#shes so sexyyyyy killing everyone

[riosnecktattoo]

Golshifteh Farahani is so beautiful liiiikkkeee 😍

[slytherinlesbian3]

my GOD my heart rate is irregularly fast. THIS entire thing was so heated 😩🙏

Natasha loved you like the sun rising and falling, loved you like a quiet sonnet.

But Wanda seems to always be like that. When the time came, she pushed and pushed and pushed until you were hurtling over the cliff, watching as she jumped after you.

van you sexy bitch stop being poetic for FIVE MINUTES. im gonna go Shrek on your ass the next metaphor that comes out of you 😩

It was something you hated and loved about her because past the edge was something between the lines—what you truly felt.

everyone shut the FUCK up she said the thing she said the THING SHE SAID THE TITLE

"Then let's break up!"

"We will not."

BABE CKDBXJS I know this is like the climax of the argument but I fucking cackled @ this. "this obvs isn't working so let's end it" "out of spite, I decline" LIKE THATS FUNNY we have BDE and I think that quirky of us 💕

"What the fuck!" Wanda shrieks, and a different kind of terror fills her.

THIS IS ALSO FUNNY CHSNCJSND lil baby wanda sacrificing herself 2 save nat and kill a hybrid and then suddenly she's the epitome of the Sarah schauer "uH oH sPhagheTTIos" vine pls it is 11pm and I'm crying into my pillow. from laughter or from pain? next question.

Nat to wanda: haha ur so sexy don't kill urself...what if we kissed cuz we're in love w each other...haha jk...unless ? 😳

I am *screams* MA, MA COME HERE THERES A WEIRD FUCKIN LOOKIN CAT OUTSIDE this is how I feel @ tittyanna over there. there's a weird fuckin lookin cat inside Wanda's head and suddenly she's homicidal toward herself like she's playing with goddamn kitchen knives at 3 in the morning with a lighter and a vengeance all set to go with a ouija board in the living room. this girl was SET 2 sacrifice herself n nat said "hm ok but what if you like, didn't?" And I think that was p sexy of both of them. meanwhile LIAM COMING OVER 2 DAVID UGH MARRY HIM FASTER DUMMY

anywho, as always, I am kissing u on the MOUF rn bc I am foaming and it's just. am I-am I allowed to touch the art pieces in museums? is that allowed? bc I am virtually embracing u rn w all my love. take it. inhale it. snort it if u what idk what you're into 🙄 but um...hehe...ur soooo sexyyyyy in general for writing this !!! I'm so in love with you this story and aaaaaAAAAAhnnnngngngngngng can't wait 4 the next part <3 ur doing amazing sweetie, mwah, much love, will send my midnight ramblings on the next one as well 💖💖

Between the Lines || Part XV

PAIRING: Natasha Romanoff x Fem!Reader / Wanda Maximoff x Fem!Reader / WandaNat x Fem!Reader Summary: Vampire AU. Life has changed drastically since the 1600s. Things are always on the move, and you’ve been very careful to not get on SHIELDs radar. Living on the down-low owning a café, you’re content to live out a quiet existence. That is until the Avengers enter your life. [Set after the New York Invasion, in CAWS, and goes up to AoU. Canon divergent after.]

Warnings: none for this chapter.

Note: Regular posting? We don't know her but still be kind to me and don't let this flop LOL I think this chapter was just hard to write with certain parts which took so long </3 the next few ones have been easier to write!

Please remember taglists are gone but you can follow my library blog for notifs! <3

Series Masterlist || Main Masterlist || Library Blog

PART XV of XX

Count: ~7.6K

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Gone.

Everything feels numb as you move through the motions.

You feel something's ringing in your ears, blocking out any other sounds. People are speaking to you, but you can't hear anything.

"Hey."

You quickly look up when you feel David's hand on your shoulder. His face is filled with worry, brows furrowed together as he looks at you. You feel something burning in the back of your throat from his look alone.

"Shit," David only says before he pulls you into a tight hug, maybe even too tight, but it feels good. "I'm so sorry that happened. I'm so fucking sorry." You don't say anything. He's not apologizing like it's his fault, but he can see the devastation on your face even if you don't show it.

"Are you ready for this?" David asks as he pulls back, looking behind you.

Everyone was there, but you couldn't even bring yourself to look at Natasha since she showed up. She had tried to approach you when they arrived at the scene, but you had sharply turned away. It didn't take too much to figure out what happened, but Wanda was the one who explained anyway.

You couldn't look at Wanda either.

Liam was the first to speak when silence fell, planning what they needed to do. He was the furthest removed from this situation; it was easy for him.

They called for Tony right away, who arrived on the scene shortly after to handle the body. He had looked at you, and it was like he recognized something behind your eyes. He slapped you on the shoulder and told you it would be okay before he left.

You stared at the small apartment, a police car at the front, and a confused babysitter at the door along with Allison.

God, Allison looked tired but confused.

You felt something constrict in your heart so painfully, squeezing the life out of you, threatening to break your ribs next. You could see the news being broken to them. The babysitter's hand flew to her mouth, and Allison stood there with her eyes wide, unsure how to take the information.

"No," you croak. "I'll never be ready but if I don't go there, I'll only be a coward along with a murderer."

David looked ready to protest, but you had started walking off, approaching the policemen.

"Lainey!" Allison cries, breaking out of the babysitter's grasp as the young girl flies into your legs, wrapping her arms around them as she buried her face into you. "The policemen are saying mom is gone! Tell them that's not true! She's just working!"

You feel a sting hit the back of your throat. Your hands balled into fists tightly for one moment before you released them, wrapping your arms around Allison.

"Allison, sweet pea," you pick her up and kiss the side of her head, and it was something in your voice that Allison picked up that she began wailing. "I know, I know," you whisper as you bounce her in your arms to comfort her. She was so young still, growing bigger every day but not even nine yet.

The policemen could see that you were close with the family as they looked at each other.

"Does Allison have any other immediate family who can look after her? Her father, perhaps?"

You shook your head. "Her father passed away just after she was born. It's just been the two of them for a long time. I believe she has an aunt in Santa Barbara. Her contact details should be somewhere in the house, let me go grab it."

The babysitter steps aside for you to walk into the house, and Allison is still crying as you rub her back. You find the contact information on the fridge and pass it to the police officer, and they take it but continue to look at Allison.

"We should be taking her down to the station with us until her aunt can come grab her," one of them said.

Allison wailed louder at the words. "No!" She screamed. "I want to stay with Elaine! You can't take me away! Tell them, Elaine!"

You shushed her softly as you patted her back, and she wrapped her arms around you tighter.

"I'm listed as one of Allison's approved guardians to pick her up from school," you tell the policemen. "That should be enough for her to stay with me while her aunt makes a flight in."

The policemen noted what you said down, and you were sure it would be so he could check. They grabbed your information before you left.

Silence fell upon the house once more after, save for Allison's soft crying.

"I can't believe it..." the babysitter said, shaking her head.

"You should go home for the night," you tell the babysitter. "Did Deborah pay you beforehand?"

The babysitter shook her head. "She was supposed to when she got home..."

"What's your Venmo?" You pulled out your phone. You give the sitter extra pay for the distressing night and send her off.

"C'mon," you whisper to Allison. "Do you want to stay here or do you want to come over to my place?"

"Your place," Allison whispers, and you nod.

You manage to grab a few of Allison's things from the place before you walk out of the apartment. You notice David, Natasha, and Wanda standing across the street. You place Allison down, and she makes a noise of dissent at it, but you tell her she needs to put on a coat.

"Where are you going to take her?" David asks, the words only making it to your ear.

"To the compound," you say quietly. "I can't take her back to my place. It could be compromised because of Tatyana, and Tony's security system is better than mine. I'll have someone pick up Allison's aunt at the airport for them to meet at Stark Tower after."

"Alright, we'll meet you there," David says softly. "Natasha is asking if she can ride with you and Allison."

You purse your lip, but when you look at Allison, you find the little girl with wet eyes staring at Natasha across the street.

You sigh. "Fine."

Natasha quickly makes her way over to you and Allison when David gives her a nod.

"Hey, sweetheart," Natasha says softly to Allison. The little girl's eyes well up again at Natasha's gentle tone—honestly, yours does too. "It's going to be okay."

Allison nods but doesn't say anything as Natasha offers her hand for the young girl to take. The three of you walk to your car silently, and Natasha sits in the back with Allison. The young girl lays her head in Natasha's lap, and you look once in the rearview mirror, eyes connecting with green ones before you quickly look away and begin the quiet car ride back.

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The night passed quickly, and Allison was tuckered out for the most part. But she wouldn't sleep, insisting she wanted to talk to Steve, like Captain America could somehow make it all better.

"I'm sorry, Steve, I know it's late—"

"Don't ever apologize for that," Steve cuts you off. "Shit, we're trying to pack up our things right now for the next flight out. If Tony's jet wasn't being fixed right now, I would be home already."

"No, god, you don't have to—Bucky—"

"Isn't going anywhere. We've lost track of him and don't have a lead. You need me."

Your heart fills up with something that you can't form into words.

"Okay," you relent. "Come home soon."

"Already on my way. Pass the phone to Allison."

You hum before you turn and give your phone to the young girl.

"Steve?" She says in her tiny voice.

"Hey, it's my best girl," You hear Steve say.

You leave them to have their conversation. You step out of the room but lean against the wall, idly listening. Allison looked so young and so tired. She sounds so heartbroken, and Captain America's voice is the only thing holding her together.

God, you did that.

You bite your tongue as Allison finally falls asleep, and Steve mutters a gentle goodnight before he hangs up. You quietly re-enter the room, putting the phone away before you tuck Allison in.

"I'm so sorry," you whisper as you kiss her forehead.

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"I need some fresh air," you mutter to the group as you pass them and head down to the main floor. The air is brisk, the moon reaching its peak for the night, and you take off into the trees. You head deep in, hearing the water by the stream.

When you reach the clearing, you stop.

You swallow a rather large lump in your throat. Like a newborn, the emotions stir inside you, threatening to rage and spillover. You take a shaky breath in an attempt to control it—to reign it back in.

But when you think about what you'll have to return to, what will come in the morning, you feel yourself stifle a sob. Fuck, it was all falling apart.

This was a mistake—all of this was a fucking mistake. You should've sent Steve on his way after giving him those books that day you met him.

You should've never invited Natasha to the park date with Allison.

You should've never made promises you didn't know how to keep.

You hear something rustle behind you, and you whip around immediately only to find Natasha coming out from behind a tree. You relax from your defensive posture and turn back around.

"You shouldn't be out here," you say hoarsely. "It's cold and late."

"I could say the same thing to you," Natasha returns at you, and you could practically see her brow raised while she said it.

"Vampires don't feel the cold like you do," you tell her softly. "Our body adjusts."

"It's still late."

"I told you I needed fresh air," you still don't turn around to face her. "Go back inside, Natasha."

"Are you going to look at me when you come back inside?"

Silence.

"If you aren't, I'm going to stay here until you look at me."

You close your eyes and grit your teeth. "Natasha, please—"

"No, I need to you look—"

"I CAN'T!" You scream as you whip around, eyes flooded with tears.

Natasha's mouth remains agape as she looks at you. Fuck, she's never seen you cry before. Even when you had talked about your life, you hadn't shed a tear.

And now? You were on the brink of drowning in your own tears.

"I can't look at you without feeling the absolute worst about myself!" You sobbed, anguish laced in your voice.

Natasha thinks then she can feel something breaking inside her at the sound of devastation in your cries. Your throat feels raw, burning with shame and wreckage. Your emotions are heightened; you're nearly overcome with hysterics.

"I told you!" You gritted. "I told you that my vows to love and protect mean nothing. I can't even keep one girl's only parent alive—how the hell am I supposed to protect you?"

"That wasn't your fault," Natasha tells you determinedly as she takes a step closer.

"I don't want to hear it, Natasha," you sneered. "I can place the blame all I want on Tatyana, but it doesn't change that I'm the reason Deborah was a target in the first place."

Natasha clenches her teeth because maybe now isn't the time to tell you it's not your fault when you obviously don't want to hear it, not ready to accept it.

"I don't need you to protect me," Natasha says instead.

You let out a snort with a shake of your head. "Right," your voice is despondent. "Because you're Natasha Romanoff, Avenger, ready to clear her ledger." You wipe at your face as you begin to make your way back in.

Natasha grabs your wrist to stop you from passing her. Her eyes are lined red, and you know you're the worst scum to live on this earth for hurting her like you are now.

But you're broken, and you are so, so tired.

Neither of you looks at each other, continuing to stare forward.

"Don't you get tired, Romanoff?" You uttered. "Don't you ever get tired of broken promises?"

Natasha grips your wrist tighter.

"I do," you muttered. "I'm tired of trying to be something I'm not, just so I deserve to love the hero. Everything I love breaks, Romanoff. You're no exception."

With that, you rip your wrist from Natasha's grasp and keep walking, clenching your jaw when you hear a choked sob.

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The hand-off of Allison is emotional. The young girl is obviously close with her aunt but not as close as she was with you. She cries, begging you to keep her, and you hate your existence at that moment.

You hate being a vampire, destined to never grow old—unable to keep Allison.

"I'll write," you promise Allison. "I'll write, and we'll video chat often. You can call me whenever you want to."

The promises seem to subdue Allison, but she's still weeping. You stand up, looking at Allison's aunt, Lisette.

"Please don't hesitate to reach out if you ever need anything. I've set up a trust fund for Allison for school, so you don't have to worry about that."

The woman gives you a kind smile. "You were really close to them, huh?"

You nodded. "I love Allison. Her mother was sweet as well. I'm so sorry for your loss."

"I'm sorry for yours as well," Lisette tells you before she gives you one last forlorn smile.

And then they're gone.

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Natasha watches you.

Days have passed since that night in the clearing, and you haven't looked at her once. She notices that you don't seek out Wanda either.

Something stirs painfully inside of Natasha. You were avoiding her, and that was breaking Natasha's heart. She could see you. She could always see you.

Natasha loved you like the sun rising and falling, loved you like a quiet sonnet. So, to watch you loathe yourself—to blame yourself was like watching your flame go out.

Broken promises or not on your end, Natasha's vows to you meant that she was invested in keeping your flame going when you could not.

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This is it, Wanda thinks. This is where the line was drawn, and Natasha's patience runs out. She would finally be berated, a well-deserved scolding from the redhead. After all, Wanda can't fathom why Natasha would seek her out otherwise.

They sit in silence for a long time before Natasha opens her mouth.

"Honestly, when I first realized Elaine was developing feelings for you, I didn't know if I had it in me to share her with you," the redhead confessed. "It was hard. You're beautiful, and when you're not being a complete bitch, you're witty, sarcastic, and funny. Although, I will admit there's a certain charm when you're an asshole too."

Wanda doesn't know what to say. She doesn't know why her mouth won't open and tell Natasha that she's beautiful too. So insanely beautiful that it sometimes drives Wanda mad with insecurity. And on top of that, Natasha was also witty, sarcastic, and funny, but also clearly more mature and gracious than Wanda.

"I think a part of me knew right away that you were always going to be something more to her. There's history between the two of you that I can't get involved in," Natasha doesn't even look at Wanda as she says all of this. "And in the end—because I love her—I told her to let herself love you too. I thought that you would love and protect her in ways I couldn't."

The ending words sting Wanda. The implication of them burns.

Natasha finally looks over at Wanda. "But you don't do what you're doing to people you love."

"Are you telling me to stop loving her then?" Wanda asks harshly.

"No, I'm telling you to do better," Natasha deadpans. "I told you there's history between you and her that I can't come in between—and I'm okay with that. Because just like you, there's history between her and me that you can't come in between. You need to learn how to be okay with that."

Wanda closes her eyes because these are things she already knows. God, doesn't she know it, but she can't seem to make her brain listen to her.

"So, despite everything we may do to her, she'll never give up on us. She can get tired and be past the brink of nothing, and she will still find it in her to keep us," Natasha says softly, and Wanda can feel the back of her eyes watering.

Wand knows this; she knows this of you. She knows your kind and forgiving heart, and that's what makes her cry because—

"But I don't want us to be the people that keep pushing her past nothing because we know she loves us and will keep loving us."

The urge to snap at Natasha springs forth like a mousetrap. The impulse to tell Natasha that she has no idea what she's talking about and whatever was happening between you and Wanda was none of her business.

And it takes everything within Wanda to suppress it, and she feels a little more rational when she does.

They sit in silence again, but Wanda feels a little closer, and she wonders if Natasha does too.

"Does it bother you when you see me with her?" Natasha asks quietly. "Do you wish that I weren't around?"

Wanda supposes it's a fair question, that perhaps Natasha was looking for a reason why Wanda was the way she was around her.

But this was also one of those things Wanda couldn't quite explain with coherence. And it might only be because she feels closer to Natasha in this moment with rationality that she's able to admit what she's about to say.

When she says it, Wanda doesn't look at Natasha, staring intently at the ground instead.

"It does but not always for the same reasons. It feels safe to keep you at a distance, but I also want you closer."

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Hours—days pass you like nothing.

As a vampire, time was so fleeting. But the numbness? It kept you in a melancholy daze.

This feeling reminds you of the days right after you had lost Tatyana. The despair of being unable to keep your own promises, feeling villainized by your own guilt, and lashing at others.

You want more than anything to deserve Natasha. And while you understand that it's Natasha's decision whether or not you deserve her, you know you don't. But you still love her achingly and pitifully. You yearn for her deeply, wanting to bite her and keep her close. You don't think there's ever been enough lifetimes for how long you could love Natasha.

You wonder if Natasha would tell you that you deserved her if you had told her those words—about how you really felt. But all you do is hide, and you hide from her and hide from Wanda.

It's easy to see what everyone is wondering.

Did you blame Wanda?

But that was something you couldn't answer. There were parts of the situation you blamed her for, but there were parts that you blame yourself for, and there were parts that you didn't blame anyone for.

You blamed Wanda for her recklessness and eagerness to rush after Tatyana. You blamed her for not listening to you.

You blamed yourself for not realizing that Tatyana had always been close by because you had gotten close with humans and were unwilling to use your powers on them. If you had not insisted on the gloves, perhaps you would've known much earlier on.

But the parts that you don't blame anyone for were the parts you hated yourself for the most. They were the parts that made you hide from Natasha, and what you knew were the reasons you didn't deserve her.

Because despite killing Deborah, being the reason why Allison had no mother anymore, you would do it again if you had to. You would choose to save Wanda in nearly any situation, and you would choose to save Natasha in the same. And if you were ever put in a position where you had to choose between them, you would prefer to end your own life.

Leo was wrong. You were not a good person.

Perhaps you weren't a bad one, but you were no hero.

And you wonder if this was what Tatyana meant to do all along—show you what you were capable of to keep what you loved safe. And if it was, had that meant you didn't love Tatyana the way she wanted you to—the way you did now—and that was why you broke your vows to her.

The thoughts made you ill.

A sudden noise makes you nearly break your neck while looking over. You had been hiding on the roof, drinking a bottle of whiskey by yourself even though it did nothing to soothe your pain.

You see who it is and turn your head away disinterestedly. You know you shouldn't, but you feel ambushed.

"I don't want company," you say as you take a swig from the bottle.

"I don't care."

You sigh as you stand up, walking briskly to leave when you're stopped. You look down at your arm and see your wrist being gripped.

You look back up. "Wanda, I'm tired. I don't want to chat or whatever it is you want to provoke me into tonight."

Wanda bristles at the words, gripping your wrist momentarily harder before she relaxes but doesn't let you go. She takes a deep breath before she exhales.

"We need to talk about it," Wanda's jaw clenches uncomfortably as she gets the words out.

"Why?" You demand. "What exactly is there to talk about? Whatever happened, happened. We can't change it and for once, I don't want to do a rehash of it to understand."

You keep your voice steady and calm, which only serves to make Wanda more upset.

"Because you blame me!" Wanda angrily fumes. "You blame me and you can't even say that! All you do is forgive me and because you can't this time, you hide!"

You rip your wrist away from Wanda, dropping the nearly empty whiskey bottle on the ground. It shatters, but you can't even hear it over the blood pumping in your ears.

"I know it wasn't intentional," you retort back at her. "But even if it wasn't intentional, I don't want to talk about it. What exactly do you want from me, Wanda? Do you want me to say it's okay? Do you want forgiveness for what happened? Then, fine, I forgive you and it's okay." You let out a tired sigh. "Are we done?"

You try to push past her and walk for the door, but Wanda blocks your way and pushes you back heatedly.

"We are not done!" Wanda tells you hotly, her face flushed.

She was all sharp edges that pressed uncomfortable against you, threatening to pierce you, and you knew whatever came out would be horrid.

But Wanda seems to always be like that. When the time came, she pushed and pushed and pushed until you were hurtling over the cliff, watching as she jumped after you.

It was something you hated and loved about her because past the edge was something between the lines—what you truly felt.

"For christ's sake! Even if it wasn't intentional, I'm the one who made you lose control. I was reckless, and I made you protect me. You killed that woman for me!" Wanda ran her hand through her hair before swinging her hand back in front of her.

"What do you want me to say?" You bit out, turning away from her.

"Just admit you're fucking angry with me!"

You whipped back around at Wanda, glaring at her.

"You don't think I am?!" You yelled at her, your jaw clenching, eyes ushered with tears. "Allison lost her mother because of me—because of what I chose to do to save you because you wouldn't fucking listen to me!"

"Everything has been so fucking hard, and you've yet to endeavor to make it any easier!" You hissed at her.

"Do you enjoy breaking my heart—breaking Natasha's? Do you like watching when I have to pretend that I don't see Natasha's heart breaking when I love her." You stood close to Wanda's face as you spoke, putting your hands on her shoulders as you gripped her desperately. Wanda's eyes are lining with tears as she looks at you.

"Why do you put me in situations where I become the worst version of myself when I fucking love you too!" The emotion in your throat is raw as your lips tremble.

"Then let's break up!" Wanda screams.

"We will not!"

Wanda sucks in a painful breath between her lips at your vehement refusal. The painful beating of her heart thuds against her ribs, slow and steady.

Your lips press into a stubborn line as your hands drag down to her elbows. "You do not get to run away when things are hard," you grit at her. "I don't know how the fuck to fix what's wrong with us but I love you."

It feels like Wanda's stomach dropped. Her limbs are going numb.

"I love you," you repeat, your tone heated with passion behind the words. "And I know you love me too. You wouldn't be standing here crying like that if you didn't."

The words surprise Wanda, but she realizes her cheeks are wet, and her throat feels raw for other reasons. You lift your hand to wipe away her tears, and Wanda chokes on a sob.

"I'm sorry," Wanda crumbles against you, face into your shoulder as her own wracks from her cries. "I'm sorry, I'm so fucking sorry."

You hold her close, pressing kisses into the side of her head. You can't tell her it's okay because it's really not, but you appreciate her apology.

"I know, I know," you whisper. "We're gonna figure it out. You, me, Natasha—we're gonna figure it out. Even though we're tired, we're gonna keep going until we get it."

And Wanda vows at that moment that she's going to do whatever it takes to fix it with you and with Natasha. If she can make it right, perhaps all three of them can finally be happy.

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The headache seems to come and go more often lately, Wanda finds. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or rhythm, and Wanda can only deduce that it's the stress.

Things have been slowly returning to normal, or whatever they were before their confrontation with Tatyana. Your grief still lingers in the air, but you no longer avoid them.

Wanda had found you yesterday with Natasha, sitting outside on the steps. Your head was in her lap as she stroked your head, and tears fell from your eyes as you kept them closed.

Wanda had thought it was ironic. She seems to always be apologizing to you, and you seem to be always apologizing to Natasha. And Natasha? Well, she was the stern but gracious one to you and to her.

And when she watched you sit up, pulling on Natasha's shirt desperately as you pressed your lips sorrowfully against the redhead, Wanda's head hurt like screws drilling into her temples, but she couldn't look away.

"I don't know, I don't think we can rely on just waiting for Wanda to have a vision of where Tatyana to be. I'm not even sure if that was something that Tatyana had just wanted her to see."

Wanda's eyes refocus as she looks at David stroking his chin. They've been in a meeting for the last hour, trying to dig up anything that could find Tatyana again.

They've tried digging through all the street cameras, meeting up with anyone you've befriended in your life to investigate, and Liam and Wanda had tried the ritual locating spell once more.

Everything came up dry.

You were just about to say something when your phone began to ring. Your brow furrowed.

You picked it up and placed it on speaker. "Stacey?"

"Hello?" It was a frighteningly quiet whisper, filled with panic and urgency.

"Stacey, is that you? Why are you whispering?" You ask with a frown.

"Please, please come get me," Stacey desperately whispers back, and you can hear her on the verge of tears, which was unusual for the office gossiper.

"Why? What's wrong—where are you?" You ask immediately, lowering your own voice when you realize you could pose more risk to her if you were speaking too loudly through the phone.

"Josh invited me out. He said it was a small get together. He told me to meet him at the rooftop at work but—but—" Stacey's voice shuttered, and you could hear her holding back the sob. "When I came here, he was dead!"

You immediately stood up, Wanda and Nat along with you. You started walking out of the room quickly while Natasha prepared the car keys.

"Where are you?" You asked. "Work still?"

It was silent for a moment, and you wondered if Stacey nodded instead of actually speaking.

"Yes," she finally whispered. "There's something else in the building."

"Other people?"

"I don't know...monsters. Other coworkers came here tonight too."

"Are they okay?"

"I think so. I ran, and now I'm hiding. I have to be quiet. They hear so well."

You paused.

"Stacey," you said slowly. "Why did you call me? Why haven't you called 911?" You asked warily.

"I heard them talking. They're trying to be quiet too—they're scared of you coming."

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"We're going to try to find where the hybrids are taking the humans," David volunteers as he drags Liam off with him.

"You said there could be more than one, right?" Tony begins to levitate off the ground. "My heat scanners are picking up a lot of bodies in the building. I'm going to get the hostages."

Tony bursts off, leaving you with Wanda and Natasha.

"We need to find whatever hybrids are in the building and take them out," you decide. "Stacey said she was hiding on the roof. Tony's making his way up, so let's get to the roof first and make our way down and meet him in the middle."

The two women nod at you. The ground floor is eerily quiet, and you determine the humans are too far up the building for you to hear them. It's almost painful having to wait for the elevator to take the three of you up to the roof.

You open the door quietly, and you can hear someone's muffled breathing in the distance.

"Stacey?"

The sound of your voice has Stacey popping her head out from what she was hiding behind. Her eyes were watering, and her face was blotchy as she stumbled onto her feet to start running to you. Just as she was a few feet away from you, something blurs past you, coming right behind Stacey as they grip her tightly and hand around her neck.

The scene is both familiar and new to you.

You're brought back to the time Leo took you to see what Tatyana had created in that decimated village and when you were at Liam's home.

This thing in front of you looked like a normal human being until it could bring forth those sickly dark veins under its eyes.

It seemed much more coherent, and that was new.

"Please, please, please..." Stacey began crying. "Don't kill me, Gerard."

Gerard.

One of the missing people.

Except he wasn't missing anymore—he'd be changed.

You try not to make any sudden movements in case it's not as coherent as you thought and gets spooked into killing Stacey.

"Let the girl go," you tell it calmly. The hybrid being has shifty eyes and starts to move slowly, holding Stacey threateningly close. Its plan seemed to be using Stacey to escape unharmed.

"Move, and I'll kill her." His voice was raspy.

The three of you don't move, letting him near you to walk past. All of your minds are racing on how you'll save Stacey.

Natasha is the one to notice and take action first.

Stacey's trembling so hard that she stumbles when she accidentally steps on Gerard's foot. The distraction causes Gerard's attention to look away for just a moment, but Natasha pounces at the opportunity.

Natasha shoots a widow bite out, landing it straight on Gerard's hand, the electric shocks activating immediately. The second Gerard lets go, Natasha moves forward to grab Stacey and push her out of his reach. Stacey's head hits the floor, and she's unmoving.

Gerard lets out a rabid scream at the pain, still forcing through it to leap forward and into Natasha. They tussle and roll on the ground before Gerard bares his fangs at her, shocking Natasha into thinking he's going to bite her.

But he doesn't. He wraps his arms around Natasha so tightly it threatens to crush her windpipe, stumbling back up with his new hostage to get out of this situation. He rips the widow bite off of him as he stares menacingly at you.

Wanda had moved to check on Stacey, who seemed to be okay, just unconscious.

You were frozen in your spot.

You should've been the one to go after Gerard when he stumbled. What use was vampire speed when Natasha's brain seemed to work faster than yours?

The situation turns precarious with the threat still clear in the air.

Move, and the hybrid would kill Natasha by ripping her throat out.

Wanda's eyes trail the hybrid closely. He's desperate as he holds Natasha tightly to him, claws at her throat. Too many things are happening, and Wanda finds it difficult to remain focused. She can hear you thinking rapid-fire thoughts on how to save Natasha. She can hear Natasha's thoughts on how to get out of the situation unharmed. She can hear the deranged hybrid's thoughts on how to escape.

But most importantly, Wanda can hear her own thoughts. And the desperation of the situation has the quiet voice in her screaming finally.

This is your chance—leave her!

Despite how cold Wanda has been towards Natasha, the thought of abandoning her was unfathomable.

Leave her, and we won't need to share!

The voice was so vehement, so unlike her. Wanda's eyes drift over to you for only a second.

She's mine to love, and I'll never let anyone have her.

The words hit Wanda like a cold bucket of water.

That was not her.

All those headaches, the quiet voice in her head, the raging jealousy—that hadn't been her. Those times that she and Liam did the ritual circles and thought they didn't work. They had, and they hadn't realized because Tatyana was in the room with them every time—inside Wanda.

The notion of it makes Wanda's stomach twist so painfully she has to fight the feeling of her limbs going numb.

Time ticks faster than Wanda wants, but it only takes looking at Natasha once to decide what she needs to do. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Willing every ounce of mental fortitude it takes to make up for the lack of knowledge by sheer raw power, Wanda locks Tatyana in.

There's resistance immediately, but Wanda holds steady.

Wanda's eyes lock with Natasha. The explicit trust in Natasha's eyes dredges up a fiery emotion so powerful inside Wanda that she almost laughs.

Jealous of Natasha? Disliking her? Wanting to keep her distance?

It's so absurd, Wanda thinks. There's nothing more Wanda wishes than to have more time to close the distance between them.

A moment passes, but it feels like a million things are being said between them.

Don't.

It's the only way.

Don't you fucking dare.

I'm sorry.

"We only have one chance to get this right," Wanda says quietly enough for you to hear. "So, you better catch her if you don't want her to break both her legs."

You only get to be confused for two seconds before Wanda conjures up the red wisps of her powers, bending her back before whipping forward. The wisps surround the hybrid and Natasha, forcibly separating the two as Wanda uses one hand to hurl Natasha into your direction.

You brace yourself at the impact, catching Natasha safely, but the blow causes you to fly back into the stone ledge. Your breath hitches painfully as a result, but Natasha is safe from having her legs broken, as Wanda said.

The next moment happens so quickly you feel your heart drop into your stomach.

Wanda uses her powers to propel herself into the hybrid at break-neck speed, tumbling them right over the edge. It happens in slow motion then—she turns her head back slightly, looking at the two of you with sorrowful acceptance. She looks like she wants to say something, but too many words are left and not enough time.

So, Wanda doesn't say anything at all. She merely gives the two of you a minuscule upward quirk of her lips, and it's devastatingly heartbreaking. She turns her head away, and just like that—they disappear from view.

"Wanda!" Natasha screams as she takes advantage of your grip that has loosened from shock.

Next thing you know, you're watching Natasha leap and dive headfirst after Wanda.

"Fuck!" You curse, panic, and adrenaline coursing through your veins.

You blur to the edge, but they're falling too fast down a 700ft story building. You can't jump after them and save them even if you caught them. The impact of the colliding into the ground from this height would kill them regardless.

You turn, forcing every ounce of your body to go as fast as supernaturally possible back into the building, using the stairs to go one level lower. You pry the elevator doors open, looking up briefly to see the car above you. Grabbing the guiding rails, you leap.

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Wanda feels the wind whipping into her face as she falls. The hybrid tries to claw at her, and Wanda doesn't have enough control to keep Tatyana inside her and conjure up more magic. All she can do is use just enough to enhance her hand before using it to force the hybrid's heart out like she had with Ultron.

Unlike Ultron, who was made of metal, this hybrid was made from flesh. The consequence was uncomfortably warm and messy, but the body goes limp, and Wanda lets go without another thought.

The view opens up, and Wanda feels the unwanted terror at seeing herself fall, but she doesn't attempt to save herself. Instead, she lets her body turn over so she can face the sky. Maybe if she's lucky, she'll see a glimpse of you and Nat leaning over the edge and looking at her.

But instead, the sight of Natasha only a few feet away from her greets her.

"What the fuck!" Wanda shrieks, and a different kind of terror fills her. She immediately reaches her hand out, and Natasha uses it to firmly close the distance between them.

Natasha wraps her arm around Wanda, flipping them around, so she's underneath with the younger girl on top. As she looks around, she thinks about shooting her grappling hook through the glass of the building and hopes it takes. But if it did, there was a chance they could snap something or die from the impact of the collision. But they were going to die if they didn't do anything at all.

As they get closer to the ground, Natasha is about to try her luck when Wanda suddenly flips them over, so she's protecting Natasha from the impact of hitting the ground.

Wanda knows she needs more power to save them but using enough of her powers would mean she wouldn't have enough to keep Tatyana locked in. It doesn't even take half a second for Wanda to decide. She forces Tatyana out, blocking her from coming back in as she closes her eyes and surrounds her powers around them.

The air around them begins to slow, their bodies jerking slightly at the force of it. Natasha can see the ground now and sees everyone gathered at the bottom. She sees Tony flying with all of his boosters at max to make it to them, trying to force himself to go faster when he realizes it still won't be fast enough. Wanda pushes more of her powers out to save them, even though she's exhausted, and doing so physically feels like the first layer of skin is being ripped off.

Still, using her powers at the last possible second didn't do them any favors as they crashed into you and David into the ground. The two vampires break their fall but at the cost of their own ankles, legs, and back-breaking upon collision.

They hear agonizing gasps, and they scramble off, ignoring their own pain. Your ankle is bent at an unnatural angle when David doesn't move at all.

They call your name along with David's in distress. But just as quick as it happened, the venom in your body takes over and mends everything.

"Oh, god," David bemoans while Liam kneels next to him, checking him over. "That hurt so bad—I think I'm going to have ghost pains from that for a while."

You merely grunt before you sit up, rotating your ankle. "I'm okay," you groan.

Tony lands and takes his helmet off as he runs up towards Natasha. "Are you okay?" He asks before he snaps. "What the fuck is wrong with the two of you?"

Natasha is sitting with her legs spread and Wanda in between them. They look relatively unharmed save for some nasty bruises and cuts.

Wanda looks like she's on the verge of hyperventilating.

"Why would you do that!" Wanda screams at Natasha. "You could've died—are you fucking stupid?"

"You were the one to jump off first with that stupid look on your face that said acceptance all over it!" Natasha shouted back at her. "What the hell was I supposed to do?"

"Let me die!" Wanda shrieks. "I had Tatyana trapped in my consciousness, and if I died, I could've taken her right along with me, and this would've been over. But because your stupid ass came after me, I had to cut her out and save us."

Wanda's words clear up the situation for everyone, and it's like it clicks differently for multiple people about the situation lately.

"Yeah, it would've been really, really over for you," Natasha berates anyway. "That's not what an acceptable outcome is when we haven't exhausted all other options."

"You're the one who told me to stop being that person who keeps dragging you guys past nothing. I was fixing what I've done!" Wanda sneers at her in her asshole way that drives Natasha crazy.

"I said to do better, not go fucking die! Do you know what kind of heart attack you gave me?" Natasha snaps back.

Wanda merely screws her face up in annoyance before she falls into a slightly abashed expression. Her head feels clear for the first time since Ultron, and Wanda wonders distantly how long Tatyana had been inching into her mind.

But more importantly, with a clear mind, looking back on everything suddenly makes sense, like a thundering waterfall.

While she had felt like an outsider between you and Natasha, it wasn't because Wanda wanted you without Natasha.

Wanda had wanted to be included between you and Natasha. All those looks of jealousy and irritation that she couldn't place were partly because of Tatyana influencing her but also because Wanda had been jealous of you as well.

You were someone who got to touch and be loved by Natasha—something that Wanda had been curious about and desired deep down, locked away by Tatyana.

"I'm sorry," Wanda mutters, cheeks red at the realization of it. Just mortifying. She had been in love with Natasha and was just horrid to the other woman the entire time. Yes, partly because of the mind control, but Wanda couldn't imagine how she would reconcile with Natasha after months of hostility. "Thank you for jumping after me and saving me."

She'd be lucky to even have a close friendship with the redhead, never mind trying anything romantic.

Natasha is stunned into silence at the easy apology and gratitude. She looks at Wanda's abashed yet solemn face and can't help but be charmed by it.

Wanda is endearing and even more so that the other girl doesn't even realize she's still holding onto Natasha's hand.

And just like that, it clicks into place. Natasha only has a few seconds to wonder if it clicks into place so easily when Wanda allows herself to be open like she had that night and now.

"I finally figured out what it is about you that bothers me so fucking much," Natasha says after a moment.

Wanda looks at her with pursed lips and confusion. It hadn't really occurred to Wanda that Natasha would be bothered by her—aggravated, yes, in response to how Wanda treated her. But not bothered.

"I want you closer too," Natasha breathes, slamming her lips into Wanda's, gripping the girl's neck to pull her closer. When Natasha pulls back, Wanda is staring at her, breathless, flushed, and shocked. But then tears well up to her eyes, and Wanda starts crying from happiness.

You sigh loudly and dramatically. Your heart is slowly returning to its normal rate. Jesus Christ, these two. But you can't control the relief and utter bliss that's flooding your system.

"You two are going to be the fucking death of me," you mutter, smiling, and everyone laughs.

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In a dimly lit room, eyes suddenly open.

"Huh," Tatyana scoffs. "That little witch broke the connection. How dull."