emotions, it was hard to read exactly what she was thinking, but you didn't really know if you wanted to read into her thoughts. "Do you regret-"

"Absolutely not." It was an answer based on the assumption that she was going to ask if you ever regret kissing her, but the way she took her bottom lip gently between her teeth told you that's not what she was going to ask.

"You had just found out that Nat was questioning her love." She shifted her weight, placing her hands on the island in front of her. Her tongue flicked out to wet her lips as she took a second to form the way to phrase the words building on the tip of her tongue. You stared at her cautiously, wondering where she was taking this question.

Your assumption was wrong, and you could feel the tension building between the two of you quickly. The level of comfort you had always felt with Wanda - the closeness, the connection, the relaxation - was seemingly crumbling apart. Did you just ruin the best friendship you've ever had?

"Do you regret what happened last night? Between me and you." Her fingers fidgeted together nervously, awaiting your answer, and you knew that she would've already been reading your mind the second her voice reached your ears if she hadn't made that promise with you. "You were vulnerable." 

Your eyebrows pinched together tightly as she looked away in embarrassment, her shoulders lifting up as she breathed in deeply. Your legs were moving before your mind settled on a decision, making your way to the kitchen to stand next to her. The desire to reach out for her was almost impossible to fight against, but the lingering fear that'd she relent and pull away from your touch was what deterred that urge. Instead, you leaned your hip against the counter and watched her carefully, wondering what it was she wanted to say.

"I brought you home and you were upset," she continued and you could feel the moment your face relaxed with realization. "It was in the heat of the moment when you kissed me. You were all pumped up on adrenaline and I should have stopped you, but-" You gave in to the urge, stepping closer to her as your hands flew to her shoulders to make her face you. You saw it, why she was hiding her face; tears covering her eyes in a fine layer of gloss. She was more than embarrassed. She had a feeling that she had done something wrong.

"Hey." You could feel her shoulders relax underneath your hands at the sound of your soft voice, a deep sigh blowing through your nose as you shook your head at her. Your hands raised to cup her face, and she didn't hesitate to gently wrap her fingers around your wrists. "I don't regret anything, Wanda." Your thumbs moved on their own accord, stroking her cheeks as she leaned into your touch. You moved forward, resting your forehead against hers. "I'll show you. Watch."

You both closed your eyes as she delved into your mind, allowing herself to see what you had wanted to show her.

For her, it was a different perspective from last night, the car ride home spent in absolute silence as you fumed with rage in the front seat. She watched as you snuck a few peeks her way when she was focused on the road, but it wasn't until she had spoken up that you had fully turned your head to look at her. "Are you hungry?"

You leaned against the car door, resting your forehead on the cool glass. The anger that you had been feeling evaporated into exhaustion, Wanda felt that as she watched the moment through your mind. "I just want to go home, Wanda." It was a different tone than what you had used earlier that day, harsh and icy, ultimately deterring Wanda from pushing you this time. She continued heading home, guiding you further and further away from the compound. 

You could see her glance at you in the corner of your eye, and you sighed as you picked your head off of the glass.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you."

She pulled the car to a stop at a red light, taking the opportunity to fully look at you. Her lips formed a thin, tight line as she desperately memorized your features. "It's hard to process. The two of you were together for almost three years. It's not something that you can get over so quickly."

"She questioned her love for me and lied," you had expressed, turning your head to meet her gaze. “Maybe she had the right to."

“What makes you say that?”

You looked away, staring out of the passenger window. “Can we just sit in silence?”

“You’re worth loving,” Wanda expressed, pulling your attention back to her. You looked at her, eyebrows slightly furrowed as you breathed out softly. “You’re worth it all.”

“I’m not worth it to her.”

She perked up, her lips parting open slightly as her tongue pressed against the roof of her mouth in an attempt to say something in return to your comment, but you were both pulled out of the mesmerizing eye contact when a car honked behind you. She didn't hesitate to drive forward, rushing through the green light and pulling onto the familiar street where home resides. Whatever she had to say, she kept it to herself.

You had your door open before she had the chance to put the car in park, stepping out of the barely moving vehicle and making your way to the door without a glance over your shoulder. Wanda was quick to follow foot, you remember hearing the car's engine stop and the car door slam shut. You remember hearing footsteps chasing after you as you entered the house and the feeling of heat that lit up your cheeks when you felt her hand grip your wrist tightly. She pulled you to a stop, though you really didn’t know where you were even going. The house isn’t big, and you didn’t have a bedroom to hide in.

Wanda tugged your wrist, causing you to turn around and face her. All the anger you felt, all the rage and fury that was coursing through your veins seemed to have died down the moment you looked into her eyes. The softness depicted in the smaragdine irises, you could feel all the hatred float out of your body. The words of hostility that were forming on your tongue seemed to have been caught in your throat as her hand released your wrist, but it had only left you wanting more of her touch.

“Why-” It seemed like you weren’t capable of saying anything in general, whether it be sad or bitter. “Why would she lie, Wanda? Why doesn't she love me anymore?” The tears formed in the brim of your eyes, forming to turn your vision into a blurry pool, and it made Wanda rest her hands on your shoulders in preparation to pull you into a hug. Despite the number of energy drinks that you had drunk at Tony’s less than an hour ago, you could feel everything in your body shutting down. The adrenaline, the caffeine, all of it leaving your system as the sadness and pain you felt towards this new revelation took over.

And the longer you looked Wanda in the eyes, the longer she held onto you, you knew exactly what you wanted. So when you moved forward, when you pressed your lips against hers desperately, you could feel the adrenaline return. The sparks lighting up in your stomach, the fire forming in your chest, you only sought more as you moved closer to her, pressing your body flush against hers as you succumbed to the desire scorching your veins. And it was the fact that Wanda wasn’t doing anything to stop you that pushed you further, reluctantly breaking the connection between you and her to slightly pull back. You opened your eyes to look at her, instantly being brought back to the present to meet her gaze.

“I don’t regret anything.” You smiled at her, shaking your head softly. Your lips blazing with the sensation from the memory, your eyes quickly flickering down to hers. “You’re exactly what I wanted.”

She straightened her form, making herself seem taller as her eyes darkened. A small smirk tugged against the corner of her lips and you could already feel yourself want to bow down to the woman in front of you. She didn't open her mouth to say anything, she didn't need to. Just her stepping closer to you, running her nails gently up your arm, had you leaning forward to make that blazing sensation a reality. But when your lips grazed against hers, she laughed lightly as she pulled away just enough for you to miss the kiss. You chased her as her arms wrapped around your waist to bring you closer to her, and she moved swiftly to brush her nose against yours. The words that came out of her were a hushed whisper, a smile toying her lips as her breath fanned over your jaw, "What time do you have to be at the compound?"

You hummed, tilting your head in an attempt to catch her off guard to achieve the kiss, but she was quicker to dodge you with a laugh. You didn't bother glancing at the clock before you said, "Forty minutes."

"Plenty of time then." The grin that had formed on her lips didn't last long before she finally gave you what you desired, pressing her lips against yours fervently. The moan that built up in your chest was incapable of being controlled, groaning into her with desperation. She laughed, pulling away slightly as her hand moved to wrap around your wrist lightly.

And as she began to tug you back towards the bedroom, you had managed to forget all of your worries as you closed the door behind you.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━❦━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

You felt lighter as you walked through the doors of SHIELD, a wide smile on your face as you made your way down the halls. You happily greeted anybody who spared you a glance, turning down corners until you had the conference room located in front of you, but you couldn’t take another step before your path was blocked. You made eye contact with Steve, a wide smile plastered on your face as you told yourself that not even he could manage to bring you down today.

“Good morning, Rogers,” you addressed cheerfully, crossing your arms over your chest. You already knew he was aware of your new mission by the look of annoyance on his face. He held onto his hips with a raised eyebrow as he was silently questioning the happiness you were showing. He was clearly trying to figure out if it was a ruse, something that’ll deter him from questioning if you were able to do a mission or not. Either way, you didn’t have the therapist’s approval to do any missions, so he was going to attempt to take you off of it. 

You weren’t going to let him.

“Got any missions on the board today, boss?” You sent him an overly friendly smile, beaming with happiness as you playfully punched him in the shoulder. He wasn’t having any of it.

“Just yours, apparently.” His voice was surprisingly gentle for someone who looked so angry, and he had the right to be. You had gone right over his head, requesting a mission from your other boss after your many failed attempts to convince him. “You’re not ready.”

“I am ready. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m running a bit late.” A bit was an understatement.

“Not according to Woods.”

You only smiled at him, shaking your head nonchalantly as you laughed lightly. “Come on, Rogers, I’ve done missions after far worse. Like Washington. I did the masquerade mission immediately after the whole mess in Washington. And who assigned me that mission, huh? You-”

“You didn’t kill a friendly at the masquerade.”

How could you have been so wrong? Steve Rogers could bring your mood down despite having been so happy two seconds ago. You could feel the smile slowly evaporate off of your face, having been replaced by the same expression you’ve been holding since finding out about Natasha’s affair. This had to have been a record for Steve, ruining your mood with only a minute conversation. “Thank you for reminding me, Steve.” You had allowed yourself to live in blissful ignorance, forgetting the fact that you had killed your fellow SHIELD agent, and remembering that caused every other thing to come rushing back at you. Natasha’s affair, the Washington mission, the questionable love confessed by your ex. How was it that only just a few words managed to tear down your illusion so quickly?

“I didn’t remind you because I wanted to, Y/N,” he countered. “I brought it up to prove that you’re not ready.”

“It doesn’t matter what you think,” you snapped, your eyes narrowing as you met his baby blues, “I’m doing this mission whether or not you or Woods want me to because you didn’t assign me this mission. Tony did. And, last I checked, Tony is the boss just as much as you are.” You pushed past him, making your way to the conference room where your small team awaited. You could feel his eyes on you as you stormed away, your jaw locked tightly with anger.

By the time you got into the room, the rage you felt was fully portrayed on your face. If you were in a cartoon, you would be absolutely positive there'd be steam coming from your ears. Maybe even a train horn for added effect. You no longer had the patience to sit through this debriefing, never mind lead it. 

You paid no mind to your team, marching up to the end of the table and scooping the file into your hands. But when you looked up, blindly spreading out the papers onto the table in front of you, you felt all the anger evaporate out of your body upon making eye contact with a fellow agent; the way one of his eyes were severely swollen shut, bruises peppering his skin, his busted lip. You saw the look of a broken kid in his eye before he quickly looked away in shame, feeling your heart pick up speed as you slowly averted your gaze to the papers below you, reading the names of the agents on the mission. Tim Sanders. The name was so familiar, you could feel it on the tip of your tongue. And the feeling of shame at the sight of his beaten face seemed to be a subconscious thing, though you didn't know why.

"Are you going to debrief us?" Your eyes snapped up towards the second agent, Moffitt. He was an older fellow, more of a seasoned agent compared to the younger, beaten one sitting next to him. 

"Right." You cleared your throat, taking a seat as you scrambled to fix the papers. “The, uh… The mission should be simple.” You ran his name over and over in your head, trying to place exactly where you know it from. The lack of sleep seemed to be starting to get to you, ultimately regretting the absurd amount of energy drinks you had shared with Tony. You wondered how he was doing, if he was still having a breakdown over not being able to protect the world from every little bit of crime. You couldn’t help but feel bad for the man, knowing what he’s been through, but you didn’t have much more time to relish it when the door opened. 

You watched in annoyance as Steve strolled into the room, his hands on his hips as he stopped at the end of the table. “The car’s waiting to go,” he announced, looking towards Moffitt and Sanders. “We can finish the debriefing in the car, we’re running late.” Your eyes remained on the patriot as the two agents marched out of the room at his command, waiting for him to meet your hard gaze. He gestured for you to leave as well, but when you only crossed your arms over your chest and stood your ground, he released a sigh. “What?”

“You’re not on this mission,” you told him. “What are you doing?”

“I changed a few things around.” He mirrored your stance, crossing his arms over his chest to stand his ground as well. “I’m joining your mission to keep an eye on things.”

“You mean me,” you corrected. And, by the way his jaw tightened and eyes narrowed, you knew you were right. He knew exactly what he was doing when he changed a few things around. “I don’t need a shadow, Rogers, I’m perfectly capable of handling this mission.”

“Then you shouldn’t mind me tagging along,” he countered. “I won’t step on your toes, Y/N, I’m only here to make sure things don’t go south again.”

“I’m in charge.”

“You’re in charge.” He smiled at you as he agreed with your statement, nodding his head for you to follow him, but you stayed put as he walked away. You pulled out your phone to send a quick text to Wanda, having decided to set a timer to remind yourself to remember your compromise. The only way to get her to not worry was to send a message every fifteen minutes so she knows you’re okay, and you had wished you’d find something like that for Steve to get him off of your back.

But it was possibly even more simple than shooting a text every fifteen minutes. If this mission goes smoothly - which it should - Steve would see that you’re capable of doing your job again. He might lift the suspension, grant you full permission back to the compound. Give you more missions. You had felt like you were in a classroom with the principal watching your every move, and you couldn’t let that feeling get to you. Yet there was something in the pit of your stomach forming with Steve’s words. What, exactly, did he change around to be here? He had said your operation was the only one today, and you weren’t aware of any strings being pulled for yours. You would know, being the mission leader and all that.

“So, what’s the mission, boss?” You sat next to Steve in the passenger seat, sending him a glare which he completely ignored. His eyes remained on the road, his face free from any emotions. You’d think he would’ve spent a bit more time reading up on what you were doing rather than just jumping head first, but it’d make sense if he was desperate to catch you before you left.

“We’re just stopping a simple arms deal,” you told him, averting your gaze out the windshield. “Moffitt’s the backup, Sanders’s the tech guy, I’m the voice, and you-” You cut yourself off, turning your head to look at him. You pursed your lips together tightly, noting his recognizable features. “Well, you get to stay in the van with Sanders.” You smiled widely at him as he glanced at you, immediately shaking his head.

“Not happening.”

“It’s an undercover mission, Rogers, and you really don’t think these people wouldn’t recognize the Captain America? Come on, criminals like these are pretty stupid, but they’re not that stupid.” You scoffed, shaking your head. “We either stop to get you a disguise, or you stay in the van.” You smacked his shoulder with the back of your hand, grinning at him as you added, “Maybe you could learn a few techy things from him.”

“We’re stopping.”

“Unfortunately, we don’t have time,” you told him. “The deal’s in, like, ten minutes and we’ll just be getting there, and… you’re already pulling into a convenience store.” You groaned in annoyance as he parked the car, pinching the bridge of your nose in between your fingers as he opened the door and hopped out. You stared at the keys in the ignition, contemplating on whether or not you should just leave his ass, but ultimately decided to pout in the passenger seat instead.

“So, if you look like that, what does the other guy look like?” You perked up at Moffitt’s question coming from the back of the van, listening carefully as Sanders hesitantly thought about the answer to the inquiry. “What’d you do? Steal a kid’s lollipop?” He laughed heartily at his own joke, and you glanced back just in time to make eye contact with the one-eyed tech.

“No,” he answered solemnly, turning away from you to fiddle with his computer. “I’d rather not talk about it.”

Moffitt huffed, lightly punching the kid’s arm to nudge him. “Embarrassed?”

“No,” he said again, a bit more aggravated as he shook his head. “Just drop it.”

The conversation was forced into silence when your timer went off, piercing the air. You were prompt to pull your phone out, suffocating the timer before shooting a message to Wanda. And though this was going to quickly get annoying, the smile on your face was clear as day.

“You have an alarm for every fifteen minutes,” Moffitt pointed out, picking your head up to look at him. He tilted his head to the side, and you watched Sanders relax as the older agent put all his focus onto you. “Is there any particular reason why?”

“It’s not as significant to you as it is to me,” you assured him.

“I like to know my superiors,” he explained. “Gives me a chance to connect with them.”

Sanders's scoff was involuntary by the way his eyes widened when Moffitt sent him a look. The tech cleared his throat, diverting his attention back to his computer. “It’s hard to see you connect with anybody.”

“Connecting with people opens them up to weaknesses,” Moffitt stated. “If Y/N goes rogue, I know where to hurt her where it hurts.” He sent you a sly wink, a smile tugging his lips, and you shook your head with an eye roll as you chuckled softly.

“What’s my weakness?” Sanders looked at him, staring the man in the eyes with a confidence you haven’t seen ever since meeting him.

“Whoever beat your ass to a pulp.” You bit the inside of your cheek at Moffitt’s answer, looking down at your phone just in time to see a response come in from Wanda. Your features once again lit up. “Whatever you have the timer set for, it seems to make you happier.”

You looked back at him, raising an eyebrow as Sanders went back to typing. You couldn’t deny his observations, he was very attentive. You wondered exactly how many years of being an agent he had under his belt, even then he might’ve been into something similar to this before to make him so alert. “Don’t you have anything better to do than to watch people?”

“That’s funny coming from you,” he countered. “I’ll figure out what the timer’s for eventually. It’s just easier for the both of us if you tell me.”

You sighed. “Every fifteen minutes, I have to message someone to let them know I’m okay.”

Sanders’s typing came to a stop as he looked down, his face falling as Moffitt grunted. “It’s nice to have someone to love,” he stated, “but it’s also a weakness.”

You grinned at him, shaking your head. “Yeah, she’s not someone I’m particularly concerned about. She can handle herself.”

“That may be true,” Moffitt agreed, nodding slowly, “but would you be able to handle it?”

You opened your mouth to say something, but the conversation was ultimately finished when the driver’s door opened. As much as he’s annoying you, you’re grateful for the patriot’s interruption. Steve slipped into the seat, setting a plastic bag between his legs as the door slammed shut. He looked at you as he pulled a baseball cap over his head and slid a pair of sunglasses onto his face. Your jaw clamped close, feeling your face fall into annoyance as he clapped his hands and began pulling out of the parking lot.

“You can’t be serious,” you stated. “A hat and glasses? Who’s that going to fool?”

“You said it yourself, Y/N,” he told you, “these types of criminals aren’t very smart.”

You rolled your eyes, shaking your head as you slouched back against the seat. Sure you said that, but you had to give them some credit. There was no way these guys would be foolish enough to not see Steve Rogers behind that flimsy disguise, but there was also no use in arguing with him, deciding to let the show go on. You can already feel how south this is going to go before you even officially started, and it was all his fault. You showed him that you were done with the conversation by pulling your phone out, sending a quick message to Wanda as you cleared your throat. “I guess you’ll be back up, too, along with Moffitt,” you announced.

“The guys are expecting only two of us,” Steve pointed out. You picked your head up to look at him, an eyebrow raised, but he once again ignored your stare. “Moffitt should stay in the van with Sanders.”

“That’s a nice suggestion, Rogers, thank you for that,” you commented, “but the plan will remain the same. Moffitt’s going out there with me, Sanders is going to stay in the van.”

“They’re going to get jumpy if they see three of us,” he stated.

You groaned. “Then you stay in the van, Steve,” you declared. “I’m not going to change the plan because you-”

“I’m fine with staying in the van, sir.” You looked over your shoulder to make eye contact with Moffitt, watching as he shrugged casually. “I’m not going to oppose Captain America.”

“Then it’s settled,” Steve announced. “Moffitt and Sanders will stay in the van, keep an eye on things, and you and I will go out on the front lines.”

You ran a hand down your face, breathing out deeply with irritation. So much for not wanting to overstep, having already placed himself in command the moment he walked into the debrief. You knew nothing you say was going to change the position Moffitt has situated himself in, blindly willing to follow Captain America no matter what.

You don’t know how long the dealers would be willing to wait, having already passed the time you were scheduled to meet by five minutes before the building came into view. And Steve didn’t bother driving the van into the empty parking garage, leaving the vehicle on the outside as he put it in park. “Do we have eyes on the inside of the building?” he questioned, eyeing the structure carefully as Sanders started typing away.

“Deploying a drone,” he reported, your eyes watching as a drone flew into the building. You looked at Steve, who was intently focused on everything but you, when you heard a small slap, followed by a polite warning from Sanders, “Don’t touch anything.”

“Why not?” Moffitt questioned.

“The drone is way above your paygrade,” the tech assured. “It has missiles and lasers and machine guns and other abilities that someone with a low IQ like you wouldn’t be able to understand.” Sanders scoffed, looking over your shoulder just in time to see him pick up what looks to be a simple pen. “Like this? This is a taser that could knock an elephant flat on its ass. And this?” He placed the pen back onto the desk, moving to pick up what you thought was a nicotine patch. “This is a tracking device that turns invisible when exposed to heat. So, when you put it on someone’s skin, their body heat would make it disappear and they wouldn’t even-” Sanders was cut off by Moffitt’s fake snoring, causing the kid to roll his eyes in annoyance. “See? Low IQ.”

“Would someone with a low IQ be able to snuff you out without even touching you?” Moffitt blinked at him slowly, unamused.

“I thought we agreed that I’m in charge,” you whispered, pulling away from the bickering in the back to focus on Steve. You knew he heard you, that super soldier serum didn’t just give him bulky muscles. 

“You are,” he assured you. “I’m just making sure we’re not walking into a trap.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about, Steve.” You huffed, leaning closer to him. “Moffitt has a high amount of respect for you as does almost everybody else in America. You knew he was going to take orders from you instead of me, that’s why you went right over my head.”

He looked at you, but the sunglasses prevented you from reading his eyes. “Just like how you went over my head to get this mission?” he retorted. “You’re not the only one who knows how to play the cards they’re dealt with, Y/N.”

“Three people in a car,” Sanders announced. "They're waiting, and they seem to be getting impatient."

“Let's go.” Steve opened the car door, but you weren't going to end the conversation there. You followed him, scrambling to catch up.

"I get that you're mad I went over your head, Steve," you started, but you didn’t really know where you were going with the rest of that argument. He had a right to be mad, having gone behind his back to get your hands on the first mission offered to you, and now look at him. Tagging along on an amateur operation just to make sure you didn't do anything stupid. "I understand that you feel responsible for my decisions because you're Captain America and you're the leader of the Avengers, yadda, yadda, yadda, but you have to trust me."

"I do trust you."

"You have a funny way of showing it." He stopped walking abruptly at your words, causing you to step in front of him. You still couldn't see his eyes, but the way his jaw was set told you he didn't appreciate your doubt.

"I don't feel responsible for you because of my title or my position," he stated, his voice filled with a poison that would've killed you if words worked that way. "We're a team, Y/N, and we look out for each other. And that's exactly what I'm doing. I'm making sure you don't make a rash decision that gets you killed. You’re jumping into missions without thinking. You’re not giving yourself time to grieve.”

“I don’t need to grieve,” you argued. “I didn’t lose anything.”

“You lost everything.” He shook his head at you and you watched as his jaw unclenched and his shoulders slouch as his tone softened, “If you keep going like this, you’re going to lose a lot more. I’m being a- a pain in the ass because I’m trying to protect you. I’m trying to help you, Y/N. You have vacation time saved up from all the missions you did. Why don't you use some?"

"Vacation?" You couldn't help it, you said the word with disgust on instinct, but you didn't say anything else. You looked away from him, eyebrows furrowed with concentration.

Normally, you would've been defensive, appalled at the suggestion of a vacation. You wanted a distraction, and work was the best way to receive that. A vacation would've given you time to think, to continue living in the past when you want to look ahead. That's not something you needed. But maybe he was right. Maybe you did need some time away from it all, and there was one person that came to mind that you'd love to take with you.

Your mouth remained closed as you turned on your heels, continuing forward. You let your mind wander, thinking about all the places you could go with Wanda by your side. There would be no Vision, no Natasha, no Bruce. It'd just be you and her in a stress free environment. Yeah, Steve was right, but you didn't want to admit that out loud. Not yet, at least. Your instinct to argue with him was strong, and your ability to own up to being wrong was nearly extinct. You needed to get this mission over with.

You squinted against the flash of the headlights from the waiting car as you and Steve approached it, stopping a certain distance away as you crossed your arms over your chest. You watched as the people loaded out of the car, noting Sanders's drone hovering out of their field of vision. You leaned closer to Steve, your voice lowering as you said, "Let's see how long it takes for your disguise to not work." He huffed, but remained silent as the dealers made their way towards you.

"Where's the money?" You couldn't help but smile softly at the question, moving your hands to grip your hips tightly as you observed the three people standing in front of you. Two males, one female, though the woman stood a bit farther back than the men did, casually leaning against the vehicle as she scrutinized Steve closely.

"Safe." The men shared a look at your response, clearly contemplating on how to advance, but you kept your eyes carefully trained on the woman. You took a step forward to pull her attention away from the patriot, ignoring him when he subtly cleared his throat next to you. "How about you show us the product, and we'll follow suit." 

One of the men chuckled lowly, shaking his head as the other one scoffed heartily, both of them crossed their arms over their chest as they stared you down. "We'll be more comfortable seeing the money before showing you our hand."

You pursed your lips together tightly, glancing back at Steve for a moment before looking back towards the trio. Your eyes landed on the female lingering behind the two men once more, your eyebrows pinching together in thought. You sent them a warm smile, feeling Steve step closer to you. "This was clearly a waste of time," you announced. "We'll take our business elsewhere." You turned on your heels and began walking away. You knew this could only go one of two ways; they stop you from completely leaving and offer a compromise, or they don’t stop you from leaving, ultimately failing the mission. That’d be a great way to get back into the game. First assignment back and you’d have failed before it even got interesting. Nobody would want you on their team then.

“This is awfully confident of you,” Steve muttered under his breath, walking alongside you as you strolled away from the deal. “Not even two minutes in and you’re already walking away. You didn’t set a common ground. They’re not going to call us back.”

You rolled your eyes, shaking your head, but you continued forward. “This would be a great time for you to prove you trust me, Steve-o,” you said. “Just keep walking, don’t look back, and wait for my signal”

Steve sighed, but listened to your command as he continued forward. It wasn’t until you reached the entrance of the empty parking garage that you were cut off by an SUV; a typical bad guy vehicle seen in a typical action movie. You and Steve were forced to stop walking, resting a hand on his shoulder to prevent him from doing anything rash. You only chuckled as you turned around, seeing the three dealers directly behind you; the woman in the middle this time. You can see their faces fully now; the two men were without a doubt twins, the only way to tell the difference between the two was the scar outlining the jawline of the slightly shorter one. The woman, on the other hand, was definitely more lethal than the two men combined, her piercing brown eyes glaring at you with a look that could kill if it were possible. 

“You were quick to pass on our offer,” she commented, her voice low and menacing. “Was there something wrong with the way my boys delivered the proposition?”

You hummed softly, letting a smirk tug a corner of your lips. “We’re very busy people,” you stated, “and there are plenty of other people who have more interesting items to sell. I don’t have the patience to handle two goons.”

“Then handle me,” she suggested, shrugging as she stepped out of the confines of the two men to get closer to you. She smiled at you, but there was no sense of humor behind that grin. “I’m sure we can come to an understanding.” Her eyes landed on Steve, her lips curling up into a broader smile. “I mean, how can we say no to Captain America?”

Steve breathed out deeply when someone from behind him tore off his weak costume, shrugging them off of him quickly. Your eyes have yet to leave the woman, and she was quick to make eye contact with you. “You’re not just any low-life arms dealers, are you?” you questioned. “What’re you? HYDRA?”

She rolled her eyes, grinning wickedly as she crossed her arms over her chest. “HYDRA is so overrated,” she expressed. “You see them everywhere. Every single plan of destruction thwarted by the Avengers always has HYDRA’s name written all over it, right?” She laughed lightly, and you could hear the true humor behind the laughter as she turned away from you. “No, I’m not HYDRA.” She sighed as if she were suddenly bored, walking a circle around you. “We’re so much better than HYDRA can ever be. Y/N, isn’t it?” She hummed lightly, smiling as you kept her in your line of sight.

You remained quiet, Steve following your lead. You didn’t know what her game was, what was supposed to be a simple arms deal turns out to be something more serious. “You guys aren’t selling guns, are you?” you questioned, smiling widely as you laughed a little bit. “We’ve been duped, Steve-o.”

She stopped pacing, raising an eyebrow at you as a small smirk teased her lips. She stopped pacing, turning to face you in a stiff stance as her arms folded behind her back. “We’re selling so much more than guns, Y/N,” she expressed, stepping closer to you. “I can tell you’re broken, in pain. I can offer you a better world, an easier life. I can offer you… a Promise.”

You hummed thoughtfully, pursing your lips together tightly as you raised an eyebrow. “Nah, I’m good. Thanks for the offer, though.” You sent her a kind smile, crossing your arms over your chest. “I mean, obviously we have some issues going on and stuff like that, I like to think that the world is okay-ish as it is. There’s no need to change it.”

“Your Captain there doesn’t think so,” she stated condescendingly, nodding towards Steve behind you.

You turned slightly, looking into what once used to be brilliant blue irises, but were now replaced with an ominous purple as Steve stared off into space. You turned your body to face him, waving a hand across his eyes, snapping in his ear. “What did you do to him?” you declared, the humor in your voice nonexistent as you looked at her, your pupils narrowed tightly at the woman. “Get him out of it.”

“He’s accepting it,” she explained, shrugging nonchalantly. “He’s living in a paradise that we can grant him. All he has to do is join us.”

“Steve’s not going to fall for your ridiculous mind games,” you stated. “Nobody’s going to fall for them, actually. So, look, I'll tell you what. Let me go, I’ll even take the Boy Scout with me to get him off your hands because he is a lot to deal with, and we’ll let you do what you want to do.” You moved to grab Steve’s upper arm, tugging him towards you, but he wouldn’t budge. Though that didn’t deter you from continuing to try, yet the strength of the patriot was much more than you’d ever be able to move. “Alright, well, you got to let him go so we can actually-” 

“He doesn’t want to go,” the woman interrupted, grinning widely as she turned her head. You followed her stare, watching Moffitt walk into view, his eyes just as purple as Steve’s. “Neither does he.” You wondered if they had found Sanders, if the tech succumbed to the false security of their little “paradise” like the other two were. Surely they would’ve displayed him with pride, which means that maybe Moffitt did somewhat of a good job protecting the younger agent. She looked back at you as you released Steve’s arm, your jaw locking as you shook your head. “You have a lot of mental restraint for someone so broken,” she said. “Just open your mind and we’ll show you a world where you don’t have to hurt anymore.”

“Or, maybe, your little magic tricks aren’t that powerful after all,” you suggested with a casual shrug. You eyed the woman, looking her up and down for a moment before you added, “Who are you anyway?”

“We’re the Universal Church of Truth,” she told you proudly, stepping towards you, “and I will show you what we can Promise you.” You scoffed, shaking your head as you rolled your eyes. She took another step, a small smile resting on her lips as she held her arms out for you. “You’ll feel so much better, Y/N.”

It was an instinct to take a step back, you had no leverage in this fight. With Steve and Moffitt out of commission, having fallen for the woman’s lies, it would’ve only been you against everybody else. You looked towards the twins, the smile plastered on their faces told you that they knew they were going to get a hold of you sooner or later, but your eyes travelled upwards behind them, landing on Sanders’s little drone still hovering in the same spot as earlier. You had to somehow signal to him to distract the others just enough for you to escape. 

You looked back at the woman just in time to see her face brighten, her eyes shining as she took a step away from you. “You brought more with you!” She was suddenly giddy, and you could feel the moment your stomach dropped at her words. They had found Sanders, ultimately forcing you to change your plans. The drone was out of the question now, your eyes looking around to see if you can find something else to give you your escape, but you were surrounded. The twins, the woman, and four more goons that had scrambled out of the van that blocked your exit. “Welcome! The Universal Church of Truth is your first step towards the Promise.”

You turned towards the entrance of the building, furrowing your eyebrows at the familiar SHIELD agents that you most definitely did not bring with you on this mission, but when your eyes landed on Natasha, you felt rage flow through your veins. Changed a few things around. Was Natasha and another team Steve’s way of changing some things around? Did he really think that it was going to go that bad under your leadership?

“Y/N.” You were pulled out of your thoughts by the woman’s voice, looking at her to see her hand reaching out towards you. “Let me show you the Promise.”

You didn’t see Sanders amongst the new group, so there was still a chance that you could get out of this, but you delaying seeing the Promise would start to raise questions. You sent one last look towards the drone, hoping against hope that Sanders was watching as you sent it a nod, and you felt a warm sensation flow through your veins the second you did.

You were suddenly underwater, your eyes squeezed closed and lungs burning for air. Your instinct was to breathe, blowing out the last remaining air you held in your mouth. It didn’t take much longer after that to realize you were laying on a hard surface, pressing your palms against the slippery platform and pushing upwards. You broke the surface mere seconds later, gasping for breath as the sound of water reached your ears. Your eyes opened, looking around to see that you were in a bathroom you’ve never been in before, your eyebrows pinching together as you climbed out of the bathtub, quickly drying off to pull your clothes back on.

You were aware of the voices outside of the door, muffled and incoherent, but still told you there were people here. You made yourself go on high alert as you opened the bathroom door, peeking your head into the hall and looking both ways before completely stepping out. And though your brain was telling you you were confused, your body felt at peace the closer you got to the voices. You could hear laughing, dishes clinking together and the running of water. Your steps were slow, your heart beating in your throat as you experienced the rollercoaster of doubt and conviction. And when you reached the end of the hall, opening up to the living room with the kitchen nearby, you saw exactly why a part of your body felt at ease.

Natasha and Wanda stood close together as they washed dishes, laughing and having the time of their life. Was this real? It felt real, yet at the same time you don’t ever remember fully forgiving Natasha for what she had done. Last you knew, she had questioned your entire relationship, and now… Now what? Now Wanda and Natasha were best buds, doing dishes together like you lived in harmony? Wanda was just as resentful towards Natasha as you were, maybe even more, there’s no way she’d forgive the redhead so easily. No, Wanda was way too loyal for that.

“Hey, Y/N.” You blinked back into focus, your eyes meeting Natasha’s as she smiled softly at you. She dried her hands with a dish towel as Wanda finished drying the last of the dishes. “How was your bath?”

“You were in there for quite a long time,” Wanda pointed out, setting the final dish into the cupboard before turning around, leaning against the counter to look at you. “I’m glad you took the time to relax, detka.”

You furrowed your eyebrows, your head tilting slightly in confusion. Detka, that was baby in Russian. Why was Wanda calling you baby in front of Natasha? You hadn’t told the former assassin about your relationship with the witch, did Wanda jump the gun and tell her first? Does Vision know as well? You couldn’t seem to quite fully wrap your mind around what was happening. “What?”

Natasha’s smile had yet to waver as she made her way to you, bringing your face gently into her hands as she laughed softly. “We cleaned up dinner, so now we can all relax. It’s movie night, remember?”

“Yes,” Wanda declared, stepping away from the counter to make her way to the couch. She placed a hand on your shoulder as she passed, letting her hand graze up your neck before it disappeared. “And it’s my turn to pick.”

Natasha’s smile only grew wider as she jokingly rolled her eyes, her thumbs stroking circles on your cheeks as she lowered her voice, “She’s probably going to pick one of those black and white movies again.”

You were too frozen in confusion to move, your eyebrows still bunched together, but it didn’t last long before Natasha moved a hand to smooth out the crease. Yet that didn’t cause your bewilderment to fade away. You were still just as puzzled as you were five seconds ago. “What?”

“How about The Brady Bunch?” Wanda called from the living room, and Natasha shook her head as she laughed lightly.

“At least it’s not black and white,” she commented.

“What was that?” Wanda asked.

“Nothing, darling,” Natasha answered, winking at you before her hands dropped to her sides as she walked away. “The Brady Bunch isn’t a movie.”

Did she just call Wanda darling? 

“It doesn’t have to be a movie,” Wanda countered. 

That wasn’t a thing you misheard, right?

“It is called movie night,” Natasha retorted playfully.

She had said it loud and clear; darling.

“You’re just upset that it’s not a spy movie,” Wanda announced.

Her hands on your face, Wanda’s hands sliding up your neck, that felt way too real to be considered a dream. And, no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t seem to remember what had happened before waking up in that bathtub. You still couldn’t accept that this was your life.

“Y/N, are you going to just stand there or are you going to join us?” Wanda’s voice cut through your thoughts, causing you to turn your head to see the two women looking at you. There was a space for you in the middle, both of them gesturing for you to sit there.

“This isn’t real,” you stated.

Natasha furrowed her eyebrows, her lips forming a smirk as she shook her head. “Baby, come on. Come suffer this show with me.” Natasha laughed when Wanda lightly smacked her hand against her arm.

You seemed to have finally found the ability to move your legs, making your way to the living room to stand in front of the TV. Wanda waved at you, trying to get you to stop blocking the show, but you didn’t move. “This isn’t real,” you declared louder. “This can’t possibly be real. What is happening here?”

“We’re trying to watch a show, but someone’s blocking the screen,” Natasha answered with a sigh.

Wanda tilted her head slightly at your words, her eyebrows furrowing lightly as she stared at you. “What’s wrong, Y/N? Are you feeling okay?”

“No!” you declared, looking at her. “You- You and I are dating, right?”

She laughed lightly, turning her head to Natasha for a brief moment before she said, “We’re all dating, Y/N.”

“What?”

Natasha nodded, smiling as she crossed her leg over her other one to get more comfortable. “It’s only been a month, but it has been the best month I’ve ever lived,” she said, reaching for Wanda’s hand. You watched in utter shock as Wanda accepted the hand, letting Natasha plant a gentle kiss on her knuckles. She looked back at you, raising an eyebrow. “Were you underwater for too long in there?”

“You-” You shook your head, furrowing your eyebrows in anger as you looked at the redhead. “You cheated on me! And you… questioned your love for me. I would never for-”

“Y/N,” Natasha was on her feet in an instance, Wanda’s hand falling back to herself as the former assassin shook her head rapidly. “I would never cheat on you, dorogoy. And I most certainly would never question my love for you. I love you with my entire heart.” Wanda stepped up next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her into her as she added, “We love you.”

You felt your shoulders slump. “No, no,” you stated. “This- No. You- You cheated on me.”

“Okay, alright,” Natasha said. “Just breathe, Y/N, okay? Who did I cheat on you with?”

The name was on the tip of your tongue, but nothing came out. The echo of catching her in the act was fading away into a memory of happiness and joy. But it was there, knowing the feeling of heartbreak and distraught when you walked into the bedroom to see her and… who? How could you forget the moment your world turned upside down? When everything you once knew was burned to nothing but ashes as if it were tossed into a campfire. Whenever you looked at Natasha after that moment, you felt as if you couldn't trust her. All the lies she had spewed throughout the months, maybe even years of her cheating took a toll on you all at once. Whenever you looked at Natasha, you felt as if she was somebody you hadn't met before with how different she became, like you were meeting a stranger for the first time. And now, looking at Natasha, you could feel the love fluttering in your chest as you tried so desperately to remember. You just have to remember.

“Who, Y/N?” 

Remember.

“It’s okay, Y/N,” Wanda expressed calmly. “We just want to know who.”

Just remember.

“Just think, detka, it’s okay.”

I don’t remember.

"Maybe it was a dream." And it was a dream. Because this is your life now. A life with the two women you love, living in harmony. No pain, no suffering, no agony. No memories of wrong doings. Just… love.

“Come on,” Natasha said softly, wrapping an arm around your shoulder as Wanda looped her arm through yours. “It happens.” The ladies guided you to the couch, sitting down and dragging you to sit between them. You could feel the moment your mind was ready to accept this, a smile crawling on your face as the TV played the selected show. 

They could feel the moment you relaxed, displaying signs of affection as they moved closer to you. Wanda repositioned herself to lay her head on your lap, Natasha leaning against your shoulder as her fingers danced through the witch’s hair. Your heart swelled with happiness, contentment, as you felt yourself sink further against the couch. Your eyes remained on the screen, accepting this as your reality. This was where you belonged. This felt like home.

And you wouldn’t do anything to change it. There was a faint, rapid beep; indistinct at first, but slowly growing louder, screaming for attention. It didn’t seem to bother Wanda or Natasha, their eyes glued to the TV, but the irritating noise was disturbing the happiness you were feeling. The beeping held a sense of realism, pulling your eyes away from the screen as you looked towards the kitchen. Wanda and Natasha were both forced to break their comfortable positions as you stood up, seeking the annoying beep.

“Y/N?” Wanda called softly, but you continued forward, ignoring the curious stares bleeding into the back of your head as your girlfriends watched you from their position on the couch. The least you could do to continue living on in this paradise is to locate and end the dreadful beeping. But even as you walked into the kitchen, the beeping only seemed to have gotten further away.

“What’s that beeping?” you questioned, making your way down the hall. You could feel Natasha and Wanda begin to follow you, watching you warily as you entered the bathroom. The tub wasn’t filled with water, yet you don’t remember ever doing anything to drain it when you climbed out. It didn’t matter, though, the beeping wasn’t in the bathroom.

You shrugged past the ladies, who were crowding the doorway to watch you, trailing behind you as they continued questioning your actions while you made your way back to the kitchen. “What beeping?” Natasha questioned.

“It’s like a- a-” You abruptly stopped walking in the middle of the room, eyebrows furrowing as you came to realize that the beeping sounds awfully similar to a timer. A phone timer. But why are you hearing that of all things? Your phone wasn’t making any noise, and neither were theirs. So the randomness ultimately confused you, the beeping having no connection to your new life here with Natasha and Wanda.

“What is it, detka?” Wanda asked. “Are you okay?”

You turned to look at them, tilting your head to the side as you looked into the green eyes of Natasha. Oh, the comfort and warmth you felt when you met her gaze, the feeling of love and acceptance. If you were to die, her eyes would definitely be the last thing you’d want to see before you met your demise. 

“Every fifteen minutes…”

The timer. It’s been fifteen minutes. But why did you have a timer? 

When you looked into Wanda’s eyes, you could feel the same exact feeling, the same exact comfort and warmth, love and acceptance. It was as if you were looking at an identical person. That was never the case. Whenever you looked at Wanda, you felt safe. You felt your heart skip a beat and the butterflies flutter in your stomach. 

“…I have to message someone to let them know I’m okay.”

Who? The only people who need to know you’re okay are right in front of you. There’ll be no point in a timer for such a thing. Wanda and Natasha were looking right at you, they already knew you were okay. What was the significance of the timer? 

“It’s nice to have someone to love…”

Something was wrong here. It didn’t feel right anymore. Like you were missing something. You knew this felt way too perfect to be real, but there was no way to figure out what exactly was absent. You averted your gaze down, ignoring the women’s quiet, concerned questions. You needed to remember, but what was it you needed to know? Everything here was how you wanted it, so why bother questioning it? This was the life you wanted, right? This was a place where there was no pain and no heartbreak. You felt whole again, no emptiness dragging you down. There was no darkness, no fear, no sorrow. You had the sun in your hands and it was burning brighter than ever.

“...but it’s also a weakness.”

You looked back at Wanda and Natasha, concern still drawn on their faces. Your eyebrows knitted together tightly in a sense of confusion, but you knew exactly what you needed to do. And it wasn’t going to be easy.

“I’m sorry,” you expressed, arming yourself with two knives as you faced off against them. You shook your head, eyes burning with unshed tears, noticing neither of them taking a fighting stance to defend themselves. You didn’t know if that was going to make this moment easier or worse. “I have to do this.”

“Y/N,” Natasha took a slow step towards you, reaching for you. “You don’t have to do anything. Just talk to us, detka, what’s going on?”

“Why do you think you have to do anything?” Wanda questioned. “We’re both here to love you.”

You sucked in a deep breath, looking at them both, how defenseless they were, how trusting they were. It wasn’t right. There was, without a doubt, no way that neither of them wouldn’t try to stop you. That’s not how they were trained. They see a threat - no matter who that threat is - they attack that threat to defend themselves. But even knowing that none of this seemed right to you, you couldn’t bring yourself to launch at them like that. You felt your shoulders slump, your hands going to your sides as the knives in your hands hung loosely. “I’m sorry,” you cried out, letting the tears run over your cheeks as exhaustion hit you. “I can’t do it.”

“Baby.” You could comprehend which one said it, but it didn’t matter. They had both stepped up to you, bringing you into their arms in a three-way hug. You felt safe, warm, happy, resting your chin in between their shoulders as they squeezed you tightly together. Yet you knew this wasn’t real. The secure setting was just an illusion, and you knew the only way to destroy that illusion was to kill your weakness.

Without another thought, you picked your arms up and drove the blades of the knives into their stomachs, your eyes squeezing shut as you heard their breath seize in their throats. “I love you,” you whispered, shaking your head rapidly as they fell into you. Their breathing became shallow, desperate to catch it, but there was no use in it. “I love you both.” You released the weapons, sucking in a deep breath as you opened your eyes to find yourself in the parking garage once more, tears drying against your skin.

The woman furrowed her eyebrows at you, tilting her head as she looked at you with a hint of awe. “You rejected the Promise,” she declared. “Deviant.” She raised her hand at you at the same time her goons lifted their guns. You knew there was nothing to do to save yourself. Even if you could take out the woman in front of you before the henchmen killed you, there was no uncertainty someone would rise to take her place. So, you only let your eyes flutter close softly as you braced for the impact of however many bullets they were willing to waste on you.

Yet, they never came. Instead, there was a sudden force that knocked you off your feet, deafening your ears as you fell to the ground with a grunt. You weren’t the only one affected by the thunderous noise, your sense of hearing muffled by a high-pitched ringing as you opened your eyes to see the people around you succumbing to the same feeling you were experiencing. You turned your head in what felt like slow-motion, watching Sanders’s drone fly forward. It was the incentive you needed to climb to your feet as fast as you could, scrambling to maintain your balance.

You sent a look towards Steve, who was seemingly trying to mute the ringing in his ears as he got onto his knees. You knew he had been converted to the Church’s lies, and he was way too strong for you to pull away, but there was someone you could drag back to reality.

You reached Natasha quickly, pulling her to her feet and forcing her out of the parking garage before anybody could realize you were gone. The van was into view as you turned the corner of the exit, your ears still ringing as your grip tightened on the redhead’s arm, but it didn’t seem to be enough as she managed to escape. You stopped running, looking at her. Her green eyes were plagued purple as she looked directly at you, her jaw tightened threateningly.

“Nat, what you’re seeing right now,” you expressed, “it’s not real.”

She smiled, though the smile that used to bring you a sense of bliss only brought cold chills erupting up your spine, causing you to bite back against the shivers threatening your form. “Accept the truth.” Her voice didn’t feel like it belonged to her, having been said by someone else that seemed to be occupying her body. “You rejected it, but we forgive you. We’ll give you another chance. Accept the truth.”

“No,” you said through clenched teeth. “Come on. You’re better than this.” Your fists clenched tightly, fighting against the feeling of having just stabbed her in the gut. “I don’t want to hurt you.” Not again. Yet she raised her hands in preparation to fight you, and you didn’t think you had it in you to do that right now. “Nat, please.”

You breathed out when her body tensed up briefly before she collapsed, furrowing your eyebrows as you looked up to see a drone flying right at you. “Are you just going to stand there or are you going to run?” You looked over your shoulder to see Sanders sticking his head out of the driver’s side window of the van, waving his hand. “They’re coming!”

Your legs moved fast as you brought the unconscious redhead into your arms, looking up just in time to see the woman’s army step out of the building, their eyes sweeping the area until someone pointed you out. You felt your stomach wrench uncomfortably when you saw Steve amongst them, gaining an advantage ahead of everybody else. You cursed the super-soldier serum under your breath as you ran towards the van. The back doors were already open when you reached them, placing Natasha onto the ground before climbing in. “Go!” you yelled, lurching forward when Sanders stepped on the gas.

You pulled the redhead further into the van, stepping over her to pull the door close, but your heart nearly leaped out of your chest when Steve suddenly appeared, jumping onto the swinging metal as you breathed in sharply. His purple eyes bore into you, his eyebrows tightened with anger as his jaw locked, moving his body back and forth as he prepared to make his way into the vehicle.

“Oh, man,” you stated, shaking your head. “I bet you’ve been waiting a long time for this, Steve-o.” You watched as he landed on his feet inside the van, the doors swinging wildly in the wind behind him as he faced off against you. You brought your hands up, clearing your throat as your eyes remained on his towering figure. “Hey, uh, Sanders? I don’t suppose you have the drone, do you?”

“What? No, I had to leave it behind. Why- Oh.” You nodded at his realization, figuring he must’ve looked over his shoulder quickly to see what you were about to fight.

“I’m sorry about this, Steve,” you stated before launching forward.

You threw a punch, but he deftly dodged it by tilting his body to the side, giving him enough time to grab your wrist and swing your body like a sack of potatoes. You felt the air leave your lungs when your back smashed into the side of the van, wincing at the shattering noise you heard upon impact as you gasped for breath. You rested on your knees, propping yourself up with your elbows as you tried to figure out exactly which part of your body you seemed to have lost during that brief encounter. Only five seconds into the fight and you could already feel yourself about to lose.

Steve seemed to not go easy on you, taking advantage of your fetal position to send a kick against your ribcage that only made it more difficult to catch your breath. You were pretty sure you heard a few bones crack on impact, and coughing only made it ten times harder to do anything. “Now I feel extremely bad for that one guy you kicked during that one mission,” you managed to wheeze out. “One kick and I’m tempted to give the white flag.” 

You struggled to climb to your feet, listening to the doors flapping as you realized that they were now behind you, but the soldier’s purple eyes glowed brighter as he sent a second kick into your gut before you could fully stand up. You were torn, immediately coughing up blood after the kick, yet the coughing only sent sharp pains through your chest. You were experiencing the worst of both worlds right now.

When Sanders took a sharp turn, Steve staggered away from you and you took the opportunity to climb to your feet with a few painful grunts. You had to ignore the damage inside of you right now, focusing on the Captain.

“Have I ever told you that you look really good today?” Steve ignored your words, lurching towards you, but you had braced for his move. You knew you weren’t going to win in the strength competition against Captain America, but you held the ability to be swifter and more agile than he could be. You ducked underneath his arms at the last second, spinning around to look at him as he ran past you, but he managed to stop himself before he flew out of the speeding van. “You know, I didn’t take you for the kind who can’t take a compliment,” you commented. You watched as his body stiffen, slowly spinning around to look at you ominously and you could feel the tense humor inside of you fade away. “Do you think you can drive any faster?”

“I’m going as fast as I can,” Sanders answered, forcing you to press against the wall of computers when he took a sharp turn. “Just try not to die.”

“Solid plan,” you grunted, watching as Steve struggled to keep his footing as well. “Remind me why we never worked together.”

Your command was left unfollowed, though you easily forgot about it once he managed to straighten out the van. Steve didn’t give you a chance to correct your position before he was stepping towards you, deciding to throw a push this time rather than try to tackle you. You barely managed to dodge his attack, watching in slow-motion as his fist grazed the tip of your nose harmlessly when you moved your body, but Steve was trained better than to just throw one punch. Just how you were trained better than to just dodge one punch, letting yourself duck just as the patriot thrust his other fist towards you. You used your advantage on the ground to kick his legs out from underneath him, barely giving him a chance to fully land on the floor before you started climbing on top of him.

“I’m so sorry.” You sent a fist through his jaw. “I’m sorry.” Another punch, desperate to get one strong enough to knock him out or to make him weak enough to not be able to hold up the fight for much longer, yet you knew it was pointless to dream. “I’m so, so sorry.” Your fists connected with Steve’s jaw once again, your stomach twisting with how much you hated doing this to your friend. “Forgive me, Steve.” As you were preparing another hit, he was capable of freeing his arm and tugging you off with a short pull of your shirt. You were both on your feet, your back against the computers as you continued to dodge Steve’s punches.

“Where are you even going?” you called out.

“I have no idea!” Sanders answered, weaving in and out of traffic.

“That is very reassuring,” you expressed.

Steve’s fist managed to snag a hit on your side, pain erupting through your body and causing your defensive maneuvers to fall flat. He pinned you against the desk with a hand gripping the collar of your shirt, and you knew you had no way of defending yourself as he sent a fist flying into your face.

“Steve,” you pleaded, hearing how desperate your voice was, but he didn’t seem to care. He sent another punch, your face experiencing a level of hurt you couldn’t describe as he hit you a third time. You were giving in to losing your hope as your hands gripped the desk underneath you, but you felt a small spark of it return when your fingers bumped against an object. When Steve sent the fourth fist into your jaw, snapping your head to the side, you saw the taser pen Sanders was showing off to Moffitt before the mission started just out of reach. Your stomach twisted with energy as you stretched to grab it, Steve raising his arm as he composed himself for the fifth - and what felt like to be the last - punch of your life, your fingers scraping against the cylinder object with desperation.

And just as he was about to deliver the final blow, your fingers brought the taser into your hand, sending the tip of the tool into Steve’s side as you pressed down on the button. Relief flooded through you when his hand released your shirt, his body tensing at the electrocution as he staggered back. You didn’t have time to enjoy the reprieve, moving to kick Steve in his side. He flew back, his legs flailing as they landed outside of the van, his arms planting on the floor to keep himself inside the vehicle. You made your way to him, your face bloodied and cut open from his fists.

He looked up at you as you stopped in front of him, looking down at him sadly as you shook your head. “I’ll find you, Steve, and I promise to stop them.” You picked your foot up, feeling nauseous when you kicked his face to send him flying out of the van. You didn’t bother watching him roll, quickly closing the doors and locking them before collapsing to the ground in exhaustion. “I know where we can go,” you stated weakly, trying to control your breathing to prevent the pain from getting worse in your chest. You dug into your pocket for your phone, huffing in annoyance when you saw the screen shattered beyond use. Though it gave you peace of mind, it wasn’t a good thing to have a broken phone. “There’s a SHIELD safehouse in this part of New York. The GPS should have it saved.” You picked your chin up to look towards him upside down, watching him shake his head as he took a turn. “Do you mind if I borrow your phone?”

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━❦━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“Backup will be here in about half an hour,” you stated, walking into the house. You tossed Sanders his phone back, looking at Natasha. She was tied to one of the chairs in the dining room, her hands bound behind her back and her chin against her chest as she remained in an unconscious state. 

The conversation with Wanda over the phone wasn’t pleasant at first - you weren’t capable of getting a word out with her scolding you for not fulfilling your promise. It had been well past the fifteen minutes you were supposed to text her, but once she had finally processed that you weren’t calling her from your own phone, she had given you the chance to say something. It took all your energy not to break over the call, difficult to not sound as broken as you felt. You didn’t need to scare her more than she already was, but you could tell by the way her voice was after you had asked her to meet you that she knew something was off. Yet you didn’t give her the chance to raise any questions, knowing that the moment she asked if you were okay, you would’ve broken. You had hung up on her after giving her your location.

Sanders sat on the kitchen counter, his eyes keeping close watch on Natasha. An opened first-aid kit sat near him, bloody gauze pads and other used materials strewn around it. You were grateful for his patience in helping you tend to your wounds, the entire moment having been filled with a sort of awkward silence. “I’m surprised you survived,” Sanders said, forcing you to focus. He seemed incapable of looking at you, and you did notice how he did everything he could to avoid eye contact with you while patching you up. “You fought Captain America in a van and survived.”

“Barely,” you expressed. You leaned against the entrance into the kitchen, crossing your arms over your chest as you looked down at the ground. The young agent was impressed, but he didn’t know how much pain you were in by the way you were attempting to shrug it off. Though it may look like you were succeeding, your entire body was screaming in agony on the inside.

“But you put up one hell of a fight,” he laughed, shaking his head.  “Man, I couldn’t even fend myself from…” He trailed off, his laughter dying down as his grip tightened on his cellphone, averting his eyes to the ground as you had lifted your head to look at him with furrowed eyebrows.

You slowly made your way further into the kitchen, leaning against the counter a few feet away from him. The fresh wounds correlated on his face with the fresh bruises on Natasha’s knuckles.  Now you know where you knew his name from. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” He scoffed in mock humor, yet he still didn’t look at you and you could feel your stomach dropping.

You pursed your lips and nodded in understanding as he looked back to keep an eye on the converted redhead. You cleared your throat, to which you immediately regretted as your breath caught in your throat from the sharp pain erupting in your chest. You took a moment to gather yourself before continuing, “I didn’t ask her to do that.”

Sanders's eyes remained forward, but you could see his stiff posture slowly begin to relax. “I was scared,” he whispered so quietly, you had to strain your ears to hear him properly. “I didn’t know when she was going to stop. I- I didn’t know if she was going to kill me.” You had to look away from him, your eyes watering with unshed tears. “I was scared and the only thing that I could think of was… this is it. My life was ending when it had only just begun.” 

“You could’ve gotten your revenge,” you stated. “She only did it for me. You could’ve bit back by not saving me, yet you did.”

“I realized that, by the reaction you had when you first saw me, you didn’t seek your own revenge for what I had done.” A smile tugged the corner of his lips quickly as he turned his head to look at you, adding, “Plus, this is my first mission. Losing the entire team wouldn’t look good on my rap sheet.”

You laughed softly, mustering up the energy to shove his shoulder gently. “Fair point.”

He shook his head, clearing his throat as his laughter died down. He spoke in a slightly louder tone as he said, “I should be the one apologizing to you, Y/N. I know what I was doing when I sent out your number. I have no excuse for my behavior and I’m truly sorry for everything I put you through.”

“I forgive you,” you assured him. “I do have one more question though.” He hummed in approval, glancing at you as you looked towards Natasha. “What in the hell did you hit her with?”

“She should wake up soon,” he said, smiling softly. 

You sat in content silence for a moment, time ticking by as you waited for her to wake up. You breathed in slowly, biting against the pain boiling in your chest at the motion. You were tired, and the lack of sleep wasn’t necessarily helping anything, but you had to stay awake. Just until Wanda arrives.

His voice - ever so gentle and soft - interrupted the silence once again, “I always thought you two were a good couple, but I didn’t think you were as perfect like everybody else did.” He breathed out as he placed his phone onto the empty counter next to him. “I actually thought you and… and Wanda were dating at first.”

You smirked, crossing your arms gently over your chest as you looked down to watch you shuffle your feet. “When I caught Natasha in bed with someone else, I… I actually wanted to cry and to scream. I wanted to be mad and angry and… and I just wanted her to hold me because I associated her arms with happiness. Instead, I played it off as if it wasn’t hurting while I was actually breaking.” You looked up at her, shaking your head. “There’s a part of me that’s going to be in love with her for the rest of my life, but I can’t trust her to feel the same way anymore.”

“I, uh… I lost my fiancé about a year ago,” he confessed. “Uh… it was hard for everybody to let go of her, but they all eventually got past it. It was a lot harder for me to say goodbye. She was my- my entire world, the only one I actually love. It kind of sucks when you know that you need to let go, but you…” He scoffed humorlessly, shaking his head. “You can’t let go because you’re still waiting for the impossible to happen. It’s been a year and I still wait for her to walk through the front door of my apartment or- or for her name to come up on my phone. It’s just… It’s so hard to forget her and I don’t ever want to.”

You turned your head to look at him, and he didn’t hesitate to meet your gaze. His eyes watered as tears slowly streamed down his face. “Here’s to not letting go,” you stated, holding up a fist. He laughed through the sadness, bumping his fist against yours.

“To not letting go.” He nodded, holding his knuckles against yours for a solid moment before one of you finally pulled away, though you weren’t sure if he did it first or if you did.

“Y’know, I’m pretty sure I opened up more to you than I ever did to my shrink,” you expressed and he laughed loudly. “He’ll probably call you one day, ask you for some tips.”

“My lips are sealed,” Sanders assured you, grinning widely. 

“Good,” you expressed as Natasha stirred awake. You sighed in relief, stepping away from the counter as he hopped off of it. “Talk about perfect timing.”

You both made your way to the redhead, standing in front of her as she picked her head up. She was squinting against the bright lights, one of her eyebrows slightly raised in confusion as she looked between the two of you. Her eyes were back to her normal emeralds, but it could’ve been a ploy to get on your good side. You decided to keep her tied to the chair just in case. “I feel like I have the biggest hangover in the history of hangovers,” she stated, her eyes squeezing close. She opened her eyes once more, finally taking a look at your fresh wounds. “I didn’t do that to you, did I?”

You ignored her question, which only made her seem to tense up. “Where are you right now, Nat?”

She looked around, her eyes scavenging the place closely to give you an accurate answer. “We’re in a SHIELD safehouse,” she answered, looking back at you. “You and I actually found this one. Did I do that to you?”

“Did you accept the Promise?” You gripped your hips, watching as her eyes narrowed with confusion, her eyebrows bunching together at your question. You knew she was going to answer your question with a question, but you were in no mood to play that kind of game. “Just answer the question.”

She breathed out, tilting her head to the side as she stretched her neck. “I didn’t accept the Promise.”

“She could be lying,” Sanders suggested. “We don’t know how this works. What if… What if she’s tricking us?”

“If I did accept it, I would’ve killed the both of you the moment I woke up.” She moved her hands in front of her, holding the rope that had bounded her up in the air for a brief moment before letting it drop from her fingers. She put her focus back onto you, standing up slowly. “Y/N, did I do that to you?”

“No,” you assured her, shaking your head as you took a small step back. There was no way to tell if she was fully out of whatever the Church of Truth had planted into her head. You were unsure of how it worked, but you weren’t going to test your luck by questioning her. You were willing to wait until Wanda had arrived to be able to scan her thoughts for any sign of her accepting the Promise. “I believe it’ll give us both some peace of mind if you remain tied up.”

“Y/N-”

“I already had to fight one of our friends, Natasha, I don’t want to fight you.” You couldn’t mention what you had to do to reject the Promise, not now. You weren’t sure if saying it out loud would cause you to finally break, and you weren’t willing to take the chance either. “Please.”

Natasha saw the look in your eye, how exhausted you actually are and how desperate you were trying to hide it. She pointed towards the sink behind you. “There’s zip ties underneath the sink,” she said. You nodded towards Sanders and he didn’t say a word as he walked away. As Natasha sat down, she looked at you. “How did you reject the Promise?”

You breathed out, accepting the zip tie when Sanders offered it to you. You made your way behind the chair, looping the zip tie around one of her wrists, and gently guiding the other one through the hole. “You have to destroy your weakness,” you told her. “Once you do that, you break free from their hold on you.” You tightened the zip tie as tight as it would go, ignoring her sudden wince of pain. “It isn’t easy.”

“Do you know what their goal is?”

“I don’t,” you admitted, releasing her after making sure the new restraint was secured. “The woman didn’t do much explaining. She was mostly just trying to convince me and Steve to join her.”

“Where’s Steve?” Your jaw clenched at her question as you stepped out from behind her. Her eyes followed you for a moment before they casted down in realization. “He’s the friend you had to fight.”

“Yeah,” you answered, nodding your head as you turned to look at her, “and he kicked my ass.” You faced Sanders, placing your hands on your hips. “Do you mind watching her for a bit? I’m going to rest.”

“I got her,” Sanders assured, sending you a soft smile as he held up a fist against his chest. You laughed lightly, shaking your head as you made your way down the hall.

Though you knew you were both physically and mentally exhausted, it didn’t make it any easier to close your eyes and fall asleep. Your entire body was in pain, your eyes burning with tears begging to be released, and your mind replaying the false paradise the Church had planted into your mind. How easy it was for you to nearly accept the Promise. You wondered what Steve and Natasha had seen to quickly accept their place in it, though you knew it was too sensitive of a topic to just outright ask them if you were ever given the chance.

You don’t know how you’re going to win this time.

There was a soft knock on your door, but you had no energy to respond. You would hope Sanders would respect your silence and not open the door, knowing that if it was a big emergency, he’d be screaming rather than knocking. You kept your eyes on the ceiling above you, and you couldn’t bring yourself to fall asleep. You were scared that if you closed your eyes, you’d only see yourself stabbing Wanda and Natasha.

Another soft knock, though the door opened immediately after it ended. You breathed out in annoyance as you slowly lifted your head to look towards the door, but you felt your heart stop when you met Wanda’s warm, green eyes as she closed the door behind her. She smiled at you fondly, and the love and concern you could see written on her features filled you with relief. “Wanda?” You couldn’t stop the way your voice cracked as she made her way to the other side of the bed, the tears that were burning your eyes now making their way down your cheeks as she climbed underneath the covers next to you.

You didn’t hesitate to cling to her, her gentle arms wrapped around your head as you rested against her stomach, desperate for her. She ran her hand up and down your arm soothingly, shushing you affectionately. And the second you touched her was the second you broke down, sobs racking your shoulders as tears streamed down your face. You held onto her tightly, ignoring the burning pain in your limbs, ignoring your chest screaming in agony, ignoring everything that was racing through your mind because Wanda was here. Wanda’s going to take care of you. Wanda’s going to hold you until the day turns to night and the night turns to day.

And that’s what she did. She held you as you cried. She held you as you settled down. And she continued holding you even as you finally fell asleep.

Chapter 7

[thenatashamaximoff]

Broken Love; Ch. 7

Summary: You and Natasha break up after finding out about her secret affair. Wanda’s there to comfort you.

Pairing: Natasha x Reader; Wanda x Reader

Warnings: mentions of cheating, death, blood, brainwashing

Words: 17,634

✎ | ❦

Please keep in mind that this is a reimagined version of Dangerous Love and it goes a completely different route. Please do not expect anything to be the same aside from the love triangle aspect. I hope you enjoy!

To anybody who is familiar with the Church of Truth and how they work: please note that I am making some changes to the organization to better fit the progression of the story. It most likely will not be comic book accurate.

┌─────────────❦─────────────┐ @madamevirgo @causeitswhatjesuswouldfreakingdo @stephanieromanoff @helloalycia @generouslyfadingtimemachine @aimezvousbrahms @upsidedowndanvers @tomy5girls @shelby-victoria7 @chasethemoon @therealmeari @women-am-i-right @kas0925 @catching-up-with-kayla @1-800-maximoff @obsessed-with-wandamaximoff @wandascumslut @coxmicbabygirl @waltzingin1698 @imapotato @lesbianmothership @im-in-demilesbians-with-you @wtrpxrks @theperfectlovestory @grxvitye @marvels-bitch-boy @misspurple1419 @evenbeingcrazy1998 @thatonebrazilian​ @catswag22  └─────────────❦─────────────┘ ┌─────────────∞─────────────┐ @myfavoriteficss @pinkytoecrust @cyncity32 @romanoffomixam @peachbear88 @magicallymaximoff @peggycarter-steverogers @sushi0989 @ba-romanoff @natashabelovas @morbid-gaymer @reminiscingtonight @when-wolves-howl @idontknownemore​ @natashasilverfox​ └─────────────∞─────────────┘

you do not have permission to repost/translate my work or claim them as your own.

Watch the light fade from their eyes, brought on by your own hands. Your body shook, succumbing to the fear growing in your heart as you watched them slowly fall to their knees in front of you, your feet carrying you away from them backward, granting yourself the whole picture. Their blood covered your fingers, tremors flowing through your arms as you took a deep, unsteady breath, your chin quivering as you met the pair of green eyes before they turned dark; cold, and empty. Lifeless.

You splashed water on your face at the bathroom sink, an attempt to shake the dream from your mind. Your body was still trembling, rubbing the back of your neck as you picked your head up, meeting the gaze of the all-too-familiar person staring back at you in the mirror. You shut the water off, straightening your form as you dried your face with a towel.

You were unsure of how long you had slept, though the exhaustion you were still feeling made it seem like you hadn’t gotten any. When you woke up, Wanda wasn’t in the bed next to you. You felt some relief in the moment, wondering if she was curious enough to delve into your thoughts to watch your mind replay the scene you were forced to endure. You couldn’t help but ask yourself just how the Promise worked, supposedly granting you something you want to see, yet a reality with Natasha and Wanda was never on the table for you. Not after everything. Or so you thought.

Because why are you still thinking about it? The softness Natasha only shows you reflected onto Wanda. The reassuring touches she gave you. That same look of love she had held on her face multiple times before. The comfort and safety you felt in the pit of your stomach whenever you looked into her eyes. There was a moment of reprieve, no pain burdening your shoulders. You weren’t suffering the agony of catching your girlfriend in bed with another. It was just simply one feeling; pure love.

You pulled yourself out of the thoughts, pressing your palms against your forehead for a moment before sucking in a deep breath and leaving the bathroom. You stepped out into the hall, your heart beating in your throat as you made your way towards the rest of the house. You weren’t sure why, but the feeling that something was going to go wrong settled in the pit of your stomach and you couldn’t shake it off. Your instincts screamed with each step you took, getting closer and closer to the kitchen. And when you turned the corner, you were relieved to see Natasha still tied up, her head moving to shake the loose strands of hair out of her face before her eyes met yours only briefly before you quickly turned away. Yet, seeing the redhead strapped to the chair did not make that awful feeling go away.

You were just playing the waiting game now.

“Hey.” Sanders’s voice caused you to turn towards him, seeing him leaning against the counter as he sent you a soft smile. His arms were crossed over his chest, and he seemed to be a bit more relaxed than he was before. For the young agent’s first mission, he didn’t seem to be doing too bad, but looks could be deceiving.

You eyed the counters in the middle of the kitchen, the mess of rubber bands sitting on the surface. A smile bit at the corner of your lips, but you gave it no satisfaction as you said, “What’s with all the rubber bands?”

“Oh, I was trying to show Nat and Wanda this cool trick,” he explained, stepping away from his spot to pick up a rubber band. “It’s where you have the rubber band on your first two fingers, and then you open your hand and it’ll jump over to the next. It’s magic! Wanna see it?”

“He’s not very good at it,” Natasha stated.

“I’d like to think I’m getting better,” he corrected. “Trial and error.”

“Maybe next time,” you assured him.

He nodded, tossing the rubber band back onto the counter. “How’d you sleep?”

You shrugged off his question with a slight nod, and though you knew you should ask how he was doing, there was only one thing you could think of, “Where’s Wanda?”

“She’s outside, trying to contact the rest of the team.” Natasha’s voice caused your heart to still in your chest, and you were unsure if it was out of fear - you weren’t expecting her to be the one to answer - or love. You were hoping for the former. 

It wasn’t until you fully managed to process her words that you had realized a new situation. Steve was gone, having fallen victim to the Church Of Truth's mirage, but the rest of the team didn’t know that. If the possessed patriot made it back to the compound before you could get a warning through, you were ultimately screwed. Not only would you be facing a high threat, but add on most of the Avengers to that. The end of the world was near, and you weren’t sure if you could win this one. You buried your face in your hands, leaning your elbows against the counter as you groaned into your palms.

"Don't do that." Her voice, so gentle and soft. 

You shook your head against your hands, breathing in deeply, breathing out slowly. "Do what?"

"Blame yourself." You could hear her breathe out a chuckle, closing your eyes as your jaw clenched. "I know when you-"

"Don't act like you still know me." You picked your head up to look at her, and immediately regretted it when you saw the hurt behind those green irises before she looked away to hide it. You sighed, shaking your head as you turned to face Sanders, taking a moment to get a better look at the tech. He was exhausted, you could see the way his eyelids drooped down ever so slightly. “Why don’t you rest? It’s my turn to keep an eye on her anyway.” Your hands skated against the smooth surface of the counter until your fingers ran over a loose rubber band, absentmindedly picking it up and stretching it out to distract yourself.

He looked away from Natasha to meet your gaze, his shoulders relaxing as his arms uncrossed from his chest. “Are you sure?”

You nodded, gesturing for him to skedaddle, and you couldn’t help but breathe out a chuckle when he held up a fist as he passed you by. You sighed, turning to face Natasha as Sanders disappeared down the hall. “Do you want a drink? Food? Need to use the bathroom?”

She only looked at you, her eyes soft. And there was a moment, a quick flash where her emerald irises ratted her out, showing the sadness and regret she had been trying to hide. But she was prompt to suffocate it, her eyes darkening to block out the light that revealed her feelings. “You were my Promise, Y/N.” You leaned your hip against the counter, looking down as you continued to bend the rubber band to your will in between your fingers. “It was just us.”

“Nat-”

“A world where I didn’t hurt you,” she continued. “I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to it.”

“It wasn’t real.”

“Real or not, I had you.”

“You had me before.” It was unintentional, the way the words crawled out of your throat as a growl. It showed to have no effect on the redhead either way, her eyes still the same analytic facade as she scrutinized every twitch your face made. You were unaware of it, but she was reading you as if you were just simply a book. You couldn’t help but shake your head as you looked up, chewing the inside of your cheek for a moment as you took a deep, aggressive breath, a rough attempt to keep the snot from dripping out of your nose. Meeting her gaze, your mind went back to the fantasy that had been placed into your mind, forged by your subconscious desires and hidden needs. Natasha claims to not fight it if given the choice to go back to her Promise. Were you the same?

She wondered what you were thinking, the way your eyes seemed to be looking through her. You were lost in your thoughts, mulling over whatever was going through your mind. “What was yours?” Her question seemed to bring you back to the present, blinking as you refocused back on her, but your face contorted with confusion, your head tilted to the side. The small smile that slightly lifted her lips came out of nowhere, and it was gone the moment she gained control. “Your Promise.”

Were you willing to tell her what was shown to you just as she had? Maybe there was a time when you would’ve confessed, but that time has passed and you were no longer feeling the need to open up to her. “Bathroom? Food? Drink?”

Her sigh was quiet, annoyed at the avoidance, but Natasha was always one to respect boundaries. “How about all of the above?” You pursed your lips together, contemplating your next move. The Church Of Truth was uncharted territory, but surely if they still had their claws dug into her in some way, they would’ve shown it by now. Right?

“I’ll cut you free.” That bad feeling in your gut was only growing stronger by the second as you stepped up to the wooden block pressed against the wall on the counter, slipping the rubber band around your wrist without another thought as you eyed the strong collection of cutting tools assorted by size. Slight tremors possessed your hand when you reached for one of the knives, forming a tight fist for a brief moment before you decided on grabbing the scissors instead. You turned, meeting Natasha’s curious gaze, and your lips remained tight as you crossed the room to reach her. “Go use the bathroom,” you told her, cutting her free from the zip-tie, “and I’ll make you a sandwich or something.” You were quick to put some distance between you and her, walking back into the kitchen and placing the scissors on the counter.

She rubbed her wrists as she stood, a smile lifting her face as she took a moment to watch you pull out the ingredients for the simple yet delicious peanut butter sandwich. "I'm sorry" - your limbs froze at the words, a piece of bread held in your palm; you didn't dare turn to look at her, your eyes casting down to the countertop below you - “for not loving you more. I promise I can do better by you, Y/N.”

You listened to her soft footsteps as she disappeared down the hall, a short, quick puff of breath escaping between your lips. You chewed the inside of your cheek as you reached for a butter knife, digging the dull blade into the jar of peanut butter to slather it onto the slice of bread in your hand. 

There was a part of you that wanted to see just how much "better" she could be, if being better meant not cheating. That should've been a given from the start. And though that part of your mind still loved her, still wanted to go back to before all of this began, there was another, seemingly bigger part in you that wanted to move on. And what better way to move on than with your best friend? The one who has shown loyalty for years, who has been there for you during the hard times. 

The trust you held in Wanda had always been more than what you held in Natasha, should that have been a sign? Were you and Wanda meant to be? If only you had seen it earlier, having been blind to what was right in front of you. It would've saved you the heartbreak, knowing, deep down, that Wanda would never do that to you. She wouldn't go behind your back, lie to your face, pretend to not be questioning her love for you. No, it wasn't even a choice. Between Natasha and Wanda, it was no question about who was right for you.

Your ears perked when you heard a floorboard creek to your right, picking your head up. The butter knife was placed gently onto the counter, swapping it with the pair of scissors, and you didn't give the intruder a chance to do anything before you turned towards them, the scissors leaving your hand instantly. You huffed when you saw Bruce standing in the doorway, his eyes on the sharp instrument that had penetrated the wall mere inches from his head. 

"Announce yourself next time." You had to start controlling your voice as your tone was unnecessarily aggressive towards him. "I could've killed you." Again. You furrowed your eyebrows as he slowly tore his eyes away from the pair of scissors sticking out of the wall to look towards you, crossing your arms over your chest. His sleeves were pulled down to cover his palms, an anxious tick you’ve learned of his from the years you’ve worked with him. “Where’s everyone else?”

He took a small step toward you, and the nervous look on his face made you wonder exactly what Natasha saw in him. Clearly enough for her to choose him over you. “Y/N-”

“If the next words out of your mouth aren’t an answer to my question, I really don’t want to hear it.”

He sighed softly, his slight slouch straightening as his eyes focused on something behind you. You held up the peanut butter sandwich, not bothering a glance behind you as Natasha grabbed it out of your hand. Your eyes did not once waver from Bruce, your jaw locked. “Cap showed up with a whole army of people,” he expressed, breathing out. “Nobody had time to react to anything. They all just… took over.”

“And you made it out alive?” Your eyebrow quirked up, and though you didn’t mean to sound skeptical, you couldn’t help it.

“Me and Vision,” he corrected. You finally looked away from him, averting your gaze down to the counter as you turned to face it once more, your mind finding reprieve as you distracted yourself with the rubber band around your wrist. “Tony, Pepper, Clint, all the people in that compound… They took them, one by one. They're all just… gone. Possessed by whoever they are.”

You could hear the sorrow in his voice, you could imagine the horror that must be showing in his eyes as he relived the events, witnessing the true chaos and destruction these people can bring. “Universal Church of Truth,” you stated, looking back up at him. “They’re forming an army, converting people into Believers by showing them what they call a Promise."

"It alters your mind," Natasha added behind you, causing you to straighten your form. You turned around, leaning your back against the counter as you looked at her, though her eyes were too busy finding an interest in the half-eaten sandwich she was holding to meet your gaze. "It'll show you a world you desire, convincing you to join them as they take over." She swiped at her face, wiping away the loose strands of hair.

"How-" You looked over at him as he crossed his arms over his chest tightly, as if he was trying to make himself smaller, to hide in plain sight. You wished it'd work. "How do you get out of it?" You were quick to avoid his eyes, looking down at the floor as the moment replayed in your mind, your teeth latching onto your bottom lip as you refused to look at anybody.

The silence that filled the room didn't seem to help, either. Leaving you to wither away in your thoughts. It was something that was hard to forget, the love, the care, the warmth, how quickly it had all turned south in a flick of a switch. And though you knew it wasn't real, it still felt like it was. The ghosts of their soft touches still lingered on your skin, their light laughter echoing in the back of your mind. Yet your hands gripped the knives that had penetrated the mirage, breaking the illusion with you along with it. Cold, dead eyes stared at you, the sparkle that brought life to the green irises gone.

"We need a plan." Your voice was low but automatic - a subconscious attempt to pull yourself out of your own thoughts - finally picking your head only to see that you seemed to have interrupted a conversation. You had zoned out, disregarding the discussion as you allowed the false memories to plague your mind. "Hiding and cowering away in this house isn't going to get anything done."

"What is there we can do, Y/N?" Natasha questioned, catching your eye with her words. "We're not equipped to fight against a psychological enemy."

"No," you agreed, "but we can fight fire with fire."

"Our fire went out when they took over the compound," Bruce countered, pulling a sigh from your lips. "There's not much potency in just a faint ember."

You chewed the inside of your cheek, turning away from the duo once more. You began to tug the rubber band once more as you lost yourself in your thoughts again. As much as you hated to admit it, he was right. You didn't have much firepower in your arsenal now that most of the Avengers were out of commission. With Steve, Tony, and Clint under the Church's influence, and Thor being off-world with no form of communication as per usual, it was just left to your ragtag group; a deceitful assassin, a conniving scientist, a tech prodigy, a humanized computer, and a magnificent telepathic.

It was like a light bulb went off over your head.

“Sometimes, an ember is all you need to start a fire,” you declared, stepping away from the counter, “all you need is a spark.” Natasha’s face brightened with a smile as she finished chewing the last of the sandwich you had made her. She could practically picture the bright light hovering above you, and the pride she displayed wasn’t missed. “Where’s Vision?”

"He's outside," Bruce answered, unsure as he gestured towards the front door behind him. 

It seemed as if you were moving in slow motion the closer you got to the door, the bad feeling in your stomach making you feel uneasy as it wrung your gut. Was your decision to set Natasha free from the chair a good one? That feeling had only become more extreme ever since you had cut those zip-ties off of her. Of course, you knew it had to be connected to the Church. Their plan for world domination was better than you’ve encountered this far, having already gained footing compared to HYDRA - they already took out a majority of the group that’s capable of stopping them. But, the only thing you knew for certain was that Wanda wasn’t on the list for whatever the reasoning for your brain to manifest that something bad’s going to happen.

You couldn’t have been more wrong.

The moment you had pulled the front door open was another moment you’d regret for the rest of your life because there, on the porch, right on the other side of the screen door, was unmistakable. The way he was kissing her, and the way she seemed to be kissing back. Oh, boy, was your stomach having a field day; and not in a good way. You felt sick, nauseated, as if you could just hurl right then and there. You swallowed the bile building up in your throat, feeling as if you were swallowing a ball. It felt like they were in that position for the longest time, though, in reality, it was only a few seconds before she was pushing him away from her. 

“Vis-” Her voice cut off breathlessly, her hands remained on his chest, preventing him from going in again, and he was watching her with gentle, curious eyes. Everything in your mind told you to walk away, but with the current threat to the world happening, you had to shove aside your personal problems and get to business.

They both turned when you opened the screen door, walking out onto the porch. Wanda’s eyes were wide as she turned her back on Vision, her mouth slightly propped open. “We’re going to have a meeting,” you announced, doing everything you can not to look away from them. You leaned against the screen door, holding it open as Vision stepped to the side. “We kinda need you both there.”

Vision looked towards Wanda before nodding, making his way through the opened door. That was when you averted your gaze to the ground, moving to keep the door open with your leg as you crossed your arms over your chest tightly. Maybe you can successfully do what Bruce was attempting - hide yourself. 

“Y/N.” It didn’t work. “Can we talk?” Her legs moved into view, causing you to pick your head up and clear your throat. You were trying so hard not to cry, but you weren’t sure if it was working or not. Were your eyes red? Your face flushed? You didn’t know.

“Of course,” you answered, nodding as you gestured towards the door, “that is what a meeting is for, yeah?” When she subtly shook her head, you rolled your eyes, but she quickly stepped in between you and the door before you could even think about walking into the house. You looked into her shining emeralds, the way they silently said please. You always hated how easily you gave into those eyes, huffing heavily as you turned and walked off the porch. 

Wanda followed you, the screen door sliding close with a soft click. “Just let me explain,” she pleaded.

You stopped walking in the middle of the yard, and she moved to stand in front of you. She tried to read your eyes, tried to figure out exactly what you were thinking without going back on her promise, but her shoulders slumped in defeat when your eyes turned hard and cold, preventing her access to your soul. “What is there to explain?” you questioned, looking down to watch yourself tug the rubber band around your wrist. “We never said we were exclusive or anything, right? You are more than welcome to kiss whoever you want.”

"It was just a kiss," she expressed.

Your voice was a dull monotone, a weak attempt to get her to stop, "Wanda-"

"It didn't mean anything."

You slowly picked your head up, your arms falling to your sides in defeat. "Please."

“He kissed me-” 

“You were kissing back!” You're not really sure what made you snap; your lips pursed tightly, your nose burned, and your head was shaking subconsciously. The hardness in your eyes didn’t last as long as you had hoped they would, breaking as fast as your heart was the longer you looked at her. The only time you had felt this level of betrayal was upon catching Natasha in the act of infidelity. Maybe you were wrong. Maybe Wanda would do the same to you.

She remained quiet, no retaliation to your accusation. It only told you how right you were, that she was, indeed, returning the kiss. You could feel the humiliation building in your chest, the betrayal of the second knife that had been stabbed in your back. And she was only standing there, staring at you as if you were just going to forget what you had seen. You didn’t know what to do, your mind alternating between forgiveness and resentment, coming up with fairly decent reasons as to why you should accept whatever excuse she’s willing to give, but were you really ready to jump into a relationship with another unfaithful partner?

The Promise was looking like a hell of a good place to be right now, finding jealousy in Steve’s willingness to just accept a false reality. “I don’t have the energy to do this, Wanda,” you whispered, “not again.”

“It won’t happen again.” Her tone held confidence, unwavering credence in her eyes that nearly convinced you to believe her. Nearly.

If it meant nothing, why did it feel like it took forever for her to push him away? Why didn't she slap him? Why didn't she get angry with him? You remember the way she said his name afterward, the breathless whisper, the way her hands were pressed against his chest. It didn't seem like it meant nothing. It seemed like it meant everything. 

With a shake of your head, you walked away from her, leaving her in the yard as you made your way back to the house. Your stomach twisted, bringing discomfort to your body as your heart twinged with every slow beat it took. After dealing with the Church, you’ve decided to take up Steve on his offer for a vacation… alone.

You entered the living room, where the rest of the team had settled. Bruce and Natasha sat on the couch, as far away from each other as the piece of furniture would allow. Sanders and Vision had taken to standing off to the side, the young tech seemingly pestering the android with fast-paced questions that he had no trouble keeping up with. It wasn’t hard to see the awe-struck expression the kid was holding as his little pop quiz received answers, his mouth propped open in a perfect O as his eyes sparkled with astonishment. It was equivalent to a little kid meeting Captain America or Iron Man.

“Nat claims you have a plan.” It was Bruce that broke the semi-silence, instantly halting the hushed conversation between Sanders and Vision as they pulled their attention to you. You had situated yourself in the front of the room, looking up in time to watch Wanda walk in. Her steps faltered briefly when she made eye contact with you, but she was quick to settle on the couch between Bruce and Natasha.

“Uh, the… Church of Truth,” you expressed, breathing out as you placed your hands on your hips. “They plant a world you want to see in your mind to convert you into a Believer. You’re under their complete control once they get their hooks in you. We’re unsure of how this works, but we do know that it is psychological and the only one of us here that I believe can’t be converted is Vision.”

“They're seeking population control and believe a Matriarch would be the key to spreading around the Promise,” Vision announced. “A divine vessel.” You furrowed your eyebrows, your head tilting slightly and the robot saw the confusion drawn onto your features. “Steve was very talkative.”

“Oh, that must be nice. When I was questioning Steve, he used his fists as replies,” you said.

“And feet,” Sanders added and you shrugged, nodding in agreement. “Y/N just got obliterated, basically.”

“Thanks for that.” He sent you a wide grin.

“How did you get out of it?” Wanda asked, forcing the conversation back on track. You met her eye, the echo of the memory once more entering your mind at the question. The life in her green irises slowly faded to darkness, death gripping her in cold hands right before you and your hands shook with the figment of the knives held tightly in your fists as you were the cause of Wanda’s last breath.

“Whatever the kid hit me with, that managed to rip me right out of it,” Natasha stated, pulling the attention away from you. You blinked yourself out of the locked eye contact with Wanda, turning away, but you could still feel her watchful eyes, silently questioning you. 

“Y'know, I’m not the youngest one here anymore,” Sanders declared. “I’m way older than Vision.”

“He’s got a point,” you said, clearing your throat while trying to ignore the witch’s calculating stare. “Vision’s, like, five.”

“Four.” You looked towards the android, who tilted his head and shrugged casually. “I’m four.”

“See?” Sanders crossed his arms over his chest proudly, a winning smile on his face. “I'm more than five times his age.”

“True, but Vision matured faster, though,” you countered. “Maturity-wise, he beats you.” The tech looked at you, his arms spreading out wide in an offended manner. The smile on your face was hard to stop, feeling it stretch your features as you added, “An eye for an eye, kid.”

“Okay,” Bruce spoke up this time, cutting off the banter in irritation. He sighed, rubbing his forehead, and you had the vague feeling that you were conversing with an annoyed Tony Stark. “Do you still have what you used on Nat?”

“No,” Sanders answered, looking at you with a feigned expression of betrayal before slowly turning his attention to Bruce. He crossed his arms over his chest once again, shaking his head. “I had to leave it behind. I’m sure it’s safe to say the Church destroyed it.”

"Can you remake it?" Vision questioned.

Sanders breathed out a long breath, crossing his arms over his chest as he shrugged lightly. "I can, but I don't have the equipment here. We'll need to go to the compound."

“They have the tower under their control.” Bruce stood up, his hands gripping his hips as he looked at you. “We need to take it back, give us the equipment to make another weapon.”

“Wanda has the power to get into people’s minds,” you declared, clenching your jaw as you looked towards her once more. Her eyes were soft when you met them this time, the feeling of warmth flowing through you with just one look. Was it possible to prevent yourself from experiencing that or were you forever stuck in this state of love whenever you looked at her? If Wanda still had lingering feelings for the android, why did she break things off with him? “Maybe you can pull them out of their Promise, let them back into the real world.”

“It’s worth a shot,” Wanda said quietly, nodding in agreement.

“Bruce, Natasha, and I will head in there first,” you claimed. “We need to keep Wanda and Sanders safe and they'll have a better chance if they’re with Vision.” You kept your chin up, avoiding the witch’s eyes for what felt like the fifth time. You were trapping yourself, you knew this. Cornering yourself once more with Bruce and Natasha. 

“I should be going in there with you,” Wanda countered. “How am I going to get in their minds if I’m-”

“You’ll get in there,” you assured her. “We’re the distraction. Once we get their focus, and as long as you three remain unseen, everything should go smoothly.”

“Y/N-”

“This is the best plan,” you interrupted, shaking your head, turning to speak to Natasha and Bruce. “We should start with some reconnaissance, scout the area out before we charge in there. We’re leaving in five, so… do what you need to do.” Wanda watched as you quickly left the room, a soft sigh slightly parting her lips.

You needed to get outside, get a breath of fresh air, get away from the emotions that you were forced to face the longer you stayed confined in that room, in that house. With Wanda and Natasha, Bruce and Vision, there was nowhere for you to escape, every corner turned was another problem you had to suffer. It was draining the fight out of you, physically and mentally. 

“Y/N.” You could hear her calling for you, and you knew there was no escape, so why did you keep walking? Her footsteps were quick to reach you, desperate to catch up. “I’m sorry, Y/N,” she expressed, grabbing onto your wrist in a desperate attempt to keep you from leaving. Her grip was strong, something you would have to work to break, but the pain and exhaustion flowing through your bones deterred you. You turned to look at her, looking into her green eyes to see the same sorrow and remorse as when you had caught her. The look on your face - the pure hurt and betrayal that hid behind the tears forming in the brim of your eyes - caused Wanda to loosen her grip, yet her hand remained around your wrist. 

You could feel everything you had been shoving down begin to boil at the surface, your throat closing from the ball forming as you tried not to break, but there was always something about Wanda that caused you to lose yourself. You still made an effort to not let all the emotions out at once.

“Please say something.” 

You had no words, but even if you did, you wouldn’t open your mouth. You knew if you did, you’d break. So, instead, your lips pursed tightly to form a thin line, your head shook subtly. Your heart hurt worse than the physical pain inflicted from your fight with Steve. Nothing seemed to make sense to you anymore, but the only thing you can wrap your mind around, the only thing that you can think when you finally allow yourself to be lost in her eyes, is, “I still love you.” You chewed the inside of your cheek, wanting to tear your gaze away from her, but her beauty caught you in a mesmerizing trance. It was just a kiss after all, right? “And I...I forgive you.”

Your body seemed to move on its own, closing the distance between you and her to connect her lips to yours, causing fireworks and butterflies and tornados to swarm your stomach in an overpowering desire to never let her go. You could feel her melt into you, deepening the kiss as if she had been waiting ages for this moment, pulling a muffled moan out of you. Heat swam through your blood with a burning desire when she brought your face in between her hands, pulling you closer to her.

And you were too lost in the moment to realize that the two of you weren’t truly alone.

Your lungs demanded air, causing you to pull away from her. Your cheeks flushed with embarrassment as you looked down, taking a step back as you chewed on your bottom lip. Wanda released a pant, a laugh as she finally let go of your wrist. “Did you just…” She trailed off, breathless, looking up at her in time to see her shaking her head. “Did you just say that you love me?”

You could feel your eyes widen, your cheeks burning hotter than a fire. Did you say that? Your mind was foggy, covered in a haze that jumbled your thoughts. “No, I just-” You shook your head, nervously rubbing the back of your neck as you avoided eye contact once again. “I… think you misheard me. I definitely-”

“I love you, Y/N,” she interrupted, smiling widely when you remade eye contact with her. You couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with pure joy and happiness at her confession, your face lighting up brighter than the sun as a laugh bubbled out of your throat. You felt as joyous as a kid on Christmas day.

You breathed out, and it was the first time in a while that your chest didn’t bring you any pain. You were relieved from the agony, only temporary, and you weren’t going to take this moment for granted. Because she loved you. And she isn’t lying about it. “I have to…” Your voice trailed off, feeling yourself getting lost once more in her emerald eyes, the smile remaining on your face. “Go. I have to go.” You gestured towards the car, breathing out slowly. You cleared your throat when you heard the screen door open, your form straightening as you forced yourself to look away from Wanda. 

“We’re going to take the car so that way you can take the van,” Natasha declared, announcing her presence as she walked up to the two of you. You watched as the kid walked past you, sliding open the van door and jumping in. “We figured Sanders would have more use with the tech in there than we would.”

“He’s at home,” you added, a sly smirk growing on your face. “I’m, like, eighty percent sure he lives in that van.”

“I heard that!” You laughed when you heard him call out to you, removing yourself away from the two ladies to join him at the van. You leaned against the vehicle, watching him double-check the equipment. After your fight with Steve inside the confined space, you wouldn't be surprised if something was broken. 

“How’re you doing?” you asked him, catching his hands faltering for a moment at your question. 

“I’m just making sure you didn’t ruin anything during your tussle with Captain America.” He looked over his shoulder towards you, and you couldn’t help but smile softly as you climbed into the van. His voice carried a small hint of laughter as he added, “I’m still surprised you got out of that alive.”

“Well, I do have your little gadgets to thank.” Your arms crossed over your chest, looking at the floor of the van for a brief moment before you said, “You know, faking a smile is easier than explaining your feelings, but there will always be someone out there capable of seeing the truth.” He averted his gaze, a tool used to prevent people from taking a closer look at them. Only you had already gotten as close as you can, and you had already seen what he was trying to hide. “Your first mission isn’t what you’d think it’d be, huh?”

He released a heavy sigh, looking back at the computer screen in front of him as he chewed the inside of his cheek. “I’m getting there.” He turned his head back towards you, sending you a small smile, yet you could see in his eyes that his words were a lie. “We’re the good guys. We always win.” But at what cost? That bad feeling that twisted your stomach ever since you had woken up from your nap had yet to leave. Maybe catching Wanda in the act of kissing Vision wasn’t the bad thing that was going to happen today. Maybe something worse was on the roster, and you just had to be a bit more patient.

Your eyes drifted away from him, eyeing the taser pen resting on the desk, right next to the tracking device. You remember him explaining the devices to Moffitt as if it had happened five minutes ago. You moved closer to him, leaning a hand against the desk while your other hand rested on his shoulder. He continued to look at you, eyes wide. “We try,” you assured him, matching his soft smile. You held up a fist, and he laughed lightly as he met it with a fist of his own. You grinned, ruffling his hair and chuckling when he swatted you away.

You watched the humor fade away from his eyes, his body turning slightly towards you. “We’re… We’re still not letting go, right?” You straightened your form as much as you could, your head spinning to look outside the van, your eyes marveling at an oblivious Wanda with a brightness you couldn’t make up.

“Sometimes, holding on does more damage than letting go.” 

He pursed his lips together, his eyes wandering away from you in thought. And then he smiled, though the expression still has yet to meet his eyes. “That’s a lot of maturing within the past few hours, Y/N,” he pointed out, causing you to look back at him with a shrug.

“You can’t have a better future if you’re too busy thinking about the past.” You patted his back before making your way out of the van, looking at him once more over your shoulder before tucking the pen into your pocket.

“You ready?” Wanda stepped up to you, gesturing towards the car parked behind the van. Bruce had already loaded up in the driver’s seat, Natasha waiting in the passenger’s seat, and you felt yourself begin to regret your plan. Was this really the best route? Maybe there was another way, a better way. But you knew that your doubtful thinking was just the part of you that didn’t want to separate yourself from Wanda. Yet you still found yourself in a state of uncertainty.

“As ready as I will ever be,” you confessed, nodding. Wanda breathed out, crossing her arms over her chest. 

“Don’t die,” she ordered, causing a small smile to tug the corner of your lips. “We just admitted our love to each other, it’d be cruel if you didn’t give me another chance to say it.”

“Say it now then,” you told her, raising an eyebrow as a smirk plagued your lips. 

“I would,” she admitted, and she had seemed to grow taller, hovering over you as her eyes darkened, “but I have to give you something to come back for.” She sent you a sly wink - your stomach could definitely make professional gymnasts jealous with how many somersaults it's doing right now. You opted to laugh it off as you gripped her forearm, feeling the heat of her skin underneath your fingertips. “So, don’t die.” 

You met her eyes, the lust that had swam in the green pools had evaporated into sorrow. She didn't want to split up, not now. She wanted to be by your side just as she always is in 99% of the missions she does for SHIELD. But you subtly shook your head at her, biting back the frown that threatened your lips when her shoulders fell.

You were pulled away from her when a honk cut through the air, and you sighed as you looked over at the waiting car for a brief moment before looking back at Wanda. “I’ll see you in a few hours,” you assured her, attempting to ease the mood by sending her a small grin, “where I’ll be hearing that L word again.” She watched as you walked away, the smile that had stretched her lips slowly fading away.

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If you were given the option to sit in a car with the person your ex beat up on your behalf, or the two people who were the reason for your entire life falling apart, you’d choose the former without hesitation. At least he was somewhat of an adult. But, here you were, stuck in a car with the two people who destroyed your world without any second thoughts. With one of them seemingly hellbent on making it up to you.

The silence was suffocating you. You’d do quite literally anything to remove yourself from the situation - jumping out of the vehicle was the first thing that came to mind, but Bruce was smart enough to put the child locks on. You couldn't open the door even if you tried.

You stared out the window, tugging the rubber band against your wrist and watching the city of New York pass by as you attempt to ignore the backward glances you were getting from Natasha. There was one thing in your life that you were grateful for: Natasha doesn’t have the ability to read your mind. If she did, she’d see you replay the heated kiss you shared with Wanda outside the house. 

“We’re almost there.” Bruce’s voice cut through the smothering silence, pulling you out of your thoughts, but you didn’t tear your eyes away from the window to acknowledge him.  “Are you sure this is the way to go?” You eyed the towering compound through the window, breathing in slowly as the facility crept closer and closer. The world around you had no idea what was happening, had no idea that a giant threat sat inside a building a lot of civilians looked up to every day.

“If either of you are having doubt, you’re more than welcome to back out,” you expressed, looking towards the front of the car. “Just drop me off at the doors before you do.” Like a parent dropping their kid off at school, only they’ll most likely be dropping you off to your demise.

“I’m not letting you go in there alone,” Natasha declared, and you made the mistake of turning your head to meet her piercing gaze. The tension that had been building the closer you got to the compound slowly rolled off your shoulders under her soothing eyes. And when you breathed out, you could feel yourself relax. “We’re in this together, Y/N.”

“I’m in.” Natasha looked towards Bruce at his statement, giving you the opportunity to blink yourself out of the daze she placed you in. You had forgotten about Bruce’s existence for a moment there. And, by the look of subtle irritation coloring the redhead’s face, you could tell that she, too, had decided to ignore the scientist’s presence. “Besides, they already know we’re here.” You moved your head to look out the windshield, realizing that he had pulled into the parking lot.

“It’s clear that you’ve never done a recon mission before, Banner,” you stated, not missing the small smile that tugged Natasha’s lips before she quickly turned away from you. You couldn’t help but be annoyed - whose good idea was it to let him drive?

Your car was soon surrounded by multiple SHIELD agents, though the purple glow plaguing their eyes was plenty to tell you that they were currently not on your side. You figured that’d be the case. The car was forced to a stop, a sigh escaping your throat as you leaned against the seat. You had to think, to come up with something in the time you had before they let chaos rain down on you. You were in a vulnerable position, knowing the moment you got out of the vehicle, you’d be killed.

“We come with an offering.” You looked up at Natasha’s voice, seeing that she had rolled the window down. Turns out, you didn’t have as much time to think as you had hoped. “We have what you’re looking for.”

“Nat, wha-” Your voice caught in your throat when the door next to you unlocked mere seconds before it was pulled open. She seemed to refuse to meet your eye, keeping her head forward as hands gripped your arm tightly. Your heart had leaped into your throat as they dragged you out of the car, Natasha’s name pouring out of your mouth in a desperate attempt for her to help you, but why would she help you if she was the reason they were tugging you away? She had offered you up on a silver platter, and they were more than happy to eat off the plate.

The moment your feet landed on the ground, you didn’t hesitate to put up a fight. Fueled by anger, you sent your fist flying into the first agent you saw, knocking them back against the car door. You gripped their shirt collar, reaching into your pocket, but there were just too many people surrounding you for you to throw another one. Your elbow was caught in someone’s hold, the pen that you had just managed to pull out falling to the floor, and your shirt started being tugged multiple different ways by a million different hands until, finally, you were pulled off the singular agent you had pinned.

You were ultimately forced to comply, overwhelmed by too many Believers to even be able to make a dent. They took you away from the car, casting a glance towards Natasha as you passed by the front, but she had lowered her head to avoid eye contact. The anger had been flushed out of you as they led you to the entrance of the compound, replaced by hurt and betrayal.

Once again, you were screwed because of Natasha Romanoff.

You felt like a criminal, boxed in by SHIELD agents as they marched you down the hall. At least they didn’t cuff your hands, that would’ve put the icing on top of the cake. There was also an indistinct beeping noise that’d reach your ears every now and again, but you were incapable of getting a good look at your surroundings while being caged in a box of people.

You don’t know what they did to Natasha and Bruce, having lost sight of them the second they had led you through the doors of the compound. But you were sure they would be unharmed considering they handed you over without hesitation. Natasha didn’t fully reject the promise, she was only forced out of it. Did they still have their claws dug into her? And Bruce. You were unsure of the story he had fabricated now. You should’ve double-checked with Vision before anything. If they are still in cahoots with the Church, there’s a possibility that they know your plan. And that means Wanda could be in trouble.

And what was that inconsistent beeping?

“Welcome back, deviant.” The agents in front of you parted to reveal the woman you had encountered at the “arms deal,” the twins flanking her side. She sent you a wicked smile, a victorious grin. She had you surrounded, there wasn’t anything you could do to get out of this one. She laughed sarcastically as she said, “Nothing funny to say?”

You were at the entrance of Tony’s lab, you knew that much; you were pretty sure you could see the back of Tony and Clint's heads behind the woman, seemingly packing up the expensive, sensitive equipment into boxes. And, although your eyes scanned for any tactical advantage, you knew you were shit out of luck. Surrounded by Believers, it was you against the world. It was only a matter of time before they revealed the team, showing just how easy it was for them to convince your friends that the Promise was the way of life. If only you could get a message to Wanda, tell her to run, but even if you could, there was a part of you that knew she wouldn’t listen to you either way.

Loyalty was always a killer.

“What’s your decision, Y/N?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. Her wide smile has yet to waver, knowing exactly what you knew. No escape; only acceptance or death.  “Do you really want to continue suffering in pain? We can set you free from it.” As much as you want to experience that kind of reprieve again, you weren't willing to give up the whole world for it.

You could sense movement behind you, agents separating to allow more people to enter the room. You turned your head slightly, making brief eye contact with the green eyes of Natasha as she passed, Bruce trailing not too far behind her. Your jaw clenched tightly as you averted your gaze to the ground, eyebrows furrowed. “I’m not giving in to you.” You picked your head up, eyes narrowed. “I won’t let you take over.”

Natasha stood behind the twins, Bruce attached to her like a puppy to its owner. “It’s a shame,” the woman declared, drawing your attention back to her. “You have a formidable mind and will, Y/N. That would’ve made for a great Matriarch.” She tsked in disappointment, shaking her head. “You’ll only get in the way.” She waved her hand dismissively, and the surrounding SHIELD agents all turned to you.

You stood tall as the woman walked away, high heels clacking against the floor, the twins remaining in their spot as Natasha whispered something to Bruce behind them. The twins popped their knuckles, cracked their necks, did something to make them seem more threatening than they actually are, but you knew you could easily take them on if they didn’t have an army. You found yourself falling into a fighting stance, figuring if you were going to go down, you might as well go down with some pride.

“C’mon, boys,” you taunted, smirking at them from behind your fists, “who’s first?” When they stepped towards you at the same time, you shook your head. “Even better.” You braced yourself, managing to block the first punch, but a fist from the side caught you off guard. You should’ve known these people wouldn’t play fair.

You staggered at the force of the punch, rubbing your jaw as you sighed. When you looked at the twins, they were smiling with amusement, clearly thriving on your failure. What you thought was going to be a two versus one turned out to be too many versus one. Everybody that was around you right now was more than willing to throw themselves into the fight, but they were also enjoying the moment. Having you boxed in with a fist flying at you no matter who you got close to, was humorous to them. This was nothing like the movies.

You squared up one more time, stepping towards the twins, but you got lost in your head when you watched Natasha step uncomfortably closer to Bruce behind them. Was she lying even more? Was there still something between her and him? Why do you care how close the redhead got to the scientist? You were letting go, moving on. Natasha’s your past, Wanda’s your present.

You didn’t see it at first, the item she had in her fist. It was hard to spot with the twins blocking your line of sight, but when one of them moved toward you, you weren’t prepared to block their punch. Another hit to the jaw, only this one was stronger than the first, sending your ass to the floor the moment it happened. Yet, your position down there gave you a good view. Natasha drove whatever she was holding into Bruce’s side, and the way he tensed at whatever she punctured him with had the same effects as if he was electrocuted. You furrowed your eyebrows with confusion, being forced to your feet before you had time to process what the hell was going on.

You came face to face with one of the twins, his fists gripping your shirt tightly as your feet barely touched the ground in his hold. You couldn’t see around his head, too busy wondering what the hell was happening in the background to try and get out of this situation you’re in. The grunts of struggles coming from Bruce caused everybody to turn, your feet slowly touching the ground as Natasha backed away from him. His fists clenched tightly as he fought against an invisible force. But when his eyes opened, the brown irises had turned a bright green. 

You felt a hand grip your elbow, pulling you away from the transforming scientist, away from the lab. And, just before you turned your back on them, you could hear the spine-chilling scream of the Hulk. You didn’t hesitate to run after that, following Natasha down the hall and around the corner, but neither of you stopped, desperate to gain the distance between you and the jolly green giant.

You don’t know how far you ran, but your legs were burning and your chest was tight as you came to a stop in a random hallway. Natasha looked at you, both of you breathing heavily in an attempt to catch your breaths. She said your name, but you waved her off as you walked forward. You pressed yourself against the wall, risking a quick peek around the corner before continuing on, but you didn’t get far before you felt her hand on your shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” she persisted, but you were quick to shrug her off of you, turning to look at her. 

“Am I just collateral damage to you at this point?” you sneered. “You practically already killed me once, you won’t hesitate to do it again.”

“We were surrounded, I had to do something.”

“And you offer me like I’m some kind of sacrificial lamb?!” You sucked in a deep breath, glancing over your shoulder as you slowly released it. You had to lower your voice otherwise you’d risk getting caught. You weren’t sure how far Hulk got into smashing, but with the quietness throughout the building, you felt as if it were safe to say that he didn’t get very far. “I’m not a pawn, Nat.”

“I had all the intention to save you, Y/N,” she declared. “Somehow, someway, I was going to protect you.” You watched in bitterness as she swiped her hand across her face, getting rid of the hairs that were tickling her skin. Your complexion was red with anger, tight fists formed against your sides, but you managed enough to have your shoulders relax and unclench your hands. You ripped the rubber band off your wrist and, against your better judgment, handed it to her with a heavy breath. Her eyebrows furrowed in brief confusion, but a small smile landed on her face as she accepted the gesture, pulling her hair into a loose ponytail.

“Don’t get any ideas,” you assured her, shaking your head.

“I didn’t say anything.” Yet her small, condescending smile only remained.

“That smile says otherwise,” you claimed.

“What’s that?” You didn’t realize just how close she had gotten - or was it you that moved towards her? Either way, her body was closer to yours, and you could feel the heat radiating in your cheeks at the closeness. Your gut twisted and your heart fluttered. No matter how many times you tell yourself you’re over Natasha Romanoff, your body seems to have different ideas.

You scoffed, smiling humorlessly. You weren’t going to fall for her games. “It is over, Natasha,” you told her, shaking your head as you took a step away from her. There was a twinge in your heart at the fall of her smile, but you swallowed that feeling. This was what’s best. “The fire that used to be between us is nothing but a dull ember now. There is not a damn thing here anymore.” You turned your back on her, feeling her eyes on your retreating form as you walked away. But she could only smile once more, a soft smirk, as you disappeared around the corner. Sometimes, an ember is all you need to start a fire.

All you need is a spark.

She trailed after you, observing as you made a connection as to where exactly in the compound you were. You breathed out, nodding your head as you turned to look at her. “They don’t seem to be protecting anything on this floor,” you expressed. “I mean, it’s just the kitchen. Only thing worth defending here is just food. Hey, what did you even use to trigger the Hulk like that?”

“This pen thing.” You looked over your shoulder in time to see her hold up the pen you had earlier, laughing lightly. She must’ve scooped it off the ground before she entered the tower. “Vision said they’re seeking population control,” Natasha said, following you as you made your way into the kitchen. You looked around when you heard another beep, only fainter than you had earlier. You chose to ignore it as the redhead continued, “They want to take over the world, but what do they want to do with it?” She placed the pen onto the island, watching as you dug through the cabinet to pull out a cup. “They clearly don’t need the power.” You moved in front of the sink, turning the faucet on, and she was by your side in an instant.

“Minions, probably,” you voiced absentmindedly, watching the cup in your hands fill up with water. When you pulled away, you looked at Natasha to see her raised eyebrow as you brought the glass to your lips. You rolled your eyes as you took a sip, shaking your head slightly as you shrugged casually. “I mean, what would you do with total population control? Whoever they convert is forced to obey them.” You looked to your right when you heard the same light beep as you had before, but when Natasha didn’t comment on it, you shook it off.

“So, they want to control people,” she said and you nodded, picking up your glass once more to take another sip. You stepped away from her, surveying the room and she leaned against the counter behind you. “And what are they going to do to the people who reject them? Like you.”

“Well, what does one typically do when someone gets in the way of their goal to take over an entire planet?”

She shrugged, answering nonchalantly, “Kill them, obviously.”

You swallowed a mouthful of water with a nod. “Obviously,” you breathed out.

“But they didn’t kill you.”

You shrugged. “She wanted to gloat,” you said. “She thought that maybe after I see what she’s truly capable of, I’d give in.” You breathed out, turning to look to your right at the sound of the faint beep. You scoffed, shaking your head as you placed your drink on the counter. You took the pen in between your fingers, looking at the secret weapon. “You gotta wonder how many other planets they successfully dominated before coming to earth. What is that beeping?” You stepped towards it, slyly pocketing the pen once again, but Natasha was quick to pull your attention back to her.

“You think this isn’t the first time they’ve done this?”

You looked at her, eyebrows furrowed. No, you don’t think this is the first time they’ve attempted a total population takeover. The woman was way too under the radar, no mistakes have been made yet. She had managed to take over a handful of people before she had taken Steve, and even more along the way of capturing most of the Avengers, yet none of it was on the news yet. She was working quickly and quietly. “I don’t even think she’s the leader,” you confessed. “I think this is an alien thing. It’s clearly way above our paygrade.” You ventured away from her, footsteps slow as your ears strained to hear the beep that has been pestering you.

“I saw you and Wanda kiss.” You froze at her rushed statement, turning to look at her as you tilted your head. She took a step towards you, her eyes wide and jaw locked as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Back at the safe house, I saw you kiss her.”

You were beyond dumbfounded at the moment. You had no idea why she was bringing this up now, but there was a feeling settling in the pit of your stomach. It was a feeling you couldn’t name, but it only grew stronger the longer she looked at you with a hint of pain hidden behind those green irises. Your mouth was open, but you had nothing to say. Hell, you shouldn’t even be the one defending yourself in this matter. Why does she care who you kiss? You’re no longer dating.

“So?” you decided to say once you finally managed to find your voice. You mirrored her stance, crossing your arms over your chest as you huffed. “Why do you care?”

“I still care about you,” she admitted. "I will always care about you."

“No-”

“I was dumb and stupid when I cheated on you, and it was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made in my entire life, Y/N. I just want you back.” She took another step, getting closer to you, and you were too frozen to move anymore. Pain in your chest, feeling as if someone was pushing down on you. You wanted her to stop talking, but you did nothing to prevent her from opening her mouth. “The Promise… It opened my eyes. Often the best way to appreciate something is to see what the world looks like when it's missing.”

“That’s not fair,” you declared, your voice a soft whisper. She took another step towards you, and you shook your head at her carefully. “Nat, don’t.”

“Y/N-”

“Any reason was good enough for you.” You pursed your lips together tightly, your nose burning as tears fill the brim of your eyes. “Any reason you could find was good enough for you to say goodbye. And now that I’m gone, you’re looking for any reason to get me back.”

“That’s not true,” she stated. “It’s you, Y/N, it’s always been you.”

Your bottom lip trembled as you looked away, sucking in a deep breath in an attempt to get yourself under control, and the pain that had started to form in your chest was starting to become near unbearable. How was just a few words strong enough to have this kind of an effect on you? “I don’t… I don’t believe you, Nat.” For some reason, you couldn’t seem to bring your voice above a whisper anymore. If you did speak louder, you knew you’d break. And you didn’t want to break. Not in front of her. “Please, Nat, now is not the time for this.”

“Are you really in love with her,” she started, “or are you just lonely?”

You felt the moment your heart froze, the entire room fell into silence as you picked your head up. You furrowed your eyebrows, moving your head to the side as you started to shake your head, but you were paralyzed. The quick forgiveness, the quick I love you. Was Natasha right? Were you so fast to dive into something with Wanda because you were just simply lonely? “No,” you declared, breathing out. “No, no. I truly love her.”

“Then why was I in your Promise?” She took another step towards you, your face contorting into pure confusion. You haven’t said your Promise to anybody. Was she guessing? Tricking you into confessing? Does she know you still have feelings for her somewhere deep inside of you? “It was me and her, wasn’t it? You had both of us in your fantasy, right?”

You quickly averted your gaze, your heart going faster than a racehorse in your chest. You were almost positive it was trying to launch out of your chest, rapidly beating against your ribcage in a desperate attempt to escape. Your hands shook as they slowly went down to your sides, squeezing your eyes shut. “No-”

“You can’t lie to me, Y/N,” she interrupted, her voice closer than it was five seconds ago. “You can tell me the truth, detka. It’s okay.” You felt her fingers rest under your chin, soft and gentle, forcing you to pick your head up, but you were too afraid to open your eyes. You knew if you met the warm, dark green irises, you’d give in to a desire you thought you had quenched forever ago. “Hey" - her thumb ran across your chin, soothing, warm, you found yourself leaning into it - "at least you didn’t stab us in the back.”

Your eyes flew open, and your galloping heart immediately stopped when you looked into the fine layer of purple covering the emeralds, a cunning smirk lifting the corner of her lips. You tore your head out of her grip, staggering backward as she laughed, the sound causing goosebumps to tear up your spine. “There’s really no escaping us, Y/N.” You heard the heels before you saw her, your head snapping towards the entrance behind the redhead in time to watch the woman enter the room, only the twins flanked her this time. She found no need for an entire army, not when she had Natasha on her side. "You're pretty smart, figuring things out on your own. Why aren't you the leader of earth's mightiest heroes?" She chuckled lowly, menacingly, shaking her head as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I’m not letting you go this time. No, no. I think I’m going to supervise it.” She glanced at Natasha, smiling sinisterly. “I kinda want to see the two of you go at it. A… lover's quarrel… in a messed up kind of way.”

There was another beep behind you, but it had become irrelevant at the moment. 

Natasha stepped towards you, forcing you to step back. “No, Nat, listen. It’s not real, what she’s showing you. It isn’t real!” She took another step, and the panicked fear caused your heart to start beating in your throat. You held your hands out to her, gesturing for her to stop, but she ignored it. “Nat, please. Please, wake up. Whoever you’re seeing, that isn’t Y/N. I’m right here.”

“It’s too bad you’re going to die,” the woman stated as you took a risk in looking away from Natasha to her. You spotted a small device dangling from her hand, trying to process what the hell it was. “You would’ve loved seeing it all blow up.” You furrowed your eyebrows with confusion, but when another beep reached your ears, the puzzle seemed to connect into place in your mind. The strategically placed beeps, packing up the lab, the small device she subtly flaunted your way - she was going to destroy the tower, but for what? What was the point in moving everything out if they have full control?

You barely had time to dodge, Natasha's fist flying at you out of nowhere, feeling her knuckles harmlessly grazing your chin. You were, once again, straying away from reality to get lost in your thoughts. And the redhead didn't seem to have any intentions of taking it easy, immediately going in for another attack you just narrowly managed to avoid.

"I'm not going to fight you, Nat," you declared, shaking your head. You managed to gather yourself by the time she threw a third punch, expertly swerving out of the path. This was different from all the times you had sparred with her; she was actually trying to hurt you. And you didn't hold it above her. 

"There's no use. It's too late," the woman called out as you held up your arm to block Natasha's leg. "She's already accepted us. She's a Believer, and you're just a Deviant she's assigned to kill."

You had to make her aware of the false reality her mind was living in, just like how you became alerted when you had almost succumbed to the Promise. It wasn't too late, you still had a chance. But you didn't have anything to use on her to pull her from her realistic reverie. Your pleads clearly held no effect, and you could feel your arms growing tired of quickly working to avoid further damage to your body.

Maybe the unnamed woman was right. Maybe it was too late.

You dodged one last time in desperation, catching Natasha's wrist as it whizzed by your face, and you were swift to grip her other hand. You used this advantage without hesitation, pulling her towards you, pressing her body against your own. You stared into her eyes, resentful towards the purple shrouding the green, feeling her breath fan across your face as your stomach fluttered at the closeness. She wasn't fighting this, sensing her muscles relaxing underneath the grip you held on her wrists. 

It felt like the two of you were alone, the room around you fading away into darkness. Your cheeks flushed red, hot to the touch, as your nose just barely grazed hers. And there was a moment you caught, how her eyes flickered back and forth between the purple and green, your voice coming out in a small, breathy whisper, "You need to kill me." 

"No." She shook her head, and you watched a singular tear steadily roll down her cheek. There was a part of you that convinced yourself that she was becoming aware, that she was consumed once again in the Church's empty promise. "Y/N, I can't-"

"I know it's hard," you told her quietly, sucking in a deep breath as you slowly released her hands, "but you have to do it, Nat. Please."

She sucked in a deep breath, and when her eyes slowly began to fade back to green, you released a breath of relief. "I love you." The breath that was parting your lips caught in your throat as you watched the green in her eyes transform once more to a purple glow in what felt like slow motion, your hand quickly gripping the pen in your pocket and driving it into her at the same time she lurched towards you. Her body tensed at the electricity coursing through her, tears filling your eyes as you pulled away. She fell to the floor, and you released a heavy yet painful breath as the pen dropped out of your hand.

"You're a nuisance," the woman stated through clenched teeth, and you laughed humorlessly as you took a small, shaky step towards her.

"Looks like you're gonna have to kill me yourself, lady." It was somehow getting a bit difficult to get the words out as confidently as you felt, taking another step toward her. "Or are you gonna put one of your lackeys on me again?” You huffed, your arm subconsciously coddling your stomach. “Do you even know how to fight?"

She immediately held up a hand when the twins took a step towards you, her jaw locked tightly as her eyes narrowed at you. You were finding standing up straight to be strenuous, working double-time against the pulsating pain working its way through your abdomen. The anger written on her face in the form of a scowl, her teeth bared as a growl of frustration crawled out of her throat. Her heels clacked with aggression as she crossed the room to reach you, and despite how tough it was for you to even lift your arms, you fought against the aching so you could hold your fists up, give yourself some kind of defense.

She didn’t need to try very hard, though. The exhaustion, the pain, the misery, it was all seemingly getting to you, deterring you from even attempting to block her steel-like fist from coming in contact with your jaw. The impact was solid, enough to force you to stagger at the punch, but she didn’t let you stumble to the ground when your legs gave out. She caught you against her, your head resting tiredly on her shoulder as you breathed out a painful gasp. That’s when you saw it, the kitchen knife halfway buried into your gut. The adrenaline must’ve prevented you from processing the penetration, your mind racing back a few seconds in time to fully comprehend when this new accessory was added. 

Did Natasha really stab you?

You bit back a yell, greatly wincing when she tore the blade out of your abdomen. Blood loss was imminent at this point, nothing you could currently do would prevent it. You couldn’t prevent your body from falling to the floor like a ragdoll when the woman took a step back, a cough that scratched your throat only caused more pain to your stomach than it did anything else. And, dammit, it was so painful to breathe. Your vision blurred, your insides screamed out in agony, your mind told you to quit, and your entire body was agreeing. But your heart, still beating vigorously in your chest despite your circumstances, said otherwise. When you slowly pushed yourself up on your hands, maneuvering your body so that you were on your knees, the woman scoffed as she watched your struggle to sit up.

“You just don’t give up, do you?” You breathed in steadily, out even more so, and your mind screamed at you to just give in, to lay down, take a nap. Just close your eyes, Y/N, it’s okay.

This was as far as you could make it, stuck on your hands and knees as whoever was in the room looked down at you in pity. “No.” You were unsure if you were answering the woman, or if you were talking to the voice in your head. Either way, the answer was still, “No.”

“Honestly,” she declared, making her way back to you, “I should’ve handled you myself in the beginning. Taking care of the problem is as easy as one” - she dug the tip of her heel into your, pushing you off your hands and forcing you into a kneeling position - “two” - you looked up at her as she smiled wickedly, victorious, the bloody knife gripped so tightly in her hand as she prepared to deliver the final blow.

“Y/N!” You looked behind the woman on instinct, watching as Natasha fended off one of the twins as she threw something toward you. Your heart moved back up into your throat as you held out your hands instinctively, the woman not having time to process what was happening until the small device landed in your hands.

She looked at you as you met her gaze, her eyes wide with fear as the pieces connected in her mind. Holding up the device, you sent the woman a toothy, blood-covered grin as you finished her counting for her, “Three.”

A high-pitched squeal was the last thing you heard before a powerful force from behind knocked you unconscious.

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“Why are there so many people?” Wanda groaned in frustration, forcing to stop the van behind the miles of cars in front of her. She tapped against the steering wheel impatiently, trying her best to get a good look over the other vehicles to see what the hold up was. 

“It’s like they don’t know the world’s in danger,” Sanders added, earning a glare from the witch through the rearview mirror. He raised his hands up innocently. “It’s just a typical day in New York. Not that you guys would know anything about that. You probably take those fancy jets everywhere you go.”

Vision turned to look at him over his shoulder, his eyebrows furrowed with curiosity as he asked, “Are those jokes?”

Sanders laughed, shaking his head. “That’s a very subtle way to tell me to get new material, dude.”

The android looked at Wanda, his eyes as soft as they could be as he cleared his throat to gain her attention. “I believe we should talk about what happened back at the house, Wanda.”

She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as her mind raced back to the kiss; how soft your lips were, how bright the fire burned in her gut, the forlorn desire for the moment to never end, and the desperate need for her to recreate that moment with you over and over again until her lips were sore. She gasped when a sudden honk behind her pulled her out of her daze, sending a sideways glance towards Vision. “What happened?”

“The kiss,” Vision answered, and Wanda furrowed her eyebrows deeply at the response. She was sure nobody saw that exchange between you and her, then again, she was so lost in the moment, she wasn’t paying attention to anything but you. Still, she was sure Vision would’ve mentioned it sooner if he had witnessed it. “You returned the kiss.”

She breathed out, finally understanding what he was referring to. “It was just a kiss, Vis,” she assured him. “You shouldn’t have kissed me.”

“I’m still trying to understand what happened between us, Wanda,” he stated, turning his body as much as he could so he could face her. “I believed everything was going well with our relationship.”

She released a heavy sigh, her grip on the steering wheel tightening as she found herself desperately praying for a distraction. “Vis, I-”

“Hey, so, I may not have always paid attention to the building, but was there always a huge crack on the side?” Sanders appeared in between the seats to point up at the compound several miles away, Wanda’s eyes following his finger. She could feel her stomach drop to her toes as she quickly unbuckled her seatbelt, putting the van in park before clambering out of the vehicle.

Her stomach twisted and heart squeezing as she raced past all the parked cars, reaching the reason for the traffic as she reached a blockade. People formed a large crowd, the witch impatient as she pushed her way through. She ignored the calls for her, ducking under the police barricade upon reaching it, but she didn’t get much farther when she felt a strong, vice-like grip grab her arm. She was forced to a stop, glancing over her shoulder to meet the cool blue eyes of Vision. “Wanda, stop.” His voice was harsh, demanding, and she knew he was right. She should stop, the building was too dangerous to even go near, but you were in there.

Red tendrils of smoke swam her fingers as she looked back at the android, his blue eyes meeting her menacing red ones, and he knew exactly what she was about to do. “Let me go, Vis.” Her warning was not to be taken lightly as she lifted her hand up, her lips pursing together in a tight, thin line as he anticipated the impact, but the ground was soon shaking beneath their feet. Her head swiveled towards the tower, the giant crack spreading as an explosion from the inside threw debris dangerously close to the growing crowd. Nobody hesitated to leave, screams of terror and footsteps fading away from Wanda, yet she remained, her eyes watching, wide with horror, as the building in front of her slowly fell apart.

And, when the dust settled, she tried to move towards it, but Vision’s grip remained tight. “She’s in there!”

“With that amount of destruction, chances of survival are extremely low, Wanda.” He released her when he saw her shoulders fall, her eyes scanning the fallen building with hope that you’d pull a hero moment and walk into view, but that hope was slowly dwindling down with each passing second. If she wasn’t suddenly aware of her breathing, she would’ve assumed she wasn’t alive as she couldn’t seem to feel her heart beating in her chest anymore.

She had to accept the fact that Vision was right, surviving that would’ve been an absolute miracle. Tears obscured her vision, her jaw clenched with anger as her hands tightened into fists by her sides. Her mouth became dry, her chest tightened with unease, and her voice came out as a snarl, venomized between her locked teeth, “I’m going to destroy them from the inside out.”

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The ringing, long, steady, high-pitched, it never seemed to end. It was the only thing you could hear, muffling the sounds around you as you slowly picked your head up. Smoke filled the air, climbing into your lungs as debris littered the ground. Were you screaming? Calling for help? The suffocating pain in your throat held evidence that you could be, but you weren’t entirely sure.

When you tried to move, a sharp twinge traveled up your spine and threw you back to the ground, pinning you to the hard surface beneath you. It felt like fire blazing through your bones every time you slightly shifted, deterring you from trying to get up once again. You sucked in a slow, deep breath, but smoke was the only thing you could inhale. Your attempt to relax, even a little bit, was feeble. You forced yourself to focus, squeezing your eyes shut to pass the burning sensation for a moment and, when you opened them, you finally managed to process what exactly was going on.

The Avengers Tower was gone.

You bit back against the discomfort to glance over your shoulder, seeing the great deal of debris securing you in place. You couldn’t move even if you wanted to, no strength left in your body to try to get out of the situation you were finding yourself in. You opened your mouth, but the only thing that entered was the smoke drifting through the air.

Your vision darkened at the edges, and your fingers clawed against the surface in a last-ditch effort to escape, but, deep down, you knew there was no use. Your mind was beginning to become hazy, and the longer you fought against unconsciousness, the more of the pain you felt. You let it take you, succumbing to darkness.

“Be careful with her.” 

"I am."

Voices in the void, they were familiar, but your mind was swimming in murky water, incapable of pinpointing exactly which voice belonged to who. You were aware, though your eyes didn’t seem to want to announce your consciousness, forced to linger in this black hole, powerless in your state. The ability to move, speak, think, feel, all gone.

“Get to the car.” You wanted to remember where you were, to remember what happened, but you couldn’t get your brain out of the fog. How long has it been?  Wanda. Where was Wanda? Natasha? You wanted to see them, at least one of them, to know that they were okay. You needed to wake up, ask questions. Who are these voices and are they trustworthy? “We have a long drive.” 

“I’m assuming you know wh…” The voice faded away, as if it was only passing by. At least here, in the void, you didn’t feel pain. And, because of that, you didn’t want to wake up, to not face the pain you knew would be waiting for you when you were greeted to the light. Nothing was better than everything.

It was quiet now. Left in solitary, left alone with your cloudy thoughts and empty feelings in the darkness. Who could ever live like this? Stuck in a void for the rest of your life, paralyzed in a field of endless nothingness, darkness everywhere you looked. You could feel yourself suffocating, panic seizing your chest and traveling up your throat. You wanted to wake up. 

"Hurry, there isn't much time." The voices were back, and the panic was gone. You wanted to know what was going on, who was here, where they were taking you. You were losing track of time in this void. It could've been five minutes or five hours, it was beyond your ability to grasp. 

“Be gentle.”

"Nat?" No, it was no use. You couldn't even hear yourself, whoever was on the other side of the black wall wouldn't be able to hear you, either.

"I am."

You needed something to wake you up, like an alarm clock, a splash of water, a jolt of electricity, something. 

“Why did you bring her here?” A third voice. Who was that? As if you knew who the first two voices even belonged to.

"She needs a doctor."

"I'm not that kind of…" Faded, indistinct. You couldn't hear them anymore. It was like you didn't belong in the conversation, passing by a loud group of people on the street, only capable of catching a few sentences here and there. 

You suddenly grew tired, the blackness around you seemingly lulling you to exhaustion. You knew it was only a matter of time, and maybe this'll be the last time you close your eyes. Because, as much as you tried to fight it, you could feel your heartbeat slowing to a stop. It was blissful, not aching every millisecond. And you would soon be granted that level of reprieve permanently here in a second. All you had to do was accept your fate, and you'll be on your way to heaven…

Everything hurt; from breathing to even thinking. And the darkness? It wasn't so dark anymore. There was a mellowness to it, a lighter color than it was seemingly five seconds ago. More gray now. Your fingers, you could feel a soft material underneath you. You were progressing to a state of consciousness, your mind slowly climbing out of the murky water as you started to remember. The explosion, the crumbling, the building, the falling. How are you alive?

There was a noise, faint, at first, but gradually growing louder with each second. Water pouring into a cup, not far from you, followed by the incoherent babbling of people. You weren't alone, but who was there? 

Your mouth was numb, dry, and pain erupted up your arm when it involuntarily twitched in an effort to wake up. You wanted to open your eyes, but you were still so tired. You fell deeper into whatever you were laying on, breathing out slowly, ignoring the slight burn in your chest at the motion. Yet, no matter how long your eyes remained closed, you couldn't get yourself to fall back into that painless void. You were forced to wake up.

The light was bright, and it took you a while to readjust to the world once more. It took you even longer to register where the hell you were, laying in a bed in the middle of a random bedroom, a TV playing softly in the background. There was only one person in the room with you, their back on you, but you didn't need to look at their face to know who it was - her red hair was enough of an identifier. Yet, as the memories of what had happened rush back into your mind at an overwhelming pace, you could feel the climb of your heartbeat.

You wanted to cry out, the pain absolutely unbearable as you struggled to sit up, but you managed to do it with limited noise. Natasha was none the wiser of your awareness, surveying the closest objects to you in search of a weapon. A pair of scissors resting on the nightstand would have to do, but the journey in reaching them was a different story.

Natasha turned around at the sound of the lamp falling over when you leaned against the table a little too hard, but you managed to snag the scissors just in time to hold it up to her when she stepped towards you. You met her vibrant green eyes - filled with worry and sorrow yet happiness and joy all at once - but there was no relief flowing through you. You fell for it once, not again.

You attempted to speak, but your tongue seemed to refuse to leave the roof of your mouth. Natasha saw the fight and shallowly shook her head. "Take it easy, Y/N, you're still healing." She took another step towards you, and you pointed the scissors at her.

"S- St-op!" Your voice was loud, and, oh, man, did that bring a whole array of pain onto you. Your hand shook, your eyes wide with fear, and Natasha's arms slowly lifted in the air to show you that she was unarmed. But you knew the redhead didn't need any weapons, her hands were dangerous enough.

"I'm not going to hurt you." Her voice was soft, warm, low so as to not alarm you. And, completely against your will, it brought a soothing sensation in the pit of your stomach, and the scissors in your hand lowered an inch.

The bedroom door opened, and you winced as you maneuvered yourself to quickly point the small weapon at whoever was entering. Your eyes seemed to only grow wider when you met the baby blue gaze of Steve Rogers, slowly pressing yourself against the wall.

"Steve, don't." Natasha gestured for him to stop, and he complied willingly, yet his wary eyes remained on you. "Y/N," she called for you, your head slightly tilting towards her voice, and when she didn't get your full attention, she tried again, "Y/N, look at me."

You listened to her, the scissors remained pointed at Steve. You shook your head, your bottom lip trembling as you fought against the agony in simply swallowing a mouthful of saliva. "Don't hurt me."

"The Church is gone." Her smile was small, yet it filled you with comfort. "You did it, dorogoy. You stopped them."

Your lips pursed in an attempt to get them to stop shaking, your eyes filling with tears, your nose burning, and your face turning red. You… won? It’s over? You can rest now? 

She was slow, her steps towards you strategic. You didn't realize just how close she was getting until it was too late. Her grip around your fingers was gentle as she carefully took the scissors out of your hand, setting the sharp tool back onto the nightstand before you found yourself falling into her arms, thriving in the warmth and softness as your face hid in her shoulder.

Once you started, you couldn't seem to stop crying despite your body feeling like it was tearing itself apart with each sob that racked your chest. She rubbed your back up and down, calming and reassuring, feeling her rest her chin on the top of your head. Steve had given the two of you the room once he was sure you were both safe, closing the door behind him as he left.

You were unsure how long you've been crying for, but your sobs have eventually settled into soft hiccups. 

"Would you like a drink?" You nodded against her, and she laughed lightly as she carefully peeled herself away from you. You found yourself reaching for her as she walked away, falling onto the bed as a small whimper escaped your lips. She returned with a cup, sitting down on the edge of the mattress as she held it out for you.

The soft TV was the only thing bending the veil of silence as you took slow sips of water. You glanced at Natasha, breathing in and out steadily as you handed her the cup. "What happened?"

"What do you remember?" She placed the glass onto the nightstand.

"I remember…" Your voice trailed off as you thought, eyebrows furrowed deeply as you retraced the last thing you remember. "The explosion. The- The woman. The…" Your lips pursed together to form a tight, thin line, a singular tear crawling its way down your face as you breathed in. No more crying, you had just done enough of it. “Is it really over?”

“It’s really over,” Natasha returned, soft and soothing. “You’re a hero, Y/N.” But it didn’t feel like you did it. You didn’t feel like a hero. No, you just felt an absurd amount of pain, and that bad feeling in your stomach still remained. Yet, there was nothing to anticipate. With the woman gone, the Church along with her, you knew there wasn’t anything to worry about. You had to force yourself to enjoy the peace. “I’m sorry I stabbed you.”

“I’m sorry I electrocuted your ass,” you expressed, “again.”

She laughed softly, a sound that soothed your nerves greatly as you rested your head against the pillows beneath you. “It’s something you’ve been waiting to do, huh,” she said and you scoffed, shaking your head with a grin. “Admit it.”

“Okay, okay, it felt good,” you joked, holding your hands up slightly in a surrender fashion. “It was very therapeutic, but I wouldn’t do it again.”

“You definitely would.”

You laughed, holding your stomach as pain caused your laughter to die, but the smile on your face remained. “Don’t make me laugh, Nat,” you pleaded, shaking your head as you looked up at the ceiling. And, as the laughter died down from the both of you, you couldn’t help but be curious enough to ask, “Did you reject the Promise?” Or was she lucky enough yet again to have to be able to avoid the hardest thing one would ever have to do.

Her sudden quietness caused you to turn your head towards her, catching the far away look she had in her eyes before she averted her gaze. It told you everything you needed to know. “It’s cruel… what you have to do to reject them.” She cleared her throat, clenching her hands into tight fists to subdue the tremors taking over. You felt the need to reach out to her, to comfort her in some way, but you remained still. She breathed out, shaky, as she picked her head up to look at you, a soft, broken smile pulling at her lips. “But what’s winning without a sacrifice?” This time, you turned away from her, looking down at your hands. “I think you should rest, Y/N.” She stood up with a sigh, crossing her arms over her chest as she added, “It’s a miracle you’re alive after that explosion.”

“What happened?” you questioned, furrowing your eyebrows as you looked up at her. “After the explosion, what happened?” And how the hell did she manage to be unscathed?

She sighed, shaking her head as she shrugged. “After you hit the button, the entire building started to go down. I figured it wasn’t possible to make it, so I… said my last goodbyes before everything went dark.” She pursed her lips together, her eyes traveling into the past as she continued, “When I woke up, Steve was carrying me out of the rubble, but I made him go back to find you.”

“She was very annoying about it.” You looked up to see Steve walk into the room, how he managed to open the door without you noticing was beyond you. “You know how stubborn Romanoff can be when it comes to the people she loves.” He breathed out a laugh as he held up a bowl. “I brought you something to eat.”

“I’m not… hungry.” 

You shook your head as he placed it on the nightstand, shrugging casually as he said, “It’ll be there for when you are then.” He crossed his arms over his chest as he looked down at you, breathing out. “I just wanted to apologize for-”

“Kicking my ass,” you said, and he laughed as he nodded. “Y’know, I told you I’d find you. Turns out, you’re the one who found me.”

“Well, you did promise you’d stop them,” he stated, “and you did keep that promise.” You chewed the inside of your cheek as you looked away from him, nodding your head slowly as you breathed out. “You did good work, Y/N, and I’m sorry for ever doubting you.”

“You had a right to doubt me,” you confessed, breathing in deeply as you looked back at him. “I’m not ready.”

“Y/N-”

“No, I… I wasn’t ready then, and I’m still not ready now.” Your eyes turned red, tears begging to be released. “I was wrong, Steve, and I was an ass to you and to Dr. Woods and… and to a lot of people, really, because I didn’t want to admit it. And, because of that, a lot of people have died. So…” You breathed out, looking down at your hands as your fingers played with each other.

“What’re you saying, Y/N?” Natasha’s voice was quiet, she knew where you were going with this, but she wanted to hear you say it.

“I’m putting in for my departure as a SHIELD agent and as an Avenger,” you announced, looking back up to meet Steve’s eyes. “Effective immediately.”

“Y/N-”

“This is what’s for the best, Steve,” you interrupted.

“I deny your request,” Steve declared, crossing his arms taut over his chest, “but I am going to order you to use up that vacation time you have saved up.”

“Steve-”

“If you’re willing to give up your job, then you’re already on the path of bettering yourself. You just need a bit longer to reach it.”

You hummed, half annoyed, half thoughtful. Steve was just as stubborn as Natasha, you’ve come to know, and there was really no use in arguing with him. You were too tired to try, anyway. You decided to give in to the patriot’s demand and move on. "How long has it been?"

"Six days." Natasha softly cleared her throat. “We were afraid you weren’t ever going to wake up.”

Almost a week. Wanda must be losing her mind. You had to find her, let her know that you’re okay, to tell her that word you want to hear her say over and over and over. You want to feel her, to kiss her, to hug her. You just want to see her. "Where are we?"

"Dr. Woods's house," Steve answered. "He's the only doctor we trusted until we could confirm the Church was truly gone."

"How do you know?" You furrowed your eyebrows, shaking your head and breathing out slowly. "How did you guys confirm it?"

"There's been a lack of inactivity since the tower went down," Natasha responded, but the look on your face caused her to become defensive as you started shaking your head. 

"Did you see a body?"

"Y/N, there's no way she could've made it out of that."

"We made it out of that, Nat," you declared

"There can't be more than two miracles a day."

"Did you see her body?"

She stared at you for a moment before she slowly shook her head.

"They're still out there." You huffed, laughing humorlessly. "I should've known nothing’s that easy. Especially in this life."

"Y/N-"

"I feel it, Nat!”

She sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. 

"No, no, no." You pushed the blankets off of you, but Natasha was quick to step closer to you and gently push you back down by your shoulders. "The Church is still out there!"

"They're not," she expressed softly, patiently. "It's been a week, Y/N, and we haven't heard anything since."

"That doesn’t mean anything!” You groaned out in pain, shaking your head as if trying to shake off the pain. “They- They've been under the radar for longer than a week before!" You huffed, pushing her hands off of you. "Where's Wanda? We need Wanda." And, by the way the redhead's face fell at the question, you figured the only answer she had was an answer you didn't want to hear. "No…"

"We've been trying to get in touch with her," Steve admitted. You felt the blood drain from your face, your eyes widening as you fell back into the pillows. "She hasn't been answering our calls. The same with Vision and Sanders."

"No." Your voice was tiny, weak, and you could feel your heart picking up speed, nearly convincing yourself you could hear it banging against your ribs. You shook your head slowly, biting your bottom lip. "What about- What about Tony? Clint?" You looked back at her, hopeful for even the smallest amount of good news.

Her shoulders fell, a soft sigh slightly parting her lips, and you already knew the answer to the question. She didn't need to say it. Your head fell back into the pillows, your eyes looking up at the ceiling. What have you done?

"Y/N-"

"Please… don't," you whispered, knowing that if you went any level above that, you'd hear the crack in your voice. You weren't thinking when you had pressed that button. There could've been another way. There is always another way.

"You guys have to see this." The voice was heard before you had a chance to process the door even opening, Dr. Woods walking into the room frantically. The look on his face seemed to be panic, immediately pulling you out of your thoughts before they could even begin.

"What's going on?" Natasha crossed her arms over her chest, and the sadness she had held on her face was instantly gone. Dr. Woods changed the channel on the TV, and you picked your head up in time to watch a news coverage. "Is that…" 

You couldn't get a good view from where you were laying, and the urgency to see made you ignore the pain soaring through every inch of your body as you climbed out of the bed. Natasha, the closest to you, was quick to catch you with a gasp before you hit the floor. Your legs didn't seem to work, but that didn't seem to stop you either. You held onto the former assassin, letting her help you make your way closer to the TV as someone paused it. Tears filled your eyes at the intolerable pain. You pressed a hand against the screen when reaching it, Natasha still holding on tightly to your other one, and you looked at the purple glowing in her eyes, her floating form, the visible power coming off of her in waves.

Questions formed in your mind as you tried to comprehend what you were seeing, furrowing your eyebrows as Natasha readjusted her grip. You analyzed the frozen image on the screen, running it over and over until you made sense of it.

You felt yourself give in to the pain, falling to your knees despite Natasha's efforts to keep you standing, your eyes glued to the screen as you read the news header over and over in your mind. Your throat was burning, as if you were choking on sand, and it took you a moment to realize that you were the reason for that, half sobs and half screams escaping your chest with hysteria.

"Woods." Steve's stern voice could barely be heard over the noise you were making, Natasha's arms wrapped around you securely. You thought it was for comfort, it's what you accepted it as, but it was also to keep you still as the psychiatrist stuck a needle into your neck.

It soon became increasingly difficult to keep your eyes open, your blinking gradually becoming slower, but even as you fell deeper into Natasha's hold, letting the void take you once again, you couldn't get the image of the screen out of your mind.

With the second rise of the Universal Church of Truth, a new figure has emerged in place - the Matriarch, the divine vessel, Wanda Maximoff.

Chapter 8