JJ

And somehow—the entire palace already felt louder before the celebration had even properly begun. Servants hurried through corridors carrying ribbons, flowers, trays of sweets, tiny dragon decorations Lina had personally demanded, and enough pastries to feed half the kingdom.

Exactly as she deserved.

Y/N had just finished dressing when they stepped out from the bath chambers, adjusting the cuffs of their deep blue royal coat one last time.

The fabric was heavy and elegant against their skin, embroidered silver catching the warm candlelight with every movement. Their cape fell behind them in dark royal waves, boots polished, belt fastened neatly at their waist.

Honestly—they had not intended to dress this formally. But Lina had apparently informed the entire palace three days ago that her sibling needed to look “properly kingly” for her royal ball. So here they were. Overdressed for a seven-year-old.

The moment they stepped fully into the room, Lily looked up from where she had been finishing Wanda’s hair. And then Wanda turned too.

Gods.

The look on her face hit Y/N harder than expected. Warm. Slowly appreciative. Completely in love.

Wanda stood immediately from the vanity chair, one hand resting automatically beneath her stomach now swollen beautifully with their child.

“You look so good,” she breathed as she crossed the room toward them.

Y/N smiled instantly. “There’s my queen.”

Wanda reached them and leaned up carefully to kiss them. Soft at first. Then slightly deeper when Y/N’s hand settled instinctively at her waist.

Y/N hummed softly against her lips.

“Thank you,” they murmured warmly once they parted. Their eyes swept over her slowly after that. And gods—Wanda looked breathtaking.

Her gown flowed elegantly around her figure, soft fabrics draping beautifully over the curve of her pregnancy while Lily had styled her hair partially pinned back with delicate silver pieces woven through the curls. Completely radiant.

“You look beautiful,” Y/N said honestly, voice softer now. “Actually unfairly beautiful.”

Wanda smiled immediately at that. “You say that every time.”

“Because it is the truth.”

Wanda shook her head softly, though the pleased warmth in her expression made it clear she loved hearing it anyway.

Y/N offered her their arm with exaggerated royal elegance. “My queen.”

Wanda laughed quietly and slipped her hand around their arm. Together, they left the chambers and made their way through the palace corridors toward the ballroom.

The castle was glowing tonight. Golden candlelight flickered against polished stone walls while dragon banners Lina had personally approved hung proudly throughout the halls. Servants hurried around with trays of sweets and sparkling drinks while distant music drifted through the palace already.

Y/N could hear children laughing somewhere below.

Good. That was exactly what they wanted. Not stiff silence. Not political performances. Life and warmth, a real celebration.

As they reached the grand hallway just before the ballroom entrance, guards straightened immediately at their approach. Y/N and Wanda paused there briefly, waiting for Lina’s arrival before the official presentation into the ballroom.

Wanda squeezed their arm gently. “Nervous?”

Y/N looked personally offended. “I’ve survived wars.”

“That wasn’t my question.”

Y/N sighed dramatically. “…A little.”

Because somehow Lina’s happiness mattered more than most diplomatic meetings ever had.

Wanda smiled knowingly.

Voices approached from the far corridor. And a second later—Lina appeared. Escorted proudly by Ser Rogers.

Y/N’s heart nearly stopped. Gods. Lina looked so small and so regal at the same time, and exactly as their mother.

Her outfit matched the theme perfectly—royal blue with silver dragon embroidery across the front, a tiny cape flowing dramatically behind her because apparently subtlety no longer existed in this family. Her hair had been carefully styled, though several strands already escaped from obvious excitement. And the grin on her face—pure sunshine.

The second she spotted them, her eyes lit up completely.

“Y/N!”

She immediately forgot royal composure and ran the rest of the way toward them. Steve sighed behind her with the exhausted fondness of a man who had clearly lost this battle several times already tonight.

Y/N laughed softly and crouched just in time to catch Lina as she launched herself at them. “There’s the birthday dragon,” they murmured warmly, lifting her easily into their arms.

Lina gasped dramatically at their outfit the second she leaned back enough to properly see them.

“You dressed like a real king!”

Y/N looked down at themself thoughtfully. “I should hope so.”

“No, but like—a storybook king.”

Wanda laughed softly beside them.

Lina turned immediately toward her too. “And Wanda looks like a queen from the dragon mountains!”

Wanda smiled warmly. “That sounds very impressive.”

“It is.” Lina nodded seriously before lowering her voice slightly toward Y/N. “I told everyone tonight has to feel magical.”

Y/N’s chest tightened painfully with affection. “Well,” they whispered back conspiratorially, “I think you already succeeded.”

Lina beamed. Then finally noticed Steve still standing nearby trying very hard not to smile too visibly.

“And Ser Rogers helped me practice dancing!”

Steve looked immediately betrayed. “That information was supposed to remain private.”

Lina gasped. “Oh no.”

Y/N grinned instantly. “Too late.”

Steve sighed while Wanda laughed softly beside them, the sound warm as it echoed through the corridor. Then the large ballroom doors began to open. The music softened. Conversations quieted. Immediately, Lina straightened, her eyes widening slightly. And the realization finally hit.

It was time.

Y/N smiled and crouched in front of her. “Nervous?”

Lina nodded once, then immediately shook her head, then nodded again.

Wanda laughed gently. Y/N took one of Lina’s small hands and gave it a squeeze. “You know the secret?”

“What secret?”

“Everyone in there is already hoping you have fun.”

Lina blinked. “They are?”

“Of course.”

Her shoulders relaxed a little. Y/N smiled and stood, carefully setting her back on her feet.

“You ready?”

Lina took a deep breath and nodded firmly. “Ready.”

A servant stepped forward, and the doors opened fully. The ballroom beyond glowed beneath hundreds of candles. Music drifted through the enormous space as nobles, knights, servants, merchants, villagers, and children alike turned toward the entrance. The servant struck the floor with his staff.

“Their Majesty, King Y/N of Virelia.” The room applauded immediately. 

“Her Majesty, Queen Wanda of Virelia.” More applause followed.

Y/N offered Wanda their arm, and together they entered the ballroom. The applause grew louder—warm, genuine, nothing like the forced court ceremonies they remembered from childhood. These people loved Wanda, and many of them are starting to love Y/N too. It still surprised them sometimes.

They reached the center of the ballroom before the servant spoke again, his voice carrying proudly through the hall.

“Her Royal Highness, Princess Lina of Virelia.”

The room erupted. Louder than before. Lina appeared beside Steve, who escorted her with all the seriousness of a royal knight despite the tiny dragon cape fluttering behind her. Her eyes widened. People were cheering. Actually cheering. Servants, knights, children, villagers—everyone.

Y/N watched realization spread across their face. Then the biggest smile imaginable appeared. Suddenly the entire room seemed brighter. Wanda squeezed Y/N’s hand, and Y/N squeezed right back.

Gods. They would burn kingdoms before letting that smile disappear.

---

It was time for the first dance. Y/N stepped forward and bowed dramatically in front of Lina. “May I have this dance, Your Highness?”

Lina immediately burst into giggles before copying Wanda's etiquette lessons and offering a surprisingly graceful curtsy. “You may.”

The ballroom laughed affectionately as the music began. Y/N took her hand and guided her gently into the dance. Lina missed several steps, stepped on Y/N's boot twice, spun the wrong direction once, and laughed through the entire thing. Y/N couldn't stop smiling. Neither could Wanda.

Around them, the guests watched fondly as king and princess danced together beneath golden chandeliers. For a few precious minutes, Lina was the center of the world—exactly where she deserved to be.

When the song ended, applause filled the ballroom once more. Lina bowed dramatically. Y/N bowed even lower, which immediately made her laugh.

Then Steve stepped forward. “May I have the next dance, Your Highness?”

Lina instantly straightened, clearly trying to look very royal. “You may.”

Steve offered his arm, and Lina took it proudly as the next dance began. As promised, the rest of the guests were now invited to join. The ballroom quickly filled with movement. Children darted between adults, laughter mixed with music, and the celebration finally settled into a joyful rhythm.

Then Y/N felt a familiar hand slip into theirs.

Wanda.

Their eyes met instantly. Neither needed to ask.

Y/N gently pulled her toward the dance floor. “My queen.”

Wanda smiled. “My king.”

Then they began to dance. Slowly. Comfortably.

Y/N careful of her pregnancy. Wanda leaning closer whenever she pleased. Their foreheads brushed once, then again, and Y/N found themself smiling for no reason other than the simple fact that Wanda existed.

Nearby, another scene was unfolding.

Barnes stood awkwardly beside the refreshments, looking deeply uncomfortable, which naturally meant Natasha was enjoying herself.

“Dance with me.” Nat smirk.

Barnes blinked. “Was that an order?”

“Maybe.”

“That’s abuse of authority.”

Natasha smirk wider.

Barnes sighed and offered his hand anyway. Natasha’s smile softened instantly as she accepted it, and together they disappeared into the crowd.

The ballroom buzzed with life around them. Music filled the air while children ran between tables, knights attempted dancing, and servants openly enjoyed the celebration without worrying about noble etiquette for once. Exactly the atmosphere Y/N had hoped for.

Their eyes darting back at Lina.

She had apparently escaped from the dance floor and was now standing near one of the dessert tables, examining a dragon-shaped pastry with intense concentration.

Y/N smiled, but it died when they saw someone approaching her.

Eren.

The boy had clearly spent the last several minutes gathering courage. He straightened his jacket, fixed his hair, and marched toward Lina with the determination of a knight heading into battle.

“Oh no,” Y/N muttered.

Beside them, Wanda followed their gaze and immediately started smiling.

Eren stopped in front of Lina. She looked up from her pastry. The boy visibly swallowed before giving a surprisingly formal bow for a ten-year-old.

Y/N took one step forward.

Immediately, Wanda grabbed their arm.

“Oh no.”

Y/N stared at her. “What do you mean, ‘oh no’?”

“You’re not interfering.”

“I wasn’t going to interfere.”

“You literally took a step.”

“I was observing.”

Wanda laughed.

Meanwhile, Eren was clearly trying very hard to speak like an adult. Lina listened attentively. Then her face lit up and she nodded enthusiastically.

Y/N narrowed their eyes. “What did she agree to?”

“A dance,” Wanda answered immediately.

Y/N took another step.

Wanda physically pulled them back.

“No.”

“Wanda.”

“No.”

“He’s circling.”

Wanda burst out laughing.

“He’s ten.”

“Exactly.”

“That’s not helping your argument.”

Y/N folded their arms. “She didn’t even had a debut yet.”

“Y/N.”

“He has a strategy.”

“He is ten.”

“He has intentions.”

“He is ten.”

Y/N pointed dramatically toward the children.

“Look at him.”

Eren was currently offering Lina his hand with all the seriousness of a fairytale prince. Wanda had to cover her mouth to stop laughing.

“He’s courting.”

“He asked her to dance at her birthday party.”

“Exactly.”

Finally, Wanda reached up and cupped Y/N’s cheek, forcing them to look at her instead of the dance floor. Their expression remained deeply suspicious.

“My love.”

“What?”

“He is ten.”

“I know that.”

“Then why are you acting like he’s about to propose marriage?”

Y/N opened their mouth, paused, then stubbornly answered, “Because he’s going after my little sister.”

Wanda’s eyes softened immediately. She leaned up and kissed them—quick, warm, affectionate.

When she pulled back, Y/N still looked unconvinced. Which only made her laugh harder.

“Are you jealous?”

“No.”

The answer came far too quickly making Wanda laughed immediately.

Y/N looked betrayed. “I’m not.”

“Of course not.”

“I’m serious.”

“Mhm.”

“I am.”

Still smiling, Wanda kissed their cheek and took one of their hands, placing it gently over her stomach. Almost immediately, their baby kicked, changing Y/N’s entire expression. The suspicious older sibling was gone. Now there was only a delighted future parent.

Wanda smiled triumphantly.

“Good timing.”

Y/N rubbed her stomach gently. The baby kicked again.

“See?” Wanda said innocently. “Your child is hungry.”

Y/N immediately looked toward the buffet tables, then back at Wanda, then at the buffet again.

A terrible realization dawned.

Wanda’s smile widened. “Go get us food.”

“You planned this.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You distracted me.”

“Our child distracted you.”

Y/N pointed accusingly.

Wanda kissed their finger making them blush, and their eyes darken.

And just like that, they lost the argument completely.

A few moments later, Y/N could be seen heading toward the food tables while Wanda watched with a victorious smile.

Meanwhile, on the dance floor, Lina and Eren were trying very hard to dance like adults.

---

By the time the dancing slowed and the enormous birthday cake had been thoroughly attacked by a room full of children, it was finally time for gifts.

Lina immediately climbed into the oversized chair prepared for her near the front of the ballroom, looking entirely too pleased with herself.

The first gift was from Y/N. When Lina opened the long wooden box and found a training sword made specifically for her, her name engraved along the blade. Y/N wanted to teach her how to defend herself. 

Lina immediately launched herself at them. The entire ballroom laughed as Y/N caught her easily.

“Thank you!”

“You are welcome, little dove.”

Next came Wanda's gift: a beautiful leather-bound journal decorated with silver stars and flowers.

“It’s a diary. So you can take note of all the adventures you will have,” Wanda explained.

Lina immediately hugged both the journal and Wanda.

After that came Ser Rogers. Steve's gift was a child's knight set complete with a painted wooden shield, training gauntlets, and a small sash. Lina immediately declared herself “officially dangerous now,” while Steve looked like he was reconsidering every decision that had led him to this moment.

Ser Barnes was next. His gift was a children's archery set complete with padded arrows and a target. Lina looked at it as though he'd handed her buried treasure. Y/N immediately started imagining broken windows.

Then came Natasha. Her gift was a beautiful red cloak trimmed with silver embroidery and lined with soft fur for winter. Lina wrapped herself in it immediately and refused to remove it for the rest of the evening. Natasha looked deeply satisfied with herself.

Several more gifts followed. One noble family presented Lina with a delicate silver bracelet decorated with tiny stars, while another gifted her a collection of beautifully illustrated fairy tale books. Lina was delighted by both.

Then one of the village children approached—a little girl around Lina's age carrying a small package wrapped in plain cloth. Inside was a handmade rag doll wearing a tiny blue dress. The stitching was uneven, and one button eye sat slightly higher than the other, but it was obvious it had been made with care.

The little girl immediately started apologizing.

“It’s not very pretty—”

“It’s beautiful.” Lina hugged the doll instantly.

The little girl beamed.

Wanda's eyes suspiciously filled with tears.

Finally, Eren approached.

The poor boy looked more nervous than Y/N had ever seen him, which was saying something. Lina immediately sat up straighter when she saw him coming.

Y/N noticed and narrowed their eyes.

Wanda noticed Y/N noticing and immediately grabbed their arm.

“No.”

“I’m not doing anything.”

“You are absolutely doing something.”

“I am observing.”

Wanda rolled her eyes.

Eren handed over a carefully wrapped package. Lina opened it slowly. Inside was a small wooden music box. Handmade.

When she turned the little handle, a soft melody drifted through the ballroom. The lid opened to reveal a tiny dancing princess carved from wood.

The room grew noticeably quieter.

Eren’s face turned bright red. “My…dad taught me how to make it when he was still alive… Ser Rogers helped me make it.”

Lina stared at the spinning figure for a long moment.

Then she smiled. Not the excited grin she'd given the sword. Not the delighted laugh she'd given the cloak.

A different smile. Softer.

“It’s beautiful.”

Eren looked like someone had just handed him a kingdom.

Wanda immediately hid her smile behind her hand.

Y/N narrowed their eyes further. But this time, they didn't say anything. Because despite every protective instinct screaming otherwise, Lina looked happy. Really happy.

And tonight was about her.

So Y/N simply crossed their arms and let it go. For now.

The rest of the evening passed wonderfully. There was more dancing, more cake, and more children running through the ballroom despite several servants' increasingly desperate attempts to stop them. Lina spent the night bouncing from one activity to another, laughing so much her cheeks turned pink.

And every time Y/N looked over, their little sister was smiling.

Not the careful smile she'd worn for years under Alaric. Not the quiet one she used when she thought nobody was watching.

A real smile. Bright and carefree.

The kind she should have been allowed to have all along. Seeing it made something warm settle inside Y/N’s chest. Because for the first time, Lina was having the birthday she deserved.

Eventually the music faded. Guests departed. Families returned home carrying sleepy children, and the ballroom slowly emptied until only a handful of servants remained cleaning up.

It was already very late.

Lina looked tired now. But happy.

Y/N glanced toward Wanda. Immediately, Wanda understood. Her hand found theirs beneath the table and squeezed gently.

The final gift.

The one they had spoken about days ago. The one Y/N had spent longer thinking about than all the others combined.

Wanda's eyes softened.

Then she leaned up and kissed their cheek. A quiet gesture. Full of understanding.

“You should go,” she whispered.

Y/N smiled.

Ser Romanoff stepped forward to escort the queen back to their chambers. Wanda squeezed Y/N's hand one final time before leaving, and just before she disappeared through the ballroom doors, she glanced back over her shoulder.

Smiling. Encouraging.

Go.

Once Wanda was gone, Y/N approached Lina. The little girl was sitting in a chair, holding her new music box while trying—and failing—not to yawn.

“Had fun?”

Lina immediately nodded. “The best birthday ever.”

Y/N’s smile softened. “The best?”

“The best.”

Y/N kiss her head before offered their hand. “Come on.”

Lina took it immediately. “Where are we going?”

Y/N only smiled. “One more gift.”

Her eyes widened instantly. “Another one?”

“One last one.”

Lina looked delighted. Then curious. Then suspicious.

“Is it a pony?”

“No.”

“A dragon?”

“No.”

“A dragon pony?”

Y/N laughed. “No. Dragons don’t exist!”

Lina sighed dramatically. “Okay.”

They walked through the quiet palace corridors together, the sounds of the celebration slowly fading behind them. The castle felt different now—still, peaceful. Most of the candles had burned low, and the servants they passed smiled warmly at Lina and wished her a happy birthday.

Eventually they reached a part of the palace Lina rarely visited.

And finally, they stopped before a familiar door.

Lina frowned. “What room is this?”

Y/N looked at the door for a moment before turning back to her. “Mama’s.”

Lina blinked. Immediately confused.

“…Mama’s?”

Y/N nodded. A small silence settled between them. Lina looked back at the door slowly, as though she wasn’t entirely sure she had heard correctly.

“I thought…”

She hesitated. “I thought there wasn’t anything left.”

Y/N understood. “I thought so too.”

Then they pushed the door open.

The room beyond glowed softly in candlelight. Warm and gentle.

Lina stepped inside slowly. Completely silent. Her eyes moved everywhere at once.

Taking everything in. The books. The furniture. The little decorative pieces. The embroidery frame resting beside a chair. The portrait above the fireplace.

And then she stopped.

Because there—resting on a table near the fireplace, was a portrait of Queen Eleonora heavily pregnant, one hand resting on her stomach.

And beside her stood Y/N. Already tall for their age. Already carrying the posture Alaric had beaten into them. Serious. Guarded. Trying very hard to look older than they were.

And yet standing close enough that their shoulder touched Eleonora's arm. One of her hands rested gently in their hair.

The painter had captured something Y/N hadn't noticed until years later—the tiny smile on their mother's face and the way she was looking at them.

Like they were the most precious thing in the world.

Lina stopped.

The room became very quiet.

She stepped closer.

Then closer.

Until she stood directly in front of the painting.

Y/N remained a few steps behind, watching and waiting.

Lina stared at the portrait for a long time. At Eleonora. At the baby bump. At thirteen-year-old Y/N.

Then, softly— “…that’s me.”

Y/N swallowed. “Yeah.”

Lina reached toward the painting but stopped just before touching it, as if afraid it might disappear.

“Mama looked happy.”

The words hit harder than Y/N expected. Because she had. Even then. Even carrying the exhaustion of years. Even knowing what waited for her.

Eleonora had still smiled whenever she looked at her children.

Y/N stepped closer and carefully reached into their coat.

Lina looked up, confused.

Y/N pulled out an envelope.

Old. Protected.

For a moment they simply stared at it. Then held it out.

Lina blinked. “What’s that?”

Y/N’s throat tightened. “A letter.”

Lina took it carefully. “From who?”

Y/N looked toward the portrait. “…From Mama.”

The room went still.

Lina’s eyes widened. “She wrote me a letter?”

Y/N nodded.

“Before you were born.”

Lina stared at the envelope as though it might vanish if she blinked.

Then she slowly opened it. Her small hands trembled.

And she began to read.

---

My precious little one, If you are reading this, then it means I was never given the chance to hold you for as long as I wished I could. There are already so many things I wanted to tell you. How I spoke to you when no one else was around. How your brother would rest their head against my stomach and talk to you as though you could already answer back. How every time you moved, Y/N would look at me with the same frightened wonder they used to have as a child whenever they discovered something beautiful. You are already loved more than you will ever fully understand. Especially by him. Your brother carries a heart far too gentle for this kingdom, though I pray the world never succeeds in hardening it completely. There will be people who misunderstand Y/N. Some will fear what they do not understand. Others will try to convince him that he is too soft, too emotional, too different. Do not believe those people. I have lived among cruel men for many years, and I can promise you this with certainty: There is nothing stronger than a person who remains kind after surviving pain. And there is no one in this world I would trust more to protect you than Y/N. He has protected me since he was small enough to fit entirely in my lap. Even when frightened. Even when hurting. Even when no one protected him in return. So if one day you are scared, or lonely, or uncertain of where you belong—go to him. Y/N will hold your hand through every storm this world places before you. That is simply who he is. Please be patient with him too. He carries wounds much older than he should. Some visible. Some hidden deep enough that even he may not fully understand them yet. But beneath all of it, your brother’s heart is beautiful. Never let anyone convince you otherwise. I hope you grow surrounded by the kind of love I once dreamed this palace might hold. I hope you laugh loudly. I hope you run through gardens without fear. I hope you are allowed to become exactly who you are without shame. And I hope that when you look at Y/N, you do not only see a future king. I hope you see what I see. A person who fought very hard to remain gentle in a world that rewarded cruelty. Take care of each other. Love each other fiercely. That is how people survive places like this. And if there is anything beyond this life, know that I will spend eternity loving both of you. Forever yours, Mama

---

The first tear landed on the page before Lina reached the end.

Then another. And another.

By the time she whispered the final words—her vision was completely blurred.

The letter lowered slowly. Her lips trembled.

Y/N could already see it coming.

The grief. The longing. The realization that this was the closest she would ever come to hearing her mother's voice.

Y/N didn't hesitate. They gathered Lina into their arms. Holding her close.

Safe.

Lina buried her face in their neck and sobbed. Not quietly.

Y/N felt tears gathering in their own eyes again.

Gods. Their mother was still finding ways to make them cry.

The letter crumpled slightly in Lina's hand as she clung to them.

Then, through her tears, she whispered:

“Why did Mama leave us?”

The question shattered Y/N. Because Lina wasn't asking about childbirth. Or death.

She was asking the question every child asks.

Why didn't she stay?

Y/N closed their eyes and held her tighter. “Mama didn't leave us.”

Lina cried harder.

Y/N pressed their cheek against her hair. “She wanted to stay.” Their own voice cracked. “More than anything.”

A sob escaped Lina.

Y/N looked toward the portrait. Toward their mother.

Still smiling from across the room. Still watching over them somehow.

“Mama loved you before she even met you.”

Lina's shoulders trembled.

“Really?”

The word came out broken. Y/N smiled through tears. “Really.”

They pulled back just enough to brush the tears from her cheeks.

“She talked about you all the time.”

Lina looked up at them. Red-eyed. Heartbroken.

Y/N kissed her forehead, just like Eleonora used to kiss theirs, then pulled her close again.

Lina didn't let go. If anything, she held tighter. Her small arms wrapped around Y/N's neck while she continued crying into their shoulder, the letter still clutched tightly in one hand.

Y/N just held her.

One hand rubbed slow circles across her back while the other rested protectively against her hair. The room remained quiet except for the crackling fireplace and Lina's soft sobs.

After a moment, Y/N shifted carefully and slipped one arm beneath Lina's knees, lifting her into their arms. Lina immediately buried her face deeper into their neck, not protesting, not wanting to be anywhere else.

Y/N carried her across the room toward one of the armchairs near the fireplace.

The same chair Eleonora used to sit in while reading. The chair where Y/N had spent countless evenings curled against her side.

They lowered themself into it slowly, settling Lina onto their lap before wrapping both arms around her and holding her close against their chest. Like their mother used to do when their were at that age.

Lina continued crying quietly. Y/N rested their cheek on top of her head and waited.

Eventually the sobs softened. Then slowed. 

Then became little more than sniffles. But Lina still didn't move from their lap.

Several minutes passed before her small voice finally broke the silence.

“...Y/N?”

“Hm?”

And Y/N wasn’t prepared for what came next.

“What if Wanda leaves too?”

The words hit like a blade. Y/N went completely still for a second.

But inside, fear exploded.

The same fear that had lived quietly in the back of their mind ever since learning Wanda was pregnant. The same fear that woke them some nights. The same fear they never spoke aloud.

What if history repeated itself?

What if—No.

Y/N buried the thought immediately.

For Lina.

For Wanda.

And for the baby.

They swallowed carefully and pressed a kiss into Lina's hair.

“Wanda will be fine.”

Lina remained curled against them. “Really?”

Y/N wanted to promise. Wanted to say yes. But they couldn't.

Not after everything life had taught them.

So instead they chose honesty. “The healers say she's healthy.”

Lina listened carefully.

“And she's much healthier than Mama was during her pregnancy.”

That part was true. Painfully true.

Eleonora had been growing weaker long before Lina was born.

Wanda wasn't. Wanda was strong. Healthy. Stubborn enough to terrify ministers and healers alike.

Y/N smiled faintly.

“The baby is healthy too.”

Lina thought about that for a moment before looking up, eyes still wet.

“You promise?”

The question hurt. Because Y/N knew what she was really asking. Not for certainty. For comfort. For someone to tell her everything would be okay.

Y/N brushed a tear from her cheek.

“I can't promise.”

Lina's face fell slightly.

“But I can tell you Wanda is doing very well.”

Y/N smiled softly.

“And if anyone can bully death into leaving her alone, it's probably Wanda.”

A tiny laugh escaped Lina. Small but real.

Y/N smiled too.

The little girl leaned back against their chest.

Comforted. Not entirely but enough for now.

Several quiet moments passed before Y/N glanced around the room. At the bookshelves. The paintings. The flowers. The memories. Everything Eleonora had left behind.

Then they looked down at Lina.

“You know...”

Lina tilted her head.

Y/N smiled softly. “This room is yours now.”

She blinked. “...Mine?”

“If you want it.”

Lina looked around slowly, carefully taking everything in.

The portrait.

The books.

The fireplace.

The pieces of their mother that still remained here.

Her eyes widened.

“Really?”

Y/N nodded. “You can move all yours things here.”

Lina stared. Speechless. For once.

Then her gaze drifted back to Eleonora's portrait, and suddenly tears filled her eyes again.

“So I can stay with Mama?”

Y/N's eyes burned immediately. They tightened their arms around her. Holding her securely against their chest.

“Yeah.”Their voice cracked slightly. “You're staying with Mama.”

Lina smiled through fresh tears and curled closer into them.

For a long while, neither moved.

Just two siblings sitting together in their mother's chair beneath her portrait, wrapped in the love she had left behind for both of them.

---

A Month Later

Wanda’s POV

A month passed surprisingly quickly.

After her birthday, Lina had officially moved into Queen Eleonora's chambers. At first, Wanda worried it might be too emotional for her, but instead Lina thrived. She adored the room, the books, the paintings, and every little keepsake Eleonora had left behind. More than once, Wanda found her sitting beneath one of her mother's portraits, happily chatting away as though Eleonora could hear every word.

And perhaps she could.

Y/N certainly seemed to think so.

Some portraits remained in Eleonora's chambers. Others Y/N had quietly brought back to their own chamber. One sat beside the fireplace, another near Wanda's reading chair, and a smaller one rested on Y/N's desk. Whenever they thought nobody was watching, Wanda sometimes caught them looking at those portraits.

Not sadly. Just...Missing her.

The pregnancy was progressing beautifully. The healers couldn't have been happier. The baby was healthy, growing exactly as expected and already kicking with alarming enthusiasm. Wanda felt well too—tired sometimes, hungry constantly, but otherwise perfectly healthy.

The only person struggling was arguably Y/N.

Not physically.

Emotionally.

Because the closer they got to the birth, the more protective they became.

And honestly?

It was becoming ridiculous.

Like right now.

Wanda was enjoying the afternoon sun in the palace gardens, a book in hand as she wandered slowly along a stone path.

Peaceful. Quiet. Until—

“Wanda.”

She sighed. There they were. Y/N approached from across the garden looking deeply concerned.

Again.

“What?”

“You were walking.”

Wanda blinked.

“…yes.”

“Without anyone.”

“I am in the palace garden.”

Y/N still looked unconvinced.

Wanda stared at them. And the baby kicked as if enjoying the argument.

“You could have slipped.”

“On what?”

Y/N glanced at the ground. “…a leaf.”

Wanda laughed.

“A leaf.”

“It happens.”

“It does not.”

“It could.”

Gods. A month ago Y/N would have worried. Now they were just hovering.

The baby kicked again. Y/N immediately abandoned the argument and placed a hand against her stomach.

Traitor.

Wanda watched their expression soften instantly.

Every single time. Like magic.

“Did you miss Papa?” Y/N say softly.

Another kick.

Y/N smiled.

And Wanda's chest tightened. Because moments like this made the fear easier to see.

Not in what Y/N said. But in what they didn't.

---

That night, after supper, Wanda lay comfortably against the headboard while Y/N sat beside her reading. Or pretending to.

They had been staring at the same page for nearly ten minutes.

Wanda watched them quietly. Candlelight danced across their face, catching the faint scar on their cheek and the tension hidden behind their eyes.

Gods. She knew them too well now.

Y/N hadn't spoken about their fears. Not directly. But Wanda saw them anyway.

In the way they checked on her three times every night. In the way they asked the healers the same questions repeatedly. In the way their hand always found her stomach whenever they sat together, as though reassuring themselves that both mother and baby were still there.

Still safe. Still breathing.

Wanda set her book aside and slid closer.

Y/N immediately wrapped an arm around her without even looking away from the book they were pretending to read.

“My love.”

Their eyes lifted.

“Hm?”

Wanda reached up and brushed a hand through their hair. The book was forgotten instantly.

She smiled softly. And there it was.

The fear.

Hidden deep. But present.

Y/N swallowed once.

Wanda's heart ached. Because she knew exactly where it came from.

They saw their mother become weak during pregnancy. And with their baby due in only a few weeks.

Of course they were afraid.

Of course they were.

She leaned forward and kissed them gently, then rested her forehead against theirs.

“I’m okay.”

Y/N smiled immediately. “I know.”

Wanda knew that smile. Knew it well enough to recognize when it was hiding something.

Instead of arguing, she set her book aside and opened her arms.

Y/N looked at her for a moment, then immediately moved. Like they'd been waiting for permission. Wanda pulled their head against her chest, one hand settling in their hair while the other rubbed slow circles across their back. The room was quiet except for the soft crackle of the fire.

Y/N's arm wrapped around her waist. Holding on.

Wanda kept stroking their hair, knowing she couldn't make them stop worrying. Not completely.

Eventually Y/N sighed. A long, tired sound.

“I know you're healthy. The healers are happy. They say everything is going perfectly.”

Their fingers tightened slightly against her side.

“And I know this is different.”

Wanda's chest tightened. Because it was. Eleonora hadn't been healthy.

Wanda was. The baby was too.

Y/N knew that. Logically. But fear wasn't logical.

“I know Mama's pregnancy wasn't like yours,” they said quietly. “I know the healers were already worried about her. I know all of that.”

A pause.

“But I still get scared.”

There it was. The truth.

Y/N pressed their forehead lightly against her shoulder.

“I don't want to lose you.”

Wanda's eyes stung immediately.

Gods. She loved them. So much.

Her fingers slipped through their hair again.

“You won't.”

Y/N laughed softly. “You don't know that.”

“No.”

Wanda wouldn't lie to them. “I don't.”

Y/N closed their eyes.

“But I know this.” She cupped their cheek gently. “You are not that frightened child anymore.”

Their eyes lifted to hers.

“And I am not alone.”

Y/N's expression softened.

“We have healers checking on me every week,” Wanda said, kissing their forehead. “We have an entire palace ready to panic if I sneeze.”

Another kiss. “And we have you.”

That finally earned a small smile. The fear didn't disappear.

But it loosened. Enough for now.

After a moment, they spoke again.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Always.”

They looked away briefly. “If the baby ends up like me...”

Wanda understood immediately.

“If they're born with one body and heart different from what people expect...” Their throat tightened. “...would you care?”

“No.”

The answer came instantly.

Y/N blinked.

Wanda cupped their face. “No,” she repeated softly. “I wouldn't care at all.”

Something eased inside them.

Just a little.

Wanda smiled. “As long as our baby is healthy.” Her hand rested over her stomach. “And loved.”

Y/N visibly relaxed.

Then Wanda added, “Though I do hope they look like you.”

Y/N's head snapped up. “What?”

“I do.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Y/N looked horrified. “My love, have you seen yourself?”

“Have you?”

Y/N pointed at her.

“You have auburn hair. Beautiful green eyes.”

“You're biased.” Wanda chuckle.

“I married you. That's my job! But I’m telling the truth!”

Wanda laughed. Then rested a hand over her stomach.

“I want them to have your heart.”

The teasing faded.

“Your kindness. Your gentleness. The way you love people.”

Y/N immediately looked away. Embarrassed.

Wanda smiled and turned their face back toward hers. “I mean it.”

After a moment, Y/N recovered.

“I want them to have your hair.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“My hair is impossible.”

“Exactly.”

Wanda laughed.

“I want your eyes too.”

“They're just eyes.” Y/N make a face.

“They're your eyes.”

The baby suddenly kicked. Both of them looked down. Then another kick followed.

Y/N's entire face softened. They placed a hand over her stomach and leaned down to press a kiss there. “I don't really care who they look like. As long as they are healthy.”

Wanda's heart melted. Of course. That was what mattered most to them.

She cupped their cheek. “I know.”

Y/N leaned into her touch, and when Wanda kissed them, thoughts of hair color and eye color faded away. Only love remained. And the certainty that their child would be adored beyond reason.

---

Without either of them realizing it, time continued moving.

Days became weeks, and weeks became a month.

And slowly, piece by piece, they prepared for their baby.

The palace began changing around them. A basket appeared beside their bed. Tiny clothes found their way into drawers. Blankets, books, and wooden toys accumulated faster than seemed possible.

Then came the crib.

Most royal and noble children slept in nurseries from the beginning, surrounded by nurses and attendants far from their parents.

Neither Wanda nor Y/N cared.

The crib stood beside their bed, close enough for Wanda to reach without standing and close enough for Y/N to undoubtedly check if the baby was breathing every five minutes.

Wanda fully expected them to do exactly that.

The crib itself had quietly become Y/N's latest project. Despite insisting they were only making "minor adjustments," Wanda eventually discovered those adjustments involved hand-carving delicate details into the wood.

When Wanda asked, Y/N claimed it was important. Wanda suspected they simply wanted something to fuss over. Either way, it was beautiful.

And every time she looked at it, her chest tightened.

Soon it wouldn't be empty. Soon there would be a baby sleeping there.

Their baby.

They even prepared a nursery despite having no intention of using it immediately. It occupied Y/N's old chambers, though almost nothing remained unchanged. The dark furniture had been replaced, the walls brightened, and the rooms filled with bookshelves, soft rugs, comfortable chairs, and a little bed waiting for when the child grew older.

It no longer looked like a prince's chambers. It looked like a child's room.

The kind of room Y/N should have had growing up.

Wanda noticed that but she never mentioned it. Neither did Y/N.

And as the weeks passed, Wanda noticed something else.

Y/N still worried. Just... less obviously.

They stopped questioning the healers every other day. Stopped hovering every time she stood up. Stopped looking ready to summon half the palace whenever she sneezed.

Mostly.

Instead, whenever the worry became too much, they came looking for her. No explanations.

They would simply appear. Then pull her into their arms and hold her.

Like now.

Wanda was reviewing reports in her study when Y/N quietly walked in. One look was enough.

The reports were set aside.

Without a word, Y/N crossed the room and wrapped their arms around her, resting their forehead against the side of her head.

“Missed us?” Wanda murmured.

Y/N only hummed. Holding her tighter. And Wanda melted. Because she knew what they were doing. Checking. Reassuring themself. Making sure both of them were still there. Still safe.

So she leaned back against them and let them hold her for as long as they needed.

Eventually the tension left their shoulders. Only then did Y/N kiss her temple and return to whatever royal disaster awaited them.

It happened often.

Sometimes in the morning, at night, after difficult meetings, after passing one of Eleonora's portraits.

Y/N never explained. And Wanda never asked. She just held them back. Whenever they buried their face against her shoulder, she ran her fingers through their hair. Whenever they kissed her stomach, she kissed their forehead. Trying, in every small way she could, to tell them:

I'm here. We're okay.

---

Ser Romanoff also had opinions. “You're going to need wet nurses.”

Wanda looked up from her book.

Natasha stood beside the sofa while Y/N pretended not to listen.

“You realize queens have used wet nurses for centuries?”

“I know.”

“You'll be exhausted.”

“I know.”

“You'll barely sleep.”

“I know.”

Natasha narrowed her eyes.

Wanda smiled. “I still don't want one.”

At least not yet. The thought of feeding her child herself, holding them close, being the first comfort they knew in the world—she wanted that.

Perhaps later she would accept help.

Perhaps not.

She would decide when the time came.

Natasha sighed dramatically. “As expected.”

So life continued.

The crib waited beside their bed. The nursery waited down the hall. Tiny clothes filled drawers. Lina prepared aggressively for her role as aunt. And with every passing day, the baby grew closer.

Until even the palace seemed to be holding its breath. Waiting for the moment their family would become one person larger.

---

Y/N's POV

“This is ridiculous.”

Ser Barnes didn't even look up from his horse. They rode side by side toward a nearby village, a small escort following behind. Y/N was in a terrible mood. And Ser Barnes knew it.

“This could have been handled by literally anyone else.”

“It couldn't.”

“It absolutely could.”

“It couldn't.”

Y/N glared. Ser Barnes remained unimpressed.

“Wanda could give birth any day now.”

“We know.”

“No, I don't think you do.”

Ser Barnes finally looked over.

Y/N looked genuinely distressed. Not angry. Distressed.

Which was worse.

“She’s due soon.”

“We know.”

“The baby could decide today is the day.”

“We know.”

“I should be with her.”

“And you will be.”

“What if she needs me?”

“Then someone will come get you.”

“What if it happens before they arrive?”

“We're less than an hour from the capital.”

“What if—”

“Y/N.”

The king stopped talking. Briefly.

Ser Barnes sighed. “The queen is healthy. The baby is healthy. There are healers, midwives, guards, servants, and half the palace watching her.”

Y/N frowned. “That doesn't make me feel better.”

“I know.” Ser Barnes sigh, “The village requested direct intervention from the crown.”

Y/N folded their arms. Still grumpy and unconvinced.

Ser Barnes had known them long enough to recognize the difference between annoyance and genuine distress. This was the latter.

Y/N stared ahead for a long moment before sighing. “If Wanda gives birth while I'm out here...”

Ser Barnes already knew where this was going.

“...I'm going to kick your ass.”

The threat was delivered with complete seriousness.

Ser Barnes burst out laughing.

Y/N looked even more offended. “I'm serious.”

“I know.”

“I'm not joking.”

“I know.”

Y/N pointed at him from horseback.

“If I miss the birth of my child because of three merchants arguing over something stupid, I will personally make your life miserable.”

Ser Barnes grinned. “Fair.”

“I'm glad you understand.”

“I do.”

Ser Barnes nodded solemnly. “If Her Majesty goes into labor while we're here, you have my full permission to kick my ass.”

“Good.”

A few moments later, Ser Barnes glanced sideways at them.

“You know she's going to be fine.”

Y/N's expression softened immediately. Just for a second.

“I know.” And they did.

The healers weren't worried. Wanda wasn't worried. Even Lina wasn't worried anymore.

Only Y/N.

Y/N was worried enough for everyone.

Ser Barnes let the silence sit for a moment. Then quietly said, “She's strong."

Y/N looked down at the reins in their hands. A faint smile appearing despite everything. "Yeah."

"Stronger than you, honestly."

That actually made Y/N laugh. A genuine laugh. Because it was true.

"She is." The fondness in their voice was immediate.

Ser Barnes smirked making Y/N rolled their eyes. But the smile remained.

"She is stronger than me."

They looked ahead toward the village in the distance. Then nudged Philip forward.

"Now let's hurry so I can get back faster."

Before Ser Barnes could answer, Philip surged ahead eagerly. Ser Barnes sighed before urging his own horse to follow.

---

Fortunately, Ser Barnes had been right.

The dispute really had needed the crown.

Three merchant families had spent weeks arguing over trade routes, taxes, and ownership claims. The moment Y/N arrived, they listened to everyone, asked a few questions, forced the families to actually hear one another, and had the matter settled before the afternoon ended.

Even Y/N had to admit the village probably wouldn't have accepted anyone else's decision.

They still complained anyway.

On the ride home, Y/N rode beside Ser Barnes with their arms folded.

“This could have waited.”

“It could not.”

“It absolutely could have.”

“It could not.”

“It was solved in less than two hours.”

“Because you were there.”

Y/N groaned.

Ser Barnes looked deeply amused.

“I hate when you're right.”

“I know.”

The conversation died there when Y/N's eyes narrowed as they see far ahead on the road, a rider was approaching.

Fast. Too fast.

The horse was lathered with sweat. The knight wasn't slowing down. Something cold dropped into Y/N's stomach. Ser Barnes saw it too. Immediately, both of them straightened.

The knight closed the distance rapidly. Y/N's heart began pounding.

No.

No, no, no.

The rider finally reached them and hauled his horse to a stop.

“Your Majesty—”

“What happened?” The words came out instantly. Sharp and panicked.

The knight blinked. “Her Majesty—”

Y/N's blood ran cold.

“What happened?”

The knight sat up straighter.

“Her Majesty is in labor.”

For one terrible second, the world stopped.

Then everything happened at once. Y/N wheeled Philip around so fast the stallion barely had time to react.

“Y/N—”

Ser Barnes didn't even get to finish.

“Go Philip!” The single word cracked like thunder. Philip surged forward. Y/N dug in their heels. The stallion exploded into motion. The road vanished beneath them. Wind tore at their clothes. Branches blurred past.

All Y/N could hear was the thunder of hooves and the frantic pounding of their own heart.

Wanda. Wait for me my love. Please.

Just let me get there.

Philip ran faster. And Y/N didn't look back.

---

It was your eighth birthday when you’d first realised. You’d woken up to the sounds of your Moms’ singing Happy Birthday, and their voices had floated into your twin brother’s room. You’d clambered out of bed to join them, and they’d included your name in the song but they’d both sat on your brother’s bed, either side of him whilst you’d sat cross-legged on the floor.

Your eyes were bright with excitement and anticipation. You’d been begging your Moms’ for a tamagotchi and a games console for the past month – you weren’t even fussy about which kind of console. Something handheld like a Nintendo DS, or maybe a PlayStation or an XBOX. You had a handful of games on the family computer that you and your twin brother would often play, but you wanted the opportunity to expand your gaming library. One of your friends at school had a PlayStation which you thought was the coolest thing ever but you’d have been happy with any of them.

Brandon always got to open his presents first and he’d been bellyaching for a skateboard which was the first thing he opened, shrieking with excitement. Your Moms’ eyes had lit up, and Wanda had taken photo after photo of him. Your hands had ran over your brightly wrapped presents, tired of waiting for your turn, but Brandon still had other gifts to open. He’d opened new sneakers, a football, action figures, books, and finally, a PlayStation. Your mouth had fallen open and your excitement had risen – if Brandon had got a games console, you must have one too!

Finally it was your turn and you’d beamed, ripping the paper from your presents, your face falling slightly as you stared at them all. Two new books, a Barbie, a wristwatch and a delicate necklace with your initial. No gaming console, no tamagotchi. You’d looked towards the PlayStation on Brandon’s bed, asking quietly, “Is… Is that for both of us?”

“No, it’s Brandon’s,” Natasha had said, surprised. “He’s the one with a TV in his room. Maybe he’ll let you play too if you ask nicely though.”

You’d looked between your presents and your brothers. He was too excited with his own gifts to look your way, to acknowledge your own lacklustre pile. It wasn’t like you minded reading but these books were bright with unicorns on the cover – your favourite series was about a kid detective, you liked mysteries and adventures. These were generic ‘girl books’, picked at random, nothing to do with your actual interests. You didn’t have much of a sense of monetary value but it was clear even to you that your Moms’ had spent double, maybe even triple on your brother than they had on you.

Wanda took another photo of Brandon and that was when you realised she hadn’t taken a photo of you, not once. Natasha’s attention had already turned from you back to Brandon, beaming at him and pressing a kiss to his cheek. Wanda wished him a Happy Birthday again and you watched, your bottom lip trembling and your eyes watering. Nobody noticed how upset you were.

“Why don’t we go for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory after school?” Wanda suggested.

Your brother had cheered; The Cheesecake Factory was his favourite whilst yours was Panda Express. There was no discussion of what to do or where to go, as if it wasn’t even your birthday too. For breakfast your Moms’ asked Brandon what he wanted for breakfast, but nobody asked you. It occurred to you then, that your Moms’ never asked you. Not just on your birthday but all year round. Your opinion was never considered, never even asked for. Brandon’s was, and you were expected to go with the flow.

That was the first time you’d truly realised that your Mom’s had a preference for your twin brother. But once you’d noticed, it was hard to stop seeing it every single day.

Over the years you realised that your brother’s achievements were celebrated, whilst yours were brushed over. If Brandon got an A, his test was displayed on the fridge, and Wanda would make her famous cookies, letting him have the first pick. If you got an A, Natasha would ruffle your hair and Wanda would say ‘well done’. When Brandon made the football team, your Moms’ had taken the two of you out for dinner at Texas Roadhouse, his new favourite place as his tastes changed. When a story you’d written had won a prize, you’d got the same ruffle of your hair and Wanda’s quiet ‘well done’.

It wasn’t just their reactions – they drove Brandon to football practice every Saturday, swimming on a Thursday, and guitar lessons on a Tuesday. You’d asked if you could learn the piano and had been told they’d ‘look into it’ only for lessons to never materialise. Sometimes you’d go downstairs and you’d find them all in the living room, having a ‘family movie night’ that you hadn’t been invited to. One time you’d even been left behind on a trip to Yellowstone and it had taken them an hour to return to collect you.

As you grew older your brother generally had more achievements than you. Brandon was the quarterback of the football team, achieved straight A’s, had a sensible girlfriend that your Moms’ loved. There was always something to celebrate.  You just about scraped passing grades, generally cruised for life laying low, flying under the radar.

What was the point in getting angry though? It wouldn’t change anything.

You’d tried to get your Moms’ attention after that disastrous eighth birthday. That night at the Cheesecake Factory you’d asked Natasha if you could have dinner at Panda Express the following evening, and she’d given you a look. “We’re out for dinner tonight for your birthday treat, we don’t need to go out again tomorrow. Don’t be so ungrateful.”

Once you’d gotten home, you’d picked up one of your new books and had shown Wanda. “Mom, will you read to me before I go to sleep?”

“You’re eight now Sweetheart,” Wanda had laughed, ruffling your hair. “I think you’re plenty old enough to read quietly by yourself before bed.”

You’d been so tired. After the Cheesecake Factory the four of you had gone to the local park so Brandon could try out his new skateboard. Your Moms’ had beamed and laughed while they watched him, taking even more photos. You’d found another girl to play with but it had been boring – you wanted to be at home, playing with the games console you’d been hoping to receive. If you’d been given a tamagotchi, you could’ve at least played with that while Brandon had messed around on his stupid skateboard.

What made your Moms’ lack of interest in you even harder was that you weren’t close to Brandon. Over the years Wanda had told you stories of how close she’d been to her own twin brother, the uncle that neither of you had gotten to meet. How they’d protected each other after their parents had died. In all media you’d seen with twins, they were the same – inseparable, making up their own secret languages, looking after each other.

It had been okay when you were really little. Brandon had been your playmate and the two of you had gotten up to adventures, played games at the family computer together, he’d let you sneak into his room for midnight feasts. But Brandon was outgoing and sociable whilst you were more reserved, and when he’d started school he’d gained a whole heap of friends whilst you hadn’t. He’d pulled away from you without a backwards glance.

Whenever your Moms’ had to go away for missions, Brandon would go and stay at a friend’s house, not contacting you at all, even when you messaged him to say you were worried about them, that you were terrified something was going to happen to them. When you’d been bullied at school, Brandon had looked the other way, pretending he didn’t even know you. At thirteen, you’d tried to tentatively bring up the difference in how the two of you were treated and he’d snapped at you. “Don’t be ridiculous. The Moms’ love us exactly the same. You’re always doing this, trying to be the centre of attention; it’s getting old Y/N.”

Your best friend, Cassie, often fumed about it, “Why wouldn’t you give him hell? Everything has always been about him and he has the nerve to say shit like that? Why wouldn’t you give him a piece of your mind?”

You’d shrugged your shoulders, “Why waste my energy? He’ll never agree and neither will my Moms’.”

Sometimes it was hard to remember that your Moms’ loved you. You supposed they must, even if they liked Brandon more, but the hardest part was realising that they didn’t know you at all. Your eighth birthday had been one example but at every turn, they proved that they didn’t know you very well. When you told them both that you were thinking of applying to do creative writing at college, Wanda had glanced at you. “I didn’t know you liked writing.”

“Well, yeah,” You’d said quietly. “I won that prize for that short story I wrote, remember?”

“You did?” Natasha asked. “That’s… Well done.”

You’d clenched and unclenched your fists, swallowing hard. “Anyway, I was gonna apply to California College of the Arts.”

Part of you had hoped there would be a discussion about how far that would be from home. How you could go if you wanted to but that they’d miss you, that you should call at least once a week, and that they’d make provisions for you to come back for the holidays. Natasha had carried on as if you hadn’t said anything whilst Wanda had simply asked, “Did you look into scholarships?”

“Yeah, I submitted some of my work to them. I’m just waiting to hear back.” Neither of your Moms’ replied and you swallowed hard again. “It’ll be weird. Being so far from home.”

“You’ve always been pretty independent,” Natasha said. “You’ll be absolutely fine.”

‘I had no choice but to be independent!’ You’d wanted to snap. But what would be the point? Life isn’t a movie, you’d realised a long time ago. There would never be a moment where they realised how badly they treated you compared to Brandon, would never be a moment where they gathered you into their arms and reassured you that they loved you just as much as him, that things would change from now. It just simply wasn’t going to happen.

“Besides, you can come whenever you want.” Wanda had said. That had lifted your spirits somewhat until she’d added, “If you can afford the airfare. You thinking of getting a part-time job while you study?”

“Yeah…” You mumbled. “Yeah, I guess so.”

When you’d received the confirmation of your scholarship, Natasha had ruffled her hair and Wanda had said that usual ‘well done’. Brandon got a party at the compound when the confirmation of his own placement at Columbia University came through.

You’d watched from the sidelines, feeling lonelier than ever when Tony had suddenly sidled up, handing you an envelope. “What’s this?”

“Congratulations on California. Consider this a going away gift.”

Your eyes had widened when you’d spotted the cheque inside the envelope. “Tony… I can’t accept this…”

“Of course you can. I’m your rich Uncle, I won’t miss it. You’ll need money at college for books and food and rent and well… I think golden boy over there will be getting far more financial help from home than you.”

You’d glanced over at Brandon and then at Tony, wondering how much he’d noticed over the years. For a moment you’d felt angry, annoyed that someone had noticed the difference between your treatment and hadn’t intervened, had never said anything to your mothers. Why was he telling you? Of course you’d noticed. None of the Avengers had ever really bothered with you; a lot of them often seemed surprised to find that Natasha and Wanda had a daughter, that your brother had a twin sister, even though all of them had met you multiple times. But then you’d seen the small smile on his face and the sad look in his eyes, and you’d realised that he felt bad. That this cheque was the peace offering – and you weren’t exactly in a position to turn it down.

“Thanks Tony,” You’d said quietly. “I appreciate it. Really.”

Your moving date finally arrives and you carry your boxes down to the front door. Brandon had moved out three nights ago and your Moms’ had made a big deal of making his favourite dinner, giving him a going away gift and spending time with him the night before. You hadn’t received any similar fanfare last night and you hadn’t expected to. You see Natasha in her Black Widow outfit in the kitchen and you pause, shifting the box in your arms. “Are you not coming with us?”

“What do you mean?” Natasha asks, clearly distracted.

“With me and Mom to move me in.”

“Wait, you seriously thought we were gonna drive you? Jesus Y/N, it’s two days just one way.”

You hesitate, the box feeling even heavier in your arms as you shift from one foot to the other. “Yeah but… I’m going to college.” There’s significance to that statement but Natasha just blinks at you. “I thought we’d make a road trip out of it, I could spend some time with you and Mom before I- I mean, you helped Brandon move in-”

“Y/N, come on, Brandon went local, it took less than a day to move him in.”

You feel your bottom lip begin to tremble and you bite it, willing yourself not to cry. “It’s just… You never asked me how I was getting there, so I guess I just assumed that-”

“You’re an adult now,” Natasha says, giving you a tired look. “You can’t rely on your Mommy’s to do everything for you forever. We thought you’d figured something out, maybe caught a ride with someone else who was moving from New York to California.”

You shake your head and mumble dejectedly, “No… No, I didn’t do that.”

“Well you’ll have to figure it out. I’ve got work to do and your Mom doesn’t have the time to drive you that far.”

Natasha presses a half-hearted kiss to your cheek as she leaves and you realise that you don’t even feel angry or disappointed. Not really. You’re not actually surprised that they’re not driving you to college. That Natasha might not see you now until Thanksgiving or maybe even Christmas, and that had been her goodbye. Wanda is upstairs but you know there’s no point in going up to ask her for a ride. Instead you take your phone out and text Tony, asking if you could have one more favour.

An hour later Happy appears outside, and it’s him who takes your boxes back and forth to the car. You wait in the hallway, glancing towards the staircase, not sure if you’re hoping that Wanda will come downstairs to wish you goodbye. Maybe you are hoping but you’re not expecting it, not really. There’s movement upstairs but she doesn’t make an appearance.

“I’ll wait in the car,” Happy says to you as he grabs your final box.

You hesitate, glancing towards the stairs one last time before shaking your head, “No need. We should probably get moving, it’s going to be a long drive.”

“I understand if you want to say goodbye, I’ll wait as long as you need-”

“I already did,” You lie. “I’m ready to go, seriously.”

As you climb into the car, you find that you don’t feel sad about not saying goodbye. The thought of not returning for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other holiday doesn’t fill you with dread. All you feel as Happy begins driving is a strange sense of calm and acceptance.

University will be different. You won’t be Brandon’s twin sister, the one stuck in his shadow, never getting to step into the spotlight. No one will ever even know you’re a twin. Finally, you’ll get to be yourself. As for your Moms- It’s hard not to stop the tears welling in your eyes as you remember the proud way they’d hugged Brandon when they’d left him at college. How they’d never looked at you with the bright, proud eyes that Brandon had grown to take for granted. How Wanda had stopped tucking you into bed not long after your tenth birthday but had continued to tuck Brandon in until he was twelve and had asked for to stop, and how you knew you wouldn’t have asked her to stop, not until the day you moved out. How you felt on your eighth birthday when you realised for the first time that your Moms’ might love you in their own way but they had never understood you, and had never cared about you the way they had Brandon.

It had taken all of your energy to tell yourself multiple times as a teenager that it wasn’t anything you’d done, or even anything that Brandon had done. He wasn’t any more special than you, not even if he had more achievements. Maybe you could’ve achieved higher results if your Moms’ had put a fraction of the effort they put into Brandon into you. If they’d let you learn piano, go to karate, join that young writers class, maybe you’d have more things to be proud of.

You turn slightly in your seat, spying the PlayStation 3 you’d managed to buy second-hand from your local flea market when you were fifteen, bought with money you’d saved from your paper route. If there was anything that you wanted in this life, you’d learnt ten years ago that you needed to get it yourself.

As you turn to face forward again, you think about your Moms’ again and wonder if they’ll even notice that you never intend to come home. That you’ll stay at college over every holiday and the moment you graduate, you’ll settle down anywhere, as long as it’s far away from New York and far away from the family who had never appreciated you. Would they even care? You’re not sure. But that’s not your problem anymore.

If nothing went wrong.

Which, considering her life, probably meant something would.

Yelena rested one hand lazily on the steering wheel while the radio played quietly in the background. Beside her, Wanda sat unusually peacefully, one elbow resting against the window.

For the fifth time in the last ten minutes...She looked into the backseat.

Y/N was asleep. One arm was tucked behind her head while the other rested across her stomach. Her head leaned against the window, hair falling over her forehead, completely unaware that someone had been staring at her for the past hour.

Wanda smiled. Again.

Yelena watched the reflection in the windshield. There it was. That stupid smile. Then Wanda quietly looked back out the window.

Thirty seconds later...She looked back again. Still asleep. Another tiny smile.

Yelena made a face. She'd enjoyed teasing them before. Back when they were both hopeless idiots dancing around each other.

Now?

Now they were just...Sweet. Unbearably sweet. Every time Y/N reached for something, Wanda handed it to her before she asked. Every time Wanda shifted in her seat, Y/N instinctively adjusted the air conditioning without looking away from the road. Every time one of them laughed...The other looked like they'd personally invented happiness.

It was annoying. Cute, sure. But annoying. Yelena physically shuddered.

"I miss when you were both emotionally constipated."

Wanda looked over. "...What?"

"You heard me."

"I don't even know what that means."

"It means this." Yelena gestured dramatically between Wanda and the sleeping wolf in the back. "All this..." She waved both hands. "The smiling."

Wanda blinked innocently. "What smiling?"

"The smiling you keep doing."

"I haven't smiled."

"You smiled three seconds ago."

"I did not."

"You looked at sleeping beauty back there and smiled like you were in romance movie."

Wanda's ears turned pink. "I wasn't—"

"You were."

"I just looked."

"Mhm."

"I did."

"You looked lovingly."

"I did not look lovingly!"

Yelena sighed dramatically. "This is exhausting."

Wanda crossed her arms, trying very hard not to smile again. It lasted exactly twenty seconds. Then she glanced back once more. Y/N had shifted slightly in her sleep, brows furrowing before relaxing again. Wanda's entire expression softened.

Yelena let out the loudest groan she'd made all week. "Oh my god."

"What?"

"You did it again."

"I didn't even—"

"You looked at her like she is baby deer."

"I was making sure she was comfortable."

"You are proving my point."

Wanda huffed. "I can't win with you."

"No."

Yelena looked ahead. Then suddenly spotted a weathered sign beside the highway.

DINER — NEXT EXIT

Perfect. She flicked on the turn signal. "We're stopping."

Wanda looked over. "Why?"

"Because if I spend another hour watching you two make heart eyes at each other, I will intentionally crash this car."

"I don't—"

"No."

Yelena pulled into the gravel parking lot before Wanda could finish defending herself.

The diner looked like it had been standing there since the seventies. A faded red sign hung crookedly above the entrance, and three pickup trucks were parked outside.

Yelena killed the engine. "Let's go eat."

The sudden silence woke Y/N immediately. Golden eyes snapped open. She looked around once. Twice. Then focused on the front seats. "...Did something happen?"

"No," Yelena answered while already climbing out. "I'm hungry." She slammed the door behind her and marched toward the entrance.

Y/N watched her disappear through the glass doors. "...Is she upset?"

Wanda climbed out of the passenger seat just as Y/N stepped onto the gravel beside her. "I don't know."

Y/N frowned slightly toward the diner. "She sounded grumpy."

"I noticed."

Y/N closed the car door before looking toward Wanda. "...Did I do something?"

"I don't think so."

Before Wanda could say anything else, she found herself gently pulled forward.

Y/N wrapped one arm around her waist, the other sliding carefully around her shoulders.

"Wha—"

A low, content rumble vibrated through Y/N's chest. The familiar purr.

Wanda laughed softly. "Someone's in a cuddly mood."

Instead of answering, Y/N leaned down and rubbed her nose gently against Wanda's cheek. A slow, affectionate nuzzle. The motion was so natural that it almost made Wanda forget they were standing in the middle of a parking lot.

She smiled helplessly.

"There you are..."

Y/N hummed happily, pulling her a little closer. "You smell nice."

"Thanks."

Another soft nuzzle. Wanda's cheeks warmed immediately. "You've become very affectionate."

Y/N blinked. "...Is that bad?"

"No." Wanda reached up, smoothing a strand of hair behind Y/N's ear. "It's very nice."

Y/N smiled. A real one. Not shy anymore. Not uncertain. Just... happy. She dipped her head again, brushing another tiny nuzzle against Wanda's temple before kissing the side of her forehead.

Wanda melted.

"I think," she murmured against Y/N's shoulder, "Yelena might actually kill us."

"...Why?"

"I think we've become annoying."

Y/N looked genuinely confused. "We haven't done anything."

Wanda laughed. "I know."

"You said affection is normal."

"It is."

"Then why would she be upset?"

"Because..." Wanda smiled. "She's Yelena."

"...Oh."

That apparently explained everything.

Inside the diner, Yelena happened to glance through the front window while waiting for the waitress. She froze. Outside...The giant wolf woman was nuzzling Wanda's face.

Again. And Wanda was smiling like an idiot again.

Yelena slowly closed her eyes. Then opened them. They were still doing it. She looked toward the ceiling. "Natasha," she muttered under her breath. "You owe me."

The elderly waitress approached with a warm smile. "Table for one?"

Yelena sighed. "...Unfortunately, three."

As if summoned by fate itself, the front door opened. Y/N held it open for Wanda. Of course she did. Wanda thanked her with another smile.

Yelena pinched the bridge of her nose. This was going to be the longest two days of her life. She followed the waitress to a booth near the window before sliding into one side with a quiet sigh. Reaching for the menu, she looked up as the waitress smiled.

“Coffee?”

“Please, three.”

The waitress nodded and disappeared toward the kitchen.

A moment later, Wanda and Y/N joined her. Y/N instinctively waited for Wanda to slide into the booth before taking the seat beside her. Yelena watched the entire thing happen and simply rolled her eyes.

Of course.

The waitress returned with three mugs of coffee, setting them down before leaving them to decide on breakfast. Silence settled over the table as everyone looked over their menus. After a minute, Y/N leaned a little closer to Wanda, angling her menu just enough for Wanda to see.

“They have blueberry pancakes.”

Wanda glanced to where Y/N was pointing, a small smile spreading across her face. “I see them.”

Y/N nodded once, looking quietly pleased she'd found them.

Across the table, Yelena looked between the two of them before shaking her head with an amused smile. “And there goes the lovesick smiles again.” Yelena comments.

Wanda groaned softly. “Just leave us alone Yelena!”

“I wish!” Yelena replied with a small shrug.

The waitress returned a few minutes later with a notepad tucked beneath her arm. “Ready to order?”

Wanda nodded. “I'll have the blueberry pancakes with a side of bacon.”

“I'll take the country breakfast,” Y/N said. “And... another side of pancakes.”

The waitress smiled as she scribbled everything down before looking at Yelena.

“The western omelet. Hash browns instead of fries.”

“I'll have that right out.”

She disappeared toward the kitchen, leaving the three of them with the smell of fresh coffee drifting through the diner.

Wanda wrapped both hands around her mug before looking at Yelena. “So... how much longer?”

Yelena thought for a moment before answering. “If the roads stay clear...” She took a sip of coffee. “Two more days.”

Wanda nodded. “And then?”

“We find the safehouse.”

“And hope Natasha is there.”

Yelena's expression softened slightly. “Yeah.”

“If she's not?”

“We figure out the next step.”

Y/N quietly listened while stirring cream into her coffee. “You think Hydra knows where we're going?”

Yelena shook her head. “No. But I still don't like staying anywhere too long.”

“We'll keep moving if we have to.”

Y/N nodded once. “I'll keep watch tonight.”

“You've kept watch every night,” Wanda reminded her.

“I know.”

“You need sleep too.”

“I sleep.”

“Wolf naps don't count.”

“They do.”

Yelena smirked into her coffee. “I am staying out of this one.”

A comfortable silence settled over the booth until the waitress returned, balancing three large plates on her arms. “Blueberry pancakes.” She placed Wanda's breakfast in front of her. “Western omelet.”

Yelena thanked her before reaching for the hot sauce.

“And the country breakfast.” The enormous plate landed in front of Y/N, piled high with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, toast, and pancakes.

“I'll be right back with the extra pancakes.”

Y/N nodded politely. “Thank you.”

A minute later, the waitress returned with another plate stacked with fluffy pancakes. “There you go, sweetheart.”

“Thank you.”

Yelena looked from the second plate to Y/N. “...You know, I always forget how much you eat.”

Y/N glanced down at the table. “…This isn't that much.”

Wanda laughed softly. “It really is.”

“It is?”

“Mhm.”

Y/N looked genuinely unconvinced before picking up her fork.

Breakfast began quietly. The only sounds were forks against plates, coffee cups settling back onto saucers, and the low murmur of conversations from the other customers.

Halfway through her pancakes, Wanda noticed Y/N had already finished nearly all of her eggs and bacon. She cut off a small piece of pancake, dipped it into the blueberries and syrup, then held the fork toward Y/N without thinking.

“Here.”

Y/N looked over before immediately leaning in to take the bite.

“Mm.”

Wanda smiled. “Good?”

Y/N swallowed. “Very.”

A few minutes later, Wanda did it again, this time with a piece of bacon. Y/N accepted it just as naturally. Yelena watched over the rim of her coffee before quietly shaking her head. “I knew this was going to start.”

Wanda looked over. “What?”

Yelena only roll her eyes and say “Nothing.” But the smile on her lips betrays her. 

Wanda roll her eyes back and reach for Y/N plate stealing one of the crispy bacon strips.

Y/N noticed immediately. “…You took my bacon.”

“I did.”

“You could've asked.”

“I knew you'd say yes.”

Y/N considered that for a moment before nodding. “…That's true.”

She simply took another strip from the untouched side plate she'd ordered.

By the time Yelena had finished her omelet, Y/N had already cleaned her first plate completely. Not a crumb remained.

The waitress happened to walk past just as Y/N pulled the second plate of pancakes closer.

“Oh, honey,” she said with an impressed smile. “I’ve never seen anybody eat that much!”

Y/N looked up. “I was hungry.”

“I can tell.”

The waitress laughed warmly before continuing on to another table.

Wanda watched with quiet amusement as Y/N finished the second stack of pancakes, then reached for the remaining bacon and eggs she'd ordered on the side.

“You really were hungry.”

“I slept well.”

“I've noticed.”

Within another few minutes, the second plate was just as clean as the first.

Yelena leaned back in her seat, looking at the two empty plates in front of Y/N. “…Where does it all go?”

Y/N looked down at herself. “I don't know.”

“The wolf,” Wanda answered with a smile.

Y/N nodded thoughtfully. “…Probably.”

Yelena couldn't help smiling. “I should've guessed.”

She picked up her coffee again, watching Wanda absentmindedly brush a smear of syrup from the corner of Y/N's mouth with her thumb before returning to her own breakfast as if she hadn't done anything unusual.

Yelena simply rolled her eyes toward the ceiling.

Still ridiculous.

But... she supposed there were worse things than watching two people who'd finally found a little happiness after everything they'd survived.

---

Soon they were back on the road.

This time, Yelena insisted on driving again.

“I've had enough of being trapped in the backseat watching you two flirt,” she'd declared before tossing Y/N the keys to lock the car instead.

So Y/N sat in the passenger seat while Wanda settled into the back. It wasn't ideal. Every now and then, Y/N glanced into the rearview mirror just to check on Wanda. Every time their eyes met, Wanda smiled, and Y/N couldn't help smiling back before returning her attention to the road ahead.

Yelena noticed every single exchange.

She chose not to comment.

The day passed much like the ones before it. Long highways. Small towns. Forests gave way to open farmland before disappearing behind more stretches of empty road.

Around noon they stopped at another roadside diner for lunch before continuing south. A few hours later, they pulled into a gas station to fill the tank.

While Yelena paid for the fuel, Y/N disappeared into the convenience store. She emerged several minutes later carrying two bags absolutely overflowing with snacks.

Yelena looked at them, then at Y/N. “…Planning for winter?”

Y/N peeked inside one of the bags. “I got hungry.”

“You haven't stopped eating.”

“The wolf burns a lot of calories.”

“So apparently.”

The snacks disappeared surprisingly quickly over the next few hours. By the time dusk settled over the countryside, only a few empty wrappers remained on the floorboard beneath Y/N's seat.

The sun finally disappeared below the horizon just as another faded neon sign came into view.

MOTEL

DINER

VACANCY

Yelena let out a relieved sigh. “Finally.”

She pulled into the parking lot and switched off the engine.

For a few seconds, nobody moved.

Then, almost in unison, all three doors opened.

Yelena climbed out first, stretching both arms over her head until her back cracked. “Oh...” She rolled one shoulder. “I think I've been sitting for ten years.”

Behind her, Wanda stepped out more carefully, immediately stretching her legs before letting out a quiet groan. “I never want to see another highway.”

“You'll see one tomorrow.”

“…Don't remind me.”

Y/N rounded the front of the car carrying all three duffel bags over one shoulder as if they weighed nothing.

“You can give me mine,” Wanda offered.

“I've got it.”

“I know you do.”

Still, Wanda slipped closer anyway, leaning lightly against Y/N's side. Without even looking, Y/N's free arm settled naturally around her waist.

It happened so automatically neither of them seemed aware of it. Yelena noticed. She simply shook her head with a small smile before leading the way toward the diner attached to the motel.

Warm air and the smell of grilled food greeted them the moment they stepped inside. The diner was small but cozy, with only a handful of occupied booths. Country music drifted softly from an old radio somewhere behind the counter while a waitress welcomed them with a tired but friendly smile.

“Evening, folks.”

“Evening,” Yelena answered.

“Booth okay?”

“Perfect.”

She led them toward the back of the diner.

Yelena slid into one side while Wanda and Y/N took the other. Wanda barely made it halfway across the booth before leaning against Y/N again. Y/N shifted closer without interrupting her reading of the menu, one arm remaining loosely around Wanda's waist beneath the table.

Yelena watched them for a second before looking back at her own menu. “…Road trips are exhausting.”

“They are,” Wanda agreed. “I cannot wait to lie down.”

“You've been saying that since lunch.”

“Because I meant it since lunch.”

Wanda laughed softly. “I think we've all reached our limit.”

Y/N nodded. “I could sleep for a day.”

Yelena looked over. “You? Sleep?”

“I do sleep.”

“Barely.”

The waitress returned with her notepad. “What can I get you?”

Yelena ordered first. “The chicken fried steak.” Wanda chose the grilled chicken with vegetables. Y/N studied the menu another moment. “I'll have the ribeye.”

The waitress nodded. “Okay...”

Y/N glanced down once more. “And!…another ribeye.”

The waitress smiled surprised. “Coming right up.”

Once she left, the three of them settled into the comfortable silence that only came after spending an entire week together. No one felt the need to fill every quiet moment anymore. Sometimes simply existing together was enough.

Their food arrived surprisingly quickly. The waitress carefully distributed the heavy plates across the table.

“Need anything else?”

“We're good,” Wanda said with a smile.

“Just holler.”

The smell of grilled steak immediately filled the booth. Y/N thanked the waitress before cutting into the first ribeye.

For several minutes, the only sounds were cutlery against plates and the quiet conversations drifting from the rest of the diner.

Halfway through her first steak, Y/N suddenly stopped chewing. Her fork froze halfway to the plate.

A second later, the bell above the diner's entrance jingled. Three men walked inside. They looked like ordinary travelers. Work boots. Baseball caps. Dust-covered jackets. One of them laughed at something another had said.

The waitress greeted them with the same warm smile she'd given everyone else.

“Evening, gentlemen.”

“Table for three.”

“Right this way.”

She led them deeper into the diner before seating them in a booth three rows behind Yelena's.

Close. Too close.

Y/N's breathing slowed almost imperceptibly. She inhaled once through her nose.

Then again. The scent hit her all at once.

Gun oil.

Cheap aftershave.

Hydra.

Her muscles locked. Wanda felt it immediately. Y/N didn't look at the men again. Instead, she slowly turned toward Wanda.

Golden eyes met green.

Hydra.

The single thought brushed against Wanda's mind like ice. Wanda's expression didn't change. She simply looked across the table. Yelena was finishing the last of her juice.

Their eyes met.

Wanda gave the smallest nod.

Yelena didn't ask a single question. “…Got it.”

She calmly reached into her jacket and pulled out several folded bills—enough to cover dinner and leave a generous tip. She tucked them beneath her empty glass without drawing attention.

None of them looked toward the three men again.

None of them needed to. Because if Y/N recognized that scent...Then they'd already stayed one minute too long.

Yelena didn't rush. That was the first thing Wanda noticed. No sudden movements. No panic. She simply folded her napkin, stood from the booth, and slipped on her jacket. “Ready?”

Y/N rose first, her eyes never once drifting toward the three men behind them. Wanda stood beside her.

The waitress happened to pass by just as they reached the register.

“Everything alright?” she asked warmly.

Yelena smiled with practiced ease. “Food was great.”

“I'm glad to hear that.”

She tucked the cash beneath the receipt holder. “Keep the change.”

“Thank you, sweetheart. Have a safe night.”

“You too.”

Nothing looked unusual. Nothing sounded unusual. Three tired travelers paying for dinner before checking into the motel.

Yelena pushed open the diner's door. Cold night air rushed over them. The parking lot stretched beneath buzzing neon lights.

Y/N immediately swept the area with one slow glance. Empty. Too empty.

“Car,” Yelena said quietly.

They didn't run. Running attracted attention. Instead, they walked briskly across the parking lot. Wanda climbed into the backseat, Y/N slid into the passenger seat, and Yelena was already starting the engine.

The SUV roared to life. She shifted into reverse. As they backed out of the parking space—The diner's front door burst open.

The three men stepped outside. One looked directly toward them. Another reached beneath his jacket.

“Go,” Y/N said.

Yelena didn't need to be told twice. The tires squealed across the asphalt as the SUV shot out of the motel parking lot and onto the highway.

For several seconds there was nothing.

Just darkness.

Headlights cutting through the empty road.

Y/N twisted in her seat, checking the passenger mirror. The motel was shrinking behind them. Then—Headlights.

Two vehicles exploded out of the motel entrance.

“They're coming,” Wanda said.

“I know,” Yelena answered calmly, pushing harder on the accelerator.

The engine growled.

Eighty. Ninety. One hundred.

The speedometer climbed relentlessly.

Behind them, the two SUVs matched every increase.

“They're gaining.”

“I see them.”

Yelena's knuckles whitened around the steering wheel. The road ahead curved sharply through dense forest. She took it without touching the brakes.

The tires screamed.

The SUV leaned dangerously before gripping the pavement again.

Behind them, the first pursuing vehicle drifted wide before recovering.

“They're trained,” Y/N said quietly.

“I noticed.”

Gunfire shattered the night.

CRACK!

The rear windshield exploded inward. Glass showered across the backseat. Wanda ducked instinctively. Another shot punched through the tailgate.

“They're shooting!”

“You think?” Yelena barked.

She swerved violently left. Then right.

Another volley cracked through the darkness.

Bullets skipped across the asphalt. One struck the rear bumper.

Y/N twisted farther around. “They're moving alongside.”

“I need them behind us.”

“They won't stay there.”

“I know.”

The second SUV suddenly pulled into the opposite lane, trying to overtake.

“Oh, no you don't.”

Yelena jerked the wheel left, forcing the pursuing vehicle back behind them just before an oncoming truck thundered past.

The truck's horn blared.

The Hydra driver barely avoided a head-on collision.

“Nice.”

“Thank you.”

More gunfire. A bullet punched through the passenger-side mirror, exploding it into fragments.

Y/N didn't even flinch. “They're trying to disable us.”

“They're about to become my problem.”

Yelena took another hard corner before shouting, “Switch!”

Without hesitation, Y/N unbuckled. Wanda immediately grabbed the steering wheel with her magic from the backseat, keeping the SUV straight just long enough.

Yelena climbed halfway across the center console while Y/N slid behind the wheel in one smooth motion.

The transition took barely three seconds. Y/N caught the wheel.

Yelena was already hanging halfway out the passenger window. Wind whipped violently through her blonde hair as she drew one of her pistols.

“Little closer!”

Y/N understood immediately. She eased off the accelerator just enough.

The pursuing SUV closed the gap.

Closer.

Closer.

Yelena steadied herself against the roof.

“Perfect.”

BANG!

The first shot shattered the enemy's windshield.

BANG!

The second struck the front tire, exploding it. Rubber shredded across the highway. The SUV jerked violently sideways. Its driver fought for control.

Didn't get it.

The vehicle spun twice before smashing through the guardrail and tumbling down the embankment.

Yelena climbed back inside. “One down.”

She looked into the side mirror.

“…Ah.”

“What?”

“More.”

Headlights appeared over the hill behind them.

Not one. Three.

Then another.

“Oh, come on.”

Yelena slammed a fresh magazine into her pistol.

“How many people did you make angry?”

“I don't know,” Wanda answered.

Y/N's jaw tightened. “They've been waiting.”

The first of the new SUVs closed rapidly.

Then another. Four vehicles now, spread across both lanes.

Yelena cursed under her breath. “This is getting ridiculous.”

The nearest SUV pulled alongside them.

Its passenger rolled down the window.

Gun raised.

“Wanda!”

Scarlet energy erupted from the backseat. The red glow flooded the SUV. The entire vehicle lifted off the road as though grabbed by an invisible giant.

The Hydra agents inside had just enough time to scream. Then—The SUV flipped, crashing onto its roof before skidding across the highway in a shower of sparks.

The second vehicle swerved to avoid the wreck.

Wanda caught that one too. With a sharp motion of her hand, it rolled violently into the ditch.

Silence.

For exactly one second.

Yelena stared into the mirror. “…You could've done that earlier.”

“I was trying not to draw attention!”

“Little late for that!”

Before Wanda could answer, Y/N's instincts screamed.

“Left!”

A black SUV burst from a side road hidden by the trees.

It had been waiting.

The vehicle accelerated straight toward them.

“No—!”

CRASH!

The impact slammed into the driver's side with bone-rattling force.

Metal screamed. Glass exploded. The entire SUV spun violently across the highway.

Rubber screamed against the asphalt.

The driver's side slammed into the guardrail with enough force to fold steel inward. Glass exploded across the cabin as every airbag deployed at once, filling the vehicle with white fabric and the smell of burning propellant.

Wanda's head whipped sideways.

Crack.

Her temple slammed against the edge of the window before she was thrown into the opposite side of the backseat.

White flashed across her vision. For a heartbeat, no one moved. Only the ticking of the ruined engine echoed through the night.

Yelena was the first to react. “This is not a good way to die. You two okay?”

Wanda pushed herself upright with a groan, one hand immediately flying to the side of her head. Her fingers came away streaked with blood. The world tilted violently before settling again.

“...I'm fine,” she managed, though her voice sounded distant even to herself.

Y/N looked over immediately. “You're bleeding.”

Wanda blinked several times, trying to clear the ringing from her ears. “Just... hit my head.” She pressed harder against the cut, ignoring the throbbing behind her eyes.

“I'm okay.”

Y/N wasn't convinced. The words had barely left Wanda's mouth when blinding headlights flooded the highway.

One SUV screeched sideways in front of them. Another blocked the road behind, doors bursting open. Hydra agents poured onto the asphalt with military precision, rifles already raised.

“There!” one shouted. “Move!”

Yelena kicked her door open before the first shot was fired.

Gunfire erupted.

Bullets ripped through the windshield as everyone scattered from the vehicle.

Yelena hit the ground in a combat roll. Her pistol barked twice before she was fully upright. Two Hydra rifles spun from their owners' hands.

She never stopped moving.

A third soldier rounded the hood of the SUV. Yelena met him with the butt of her pistol, smashing it across his nose before driving a knife beneath his arm. The man collapsed.

Another replaced him instantly.

Hydra had learned. They didn't attack one at a time. They moved in coordinated pairs. Suppressing fire. Flanking positions. Communication. But Y/N charged anyway.

A baton crackled with blue electricity as one soldier swung toward her head. She ducked beneath it, seized his forearm, and snapped it across her knee.

The scream barely escaped before another rifle stock crashed into her ribs from behind.

She didn't even turn. Her elbow shot backward into the man's throat. He folded instantly.

Another agent rushed from the left. Y/N caught him by the tactical vest and hurled him straight into the windshield of the lead SUV. Glass burst outward in a glittering explosion.

Across the road, scarlet energy exploded through the darkness.

Wanda caught three rifles at once, wrenching them from Hydra's grip before spinning them into the trees. An agent lunged at her with a combat knife.

She sidestepped. The blade missed by inches.

Her magic wrapped around his ankle, slamming him headfirst into the pavement. Another fired from behind. Before Wanda could turn—Yelena shot the rifle from his hands.

“I've got your back!”

“Thanks!”

For several brutal minutes, the highway became chaos.

Gunfire.

Magic.

Flying bodies.

Sparks.

Shattered glass.

Then—Silence.

Eight Hydra agents lay unconscious across the road. Yelena lowered her pistol. “...That felt too easy.”

Almost immediately, engines roared through the darkness. More headlights.

Three.

No...

Four.

Y/N looked up first. “They're not finished.”

Black SUVs surrounded them. Doors opened and more Hydra soldiers stepped out.

Then two figures emerged from the final vehicle. Neither carried a weapon. Neither looked concerned. Both were enormous. Broad enough to block the open door behind them. Dark tactical armor covered their bodies from neck to boots. Their expressions remained perfectly blank.

Y/N's heartbeat slowed. “...Enhanced.”

One of the men smiled. Not confidently.

Hungrily.

He disappeared. Not literally. Just impossibly fast. One instant he stood thirty feet away. The next—His fist crashed into Y/N's guard with enough force to create a shockwave.

The impact blasted her off her feet.

She flew backward through the air, smashing completely across the hood of a wrecked SUV before hitting the pavement hard enough to leave cracks in the asphalt.

She rolled twice, then forced herself upright.

The enhanced soldier hadn't moved. He simply waited.

Y/N wiped blood from the corner of her mouth.

“...Strong.”

“So are you.”

He smiled again.

Then attacked. The road beneath them exploded as they collided. Every punch sounded like a car crash. Y/N landed three clean strikes to his ribs.

He barely reacted. His knee slammed into her stomach. The air exploded from her lungs. A backhand sent her skidding twenty feet across broken pavement.

She'd never been hit that hard. Not since Hydra.

Across the highway, the second enhanced soldier crashed straight through Wanda's telekinetic barrier. It shattered like glass.

“What—”

Wanda instinctively reached out again, scarlet magic flaring around both hands. A sharp spike of pain exploded behind her eyes. Her vision doubled just for an instant the spell faltered.

It was enough.

The enhanced soldier burst through the half-formed barrier before it could solidify. He caught her wrist and twisted.

Pain shot up her arm. Wanda tried to throw him backward, but another wave of dizziness hit her. The ringing in her ears grew louder, making it harder to focus her magic.

Scarlet energy flickered wildly instead of striking cleanly.

His fist crashed into her ribs.

Wanda cried out as she slammed into the side of the ruined SUV, leaving a deep dent in the metal.

“Wanda!”

Y/N lunged toward her but the first enhanced intercepted. His shoulder drove into Y/N's chest. She hit the ground. Before she could rise—a boot slammed into her ribs.

The enhanced wasn't trying to beat her. He was keeping her away from Wanda.

Behind them, Yelena fought desperately to keep the remaining Hydra soldiers off both of them, firing, reloading, and switching to knives whenever someone got too close.

“We're getting circled!”

Wanda staggered upright, one hand braced against the SUV. Blood continued to trickle from the cut on her temple, dripping onto her collar. Every heartbeat made the pounding inside her skull worse. She shook her head once, trying to clear the haze.

It didn't help. The concussion slowed everything. Her thoughts. Her reactions.

Even her magic.

Normally, she would've stopped him before he got within arm's reach. Tonight...She was always a fraction of a second too late.

The enhanced soldier closed the distance again. He caught her by the throat. Lifted her completely off the ground.

Scarlet magic erupted around his arm, but Wanda struggled to maintain her concentration through the dizziness. The energy surged unevenly instead of crushing him outright.

He slammed her into the SUV again. The impact sent another burst of agony through her head.

Stars exploded across her vision. Blood ran freely down the side of her face.

He pulled back his fist. Y/N saw it.

Saw Wanda's unfocused eyes. Saw the blood. Saw her struggle to even keep her magic steady. Saw the fist descending.

Something ancient inside her shattered.

The growl that erupted from her chest didn't sound human. It shook the trees. Hydra agents froze. Even the enhanced soldiers hesitated. Bones cracked. Muscles expanded. Dark fur burst through skin.

Within seconds, a massive wolf stood where Y/N had been. Golden eyes burned with pure fury. The wolf didn't roar. She attacked.

She hit the enhanced soldier like a freight train. Massive jaws crushed his armored shoulder. Steel folded between her teeth.

He screamed.

The wolf flung him nearly forty feet. He crashed through the windshield of his own SUV before the entire vehicle rolled onto its side.

The second enhanced charged. The wolf met him head-on. Claws tore through reinforced armor. He punched her ribs hard enough to splinter nearby asphalt.

She answered by driving him into the highway with both forepaws. The pavement collapsed beneath them. He tried to stand but she didn't let him.

Claws.

Teeth.

Another slam.

Again.

Again.

Again.

She fought like an animal protecting its mate. Not a soldier. Not an Avenger.

A wolf.

Every strike became more vicious than the last.

Nearby, Wanda forced herself onto one knee, clutching her side.

“Y...Y/N...”

One Hydra soldier hadn't joined the fight. He'd gone back to the SUV.

Carefully...He unlocked a reinforced case. Inside rested a long silver weapon covered in Hydra markings and glowing blue conduits.

Yelena's stomach dropped. “...Wanda.”

Wanda looked up. The barrel was already charging. “No...”

The soldier smiled. He wasn't aiming at the wolf. He was aiming behind her.

At Wanda.

The wolf couldn't see him.

“Y/N!” Wanda screamed.

The wolf turned, saw the weapon, then Wanda.

There wasn't even a moment's hesitation. She leapt. The blue spear erupted from the launcher.

It struck the wolf square in the chest.

The weapon didn't explode. It punched through. Clean through. The force carried the wolf backward several feet before she hit the ground.

Silence.

The wolf remained standing for one impossible second. Blood poured from both sides of the wound. A broken whine escaped her throat. Then her legs gave out.

As she collapsed, the transformation unraveled.

Fur disappeared. Bones shifted. Claws became trembling fingers.

Y/N lay motionless on the shattered highway. A gaping hole tore through the center of her chest.

“Wanda...” Yelena's voice broke.

Wanda didn't answer. She couldn't.

The world had narrowed to one impossible sight.

Y/N.

Still.

Bleeding.

Not breathing.

Something inside Wanda broke beyond repair. Scarlet energy exploded from her body with a force that split the highway apart. The night turned crimson.

Cars lifted into the air. Hydra soldiers screamed as invisible hands seized every one of them simultaneously. The enhanced soldiers fought against it.

It didn't matter.

With a single, grief-filled scream, Wanda unleashed everything. The shockwave tore across the highway. Every Hydra vehicle crumpled like paper.

The launcher was ripped apart atom by atom. The enhanced soldiers were hurled hundreds of feet into the darkness. The remaining agents slammed unconscious into trees, concrete barriers, and overturned wreckage.

When the red light finally faded...Nothing moved. Nothing except Wanda.

She was already on her knees beside Y/N, her hands shaking as they reached for the wound that no healing magic in the world should have been able to fix.

“No…” Her voice barely existed.

Scarlet energy poured frantically from her palms, wrapping around the gaping wound in Y/N's chest.

“Come on…”

The magic trembled violently.

“Come on…”

It wasn't working.

Blood continued to seep between her glowing fingers, warm against her skin.

“No, no, no…”

“Wanda.” Yelena's voice sounded distant.

Wanda didn't hear her. She pressed both hands harder over the wound as though she could physically hold Y/N together.

“Please…”

Her magic searched desperately for something to mend.

Broken ribs.

Torn muscle.

Collapsed lung.

The hole through Y/N's chest.

Every spell unraveled the moment it reached the wound, as though something was consuming the magic itself.

“No…” Wanda whispered again, tears spilling freely now. “Please…”

Y/N didn't move.

Didn't breathe. Didn't even twitch.

The silence was unbearable.

Yelena knelt beside them, breathing heavily from the fight. She glanced over her shoulder, pistol still raised as she scanned the dark highway for movement.

Nothing. Only wrecked vehicles. Unconscious Hydra soldiers. Smoke rising into the night.

She looked back at Wanda.

“…Wanda.”

Nothing.

“Wanda.”

Still nothing.

Yelena reached out, carefully placing a hand on Wanda's shoulder.

The witch flinched violently.

“Don't touch me.”

“Wanda.”

“I'm fixing her.”

Her voice cracked.

“I'm fixing her.”

Yelena's heart sank.

Because Wanda wasn't speaking to her anymore. She was pleading with herself. With her magic. With the universe. Anything that might be listening.

Scarlet energy intensified until it illuminated the entire highway. Wanda gritted her teeth.

“You heal,” she whispered to Y/N, tears falling onto her face. “You always heal.”

Nothing.

“You heal.”

Nothing.

“You promised me…”

Another desperate wave of magic surged into the wound.

It vanished like pouring water into an endless abyss.

Wanda's breathing became ragged. “No…”

Yelena's expression tightened. Something about the weapon...It wasn't just a projectile. It had done something else.

She stood abruptly. “I'll find it.”

Wanda didn't answer.

Yelena hurried toward the shattered remains of the launcher scattered across the road. Pieces of silver alloy still glowed faintly blue.

She crouched beside the largest fragment.

Hydra markings. Unknown circuitry. Burned beyond recognition.

“Damn it…”

Nearby lay the soldier who had fired it. Still alive but barely conscious.

Yelena was beside him in an instant, grabbing him by the front of his tactical vest and dragging him upright.

“What was that weapon?”

The man laughed weakly. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. “You... don't know…”

Yelena slammed him against the overturned SUV.

“What. Was. It.”

He smiled. “A... wolf killer.”

Yelena's blood ran cold.

“It stops…” He coughed violently. “…regeneration.”

“No.”

“It destroys…” Another cough. “The healing response…”

Yelena stared at him.

“No…”

The man laughed again. “…By morning…”

He never finished. His head rolled limply to one side.

Unconscious. Or dead.

Yelena didn't care.

She looked back toward Wanda.

Toward Y/N.

Toward the pool of blood slowly spreading across the broken highway.

“Wanda…”

The witch still hadn't moved. Her forehead rested against Y/N's.

“I'm here,” she whispered brokenly. “I'm right here.”

Another pulse of scarlet magic.

Another failure.

“You don't leave me.”

Silence.

“You hear me?”

Nothing.

“You don't get to leave me.”

Her shoulders shook with silent sobs. The blood on Y/N's chest refused to stop flowing.

Then—Almost too faint to hear...

A tiny hitch.

Not a breath.

Not quite.

More like...

A weak, wet gasp.

Wanda froze.

Her entire body went still.

“…Y/N?”

Another tiny sound escaped Y/N's lips. So faint it could have been imagined. But Wanda had heard it. Hope exploded through her chest so violently it almost hurt.

“Yelena!”

Yelena spun around immediately.

“What?”

“She's alive.”

Yelena was beside them in seconds. The two women held their breath. Several agonizing moments passed.

Then...

Another shallow, ragged breath.

Painfully weak. Barely enough to move Y/N's chest. But it was there.

Yelena let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

“She’s fighting.”

Wanda's tears fell freely as she gently cup Y/N's face with one hand while the other still pour her magic into Y/N chest.

“I know…” she whispered, her voice trembling with relief and terror all at once. “I know, my little wolf. Just keep fighting. I'm not letting you go. Not now. Not ever.”

---

Y/N's POV

Pain.

It was everywhere.

Not sharp. Not dull. Just... everywhere.

Every breath burned. Every heartbeat sent something warm spreading through her chest. She couldn't move. Couldn't open her eyes. Couldn't even tell if she was lying down or standing.

There was only darkness.

And voices.

"...Y/N..."

Wanda.

She knew that voice anywhere.

Soft. Shaking and crying.

Y/N tried to answer but nothing came out.

Her lips refused to move.

"...stay with me..." Another voice.

Further away.

"...we need to move, Wanda." Yelena.

"They'll send more."

"No."

Wanda's answer came immediately.

"I'm not leaving her."

"We're not leaving her."

A pause.

"We're taking her with us."

Y/N wanted to tell Wanda she was okay. Wanted to reassure her. But all she managed was a weak twitch of her fingers. Or maybe she imagined it.

Something warm squeezed her hand. Immediately.

Like Wanda had been holding it the entire time.

"I'm here," Wanda whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm right here."

Y/N tried to smile. She wasn't sure if she did. The darkness swallowed her again.

---

The next thing she knew...

Movement. Everything hurt. Every bump rattled through her body. The steady vibration beneath her told her she was in a vehicle.

The smell of gasoline.

Leather.

Blood.

The SUV.

Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy. She forced them open. Only a sliver. The world was nothing but blurred lights streaking past the window.

"...Slow down!" Wanda shouted.

"I'm trying!" Yelena yelled back.

"They're behind us!"

The SUV suddenly jerked hard around a corner. Y/N's body slid several inches across the backseat despite the hands desperately trying to keep her still. Pain exploded through her chest.

A broken groan escaped her lips.

"...Ngh..."

Her eyes rolled back before she could stop them.

"Shit!"

Wanda caught her immediately.

"What the hell, Yelena?"

"There was a truck!"

"I don't care!"

"I'd rather not die tonight!"

"You almost killed her!"

"I almost killed all of us!"

Y/N barely understood the words. Everything sounded underwater. She felt warm hands press gently—but firmly—against the wound in her chest.

They'd never left.

Wanda.

"I'm sorry," Wanda whispered immediately, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry, baby.”

Gentle fingers brushed damp hair away from Y/N's forehead.

"We're almost there." A kiss touched her temple. "Stay with me."

Y/N tried.

God...

She tried.

But the darkness pulled harder. Everything disappeared again.

---

Cold.

That was the first thing she noticed.

Then...

Sheets. A mattress. The faint smell of old wood, medicine and rain.

Y/N groaned quietly.

"...Mm..."

Her eyelids fluttered open. Everything was blurry. The ceiling swayed strangely above her.

Where...

Where was she?

She inhaled instinctively. Trying to find something familiar.

Wanda.

Usually Wanda's scent grounded her immediately. But all she could smell was antiseptic.

Dust.

Old furniture and her own blood.

Confusion settled heavily in her chest. She blinked several times. Nothing came into focus.

"...W..."

Her throat hurt. She slowly turned her head. Just find an empty room and no signs of Wanda.

Her heartbeat spiked instantly.

Panic.

She pushed herself upright. The movement sent unbearable pain through her chest.

"...Ah..."

Her vision blackened around the edges.

No.

No, where—

"Wanda..."

Her voice barely came out. She swung her legs over the side of the bed. The second her feet touched the floor…they gave out.

Y/N hit one knee hard against the wooden boards. Pain shot through her body but she didn't care.

"Wanda..."

She forced herself up using the bedside table. The room tilted violently. She stumbled into the wall.

Caught herself and kept moving.

Her hearing rang loudly. Somewhere nearby...

Voices.

Muffled.

Someone was talking. She couldn't make out the words. Only that people were there. She staggered toward the bedroom door, one hand pressed against the wall to keep herself upright.

Every step hurt. Every breath burned.

Her chest felt tightly wrapped beneath thick bandages.

She reached the hallway. The voices became clearer. Still distorted beneath the relentless ringing in her ears.

Another doorway. Light spilled through it. She stumbled toward it.

Almost there...She leaned against the frame—And froze.

Wanda.

Standing across the room talking to someone.

Yelena.

There was someone else too but Y/N didn't register who. All she saw was Wanda. Alive.

Before anyone could react—She lurched forward. Her legs completely gave out.

"Wanda..."

Wanda turned at the sound just in time to catch her.

Y/N practically collapsed into her arms.

"W-Whoa!"

Wanda wrapped both arms around her immediately before she hit the floor.

"Y/N!"

Y/N buried her face against Wanda's neck.

Frantically.

Desperately.

She inhaled over and over.

Finding her scent. Making sure it was real.

"You..." she whispered hoarsely, panic still evident in every word. "You're okay..."

Her nose brushed frantically along Wanda's neck, her shoulder, her hair.

Checking.

Confirming.

"You weren't..."

Another shaky breath.

"...hurt..."

Wanda's eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Oh, baby…”

Y/N clung tighter despite how badly it hurt.

"I couldn't..." Her breathing hitched. "I couldn't smell you..."

"I know."

"I thought..."

"I know."

Wanda carefully cradled the back of her head, tears already slipping down her cheeks.

"I'm okay."

Y/N pulled back just enough to look at her face.

Still blurry. Still doubled. She reached up with trembling fingers and cupped Wanda's cheek.

"...You're okay?"

"I'm okay."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Only then did some of the panic leave Y/N's body. Her shoulders sagged. Relief washed through her.

"...Good..."

The single word was barely audible. Then her knees buckled again.

"Y/N!"

She completely went limp in Wanda's arms, unconscious once more before Wanda could finish calling her name.

---

Pain greeted Y/N before consciousness did. Not the unbearable agony from before.

This was different.

A deep, dull ache spread through her chest every time she breathed, as though every muscle had been torn apart and stitched back together.

She frowned.

The light behind her eyelids felt too bright. Slowly…she opened them. The room blurred for only a second before gradually sharpening into focus.

The ceiling was wooden.

Old beams.

Stone walls.

A fireplace crackled quietly somewhere nearby. Nothing spun this time. She squinted against the sunlight filtering through the curtains.

A gentle hand brushed through her hair.

“Easy…”

Wanda.

Y/N turned her head.

Wanda was sitting in a chair pulled right beside the bed. Dark circles rested beneath her eyes, and her hair was tied back messily. She looked like she hadn't slept properly in days.

Despite that…the moment their eyes met, Wanda smiled.

A shaky, relieved smile.

“Hi.”

Y/N's lips felt dry.

“…Hi.”

Her voice came out rough, almost unrecognizable.

Wanda immediately reached for the glass on the bedside table.

“Easy.”

She slid one arm carefully behind Y/N's shoulders, helping her sit just enough to drink. The cool water soothed her throat.

Y/N sighed softly.

“…Better?”

She nodded.

Wanda helped her lie back down before brushing another strand of hair from her forehead.

For several moments, neither of them spoke. They simply looked at each other. Making sure the other was really there.

Y/N was the first to break the silence.

“…How long?”

Wanda's smile faltered.

“You've been asleep...” She swallowed. “…Three days.”

Y/N blinked slowly. Three…days?

“I thought...” she whispered.

“I know.”

Wanda reached for her hand immediately, lacing their fingers together.

“We made it.”

“The safe house?”

Wanda nodded.

“We were only about forty minutes away.”

“What happened?”

For a moment, Wanda didn't answer. Her thumb continued tracing slow circles across the back of Y/N's hand.

“You passed out again in the SUV. We couldn't stop. They kept sending more patrols, so Yelena drove...” She let out a tired breath. “…Like a maniac.”

Despite everything, the corner of Y/N's mouth twitched.

“I believe that.”

“It wasn't funny.”

“I know.”

“We got here just before sunrise.”

Y/N listened quietly.

“The weapon...” Wanda's voice caught. “…It wasn't normal.” She looked down at their joined hands. “It went straight through your chest.” Her breathing became uneven.

“I tried healing you. I tried everything. Closing the wound. Stopping the bleeding. Repairing the damage.” Her voice broke. “…I couldn't.”

Tears welled in her eyes again.

“My magic just...” She shook her head helplessly. “It wouldn't work.”

Y/N squeezed her hand as much as her weakened body allowed.

“The man who fired it,” Wanda continued quietly, “Yelena found out it was designed specifically for enhanced people.”

Y/N frowned.

“It stopped your healing.”

The words hung heavily between them.

“For almost two days,” Wanda whispered, “nothing happened.”

“I thought...”She couldn't finish. Her lips trembled. “I thought I'd lost you.” A tear escaped despite her efforts to stop it.

“I kept checking your heartbeat.”

“Every few minutes.”

“I was terrified it would stop.”

Y/N's heart clenched. “Wanda...”

“The wound finally started closing yesterday.” Wanda laughed softly through her tears. “Just... a little. But it was enough.”

She looked down at Y/N's bandaged chest.

“Then this morning... your healing finally came back. The hole closed. The lung repaired itself. The ribs started knitting back together.”

She smiled through her tears.

“You're still healing…But you're healing.”

Y/N couldn't stand seeing her like this. She slowly tried to push herself up. But a sharp pain ripped through her chest.

“…Ah...”

She immediately collapsed back against the pillow with a pained groan.

“Hey.”

Wanda was beside her in an instant.

“Don't. You've got a hole that only mostly closed.”

Y/N winced.

“I just...” Another painful breath. “…Wanted...”

She reached up anyway. Her fingers brushed against Wanda's cheek.

“…Come here.”

Wanda didn't hesitate. She leaned forward immediately until their foreheads rested together. Y/N's thumb gently brushed away one of the tears still clinging to Wanda's face.

“I'm sorry...”

“No.”

Wanda shook her head immediately. “Don't apologize.”

“I scared you.”

“You almost died.”

“I'm still sorry.”

A watery laugh escaped Wanda.

“You really are impossible.”

“I know.”

They stayed like that for several quiet moments. Just breathing. Just existing.

Neither wanting to let go.

Then—A familiar voice spoke from the doorway.

“Well...”

The voice was hoarse. Warm. Carried the unmistakable hint of amusement.

“I leave you two alone for a month... and this is what happens?”

Both of them turned.

Standing in the doorway, one shoulder resting against the frame with her arms loosely crossed, was Natasha.

There were fresh bruises along her jaw. A bandage wrapped around one forearm and she looked tired but she was smiling.

A real smile.

Her green eyes landed on Y/N.

“They said you'd wake up today.” She pushed herself off the doorframe. “I was starting to think you were trying to sleep through my welcome home.”

Y/N stared at her for a long second.

Then...“…Nat.”

Natasha's smile softened.

“Hey, pup.”

The nickname alone was enough to make Y/N smile weakly.

Natasha let out a quiet breath, some of the tension finally leaving her shoulders.

Y/N looked between Natasha and Wanda. “…How?”

“We got here first,” Natasha explained, stepping farther into the room. “Steve, Bucky, and I reached this safe house two days before you three did.”

“…Then?”

“Yelena came crashing through the front door just before sunrise.” A smirk tugged at Natasha's lips. “Literally.”

Wanda sighed. “She almost drove through the fence.”

“I was in a hurry,” Yelena called from somewhere down the hallway.

Ignoring her, Natasha continued, “Yelena was covered in dirt. You were covered in blood.” Her gaze settled on Y/N. “…And you looked dead.”

The room fell silent.

“Wanda wouldn't let anyone touch you.”

Y/N looked at Wanda, who lowered her eyes to their joined hands. “I thought if I let go...” she whispered, “…you'd stop breathing.”

Y/N gently squeezed her hand.

“When none of us went back, after that mission…” Natasha continued, “Clint came to me immediately. Didn't tell anyone. Just left. Classic Clint. A few hours later, Sam showed up too, looking for Steve and Bucky. Fury had managed to reach him.”

“Fury?” Wanda asked.

Natasha nodded. “He knew something was wrong inside SHIELD but didn't know who he could trust. His orders were simple: find us, stay off the grid, and don't trust anyone claiming to be SHIELD until he says otherwise.”

“…So officially?” Y/N asked.

“We're all missing,” Natasha replied. “Fury listed every one of us as MIA. That buys him time to figure out who's compromised.”

“And while we stay hidden...” Y/N murmured.

“We figure out what Hydra is really planning,” Natasha finished. “And how deep this goes.”

A knock sounded against the already open door.

Yelena leaned against the frame with an apple in one hand. She looked at Y/N, took another bite, and said, “Oh. The corpse woke up.”

Natasha rolled her eyes. “There she is.”

“I was getting bored talking to Sleeping Beauty.”

Y/N huffed a quiet laugh. “…Hi.”

“Hi.”

Yelena wandered over to the bed and, for once, dropped the sarcasm. “…Thanks.”

Y/N blinked. “What for?”

“For jumping in front of that thing.” Her voice softened. “It wasn't just Wanda you protected. It would've hit both of us.”

Silence lingered before she shoved her free hand into her pocket. “…So... thanks.”

“I'd do it again,” Y/N said.

“I know.” Yelena sighed. “That's what worries me.”

Natasha clapped her hands once. “Alright. Mission briefing can wait. You've been unconscious for three days. Your only job right now is recovering. We'll catch you up later.”

Y/N nodded. “Okay.”

Natasha gave her shoulder a careful squeeze. “Come on, Yelena.”

Yelena took another bite of her apple. “Don't do anything dramatic while we're gone.”

Y/N looked genuinely confused. “I'm in bed.”

“Exactly.”

The sisters disappeared into the hallway, leaving only the crackling fireplace to fill the silence.

Y/N turned her head. “Wanda.”

“Hm?”

“Come here.”

Without a word, Wanda kicked off her shoes and carefully climbed onto the bed beside her, taking care not to jostle the bandages around Y/N's chest. The mattress dipped as Y/N slowly lifted an arm despite the pain and wrapped it around Wanda's waist, pulling her close.

Wanda melted against her, resting her head beneath Y/N's chin.

For a long moment, neither spoke. Y/N simply breathed her in.

“…Did you sleep?” she finally asked.

“I did.”

Y/N looked down at the dark circles beneath Wanda's eyes, her tangled hair, and wrinkled clothes.

“…Liar.”

“I slept.”

“You closed your eyes,” Y/N murmured. “That's different.”

Wanda said nothing.

“You stayed here.”

A small nod.

“The whole time?”

Another nod.

“You barely left.”

“…Only when Nat or Yelena made me.”

“Wanda...”

“I couldn't.” Her voice cracked. “What if you woke up and I wasn't here?”

Y/N's heart ached. She tightened her arm around Wanda despite the sharp protest from her ribs.

“Easy,” Wanda whispered.

Ignoring the pain, Y/N rested her cheek against Wanda's hair. “I'm awake now.”

“I know.”

“So now...” She kissed the top of Wanda's head. “…you need to sleep.”

“I'll sleep later.”

“No.”

Wanda looked up to find Y/N watching her with quiet determination.

“You took care of me. Now let me take care of you.”

Wanda smiled tiredly, cupping her cheek. “I'll let you... after you're recovered.”

Y/N opened her mouth. 

“No arguments.” Wanda glare softly.

“I wasn't—”

“You were about to.”

“…Maybe.”

“I've spent three days making sure you stayed alive. Now you stay in bed until you're healed.”

Y/N sighed dramatically. “I don't like staying in bed.”

“I know.”

“I feel useless.”

“I know.”

“I can walk.”

“You can barely sit up.”

“…That's temporary.”

“It is. Until then...” Wanda kissed the tip of her nose. “…you're listening to me.”

“…You're bossy.”

“I learned from Natasha.”

Y/N laughed, immediately wincing as pain flared through her chest.

Wanda rested a hand gently against her side. “See?”

“I'm fine.”

“Mhm.”

“I am.”

“You just proved my point.”

Y/N sighed and settled deeper into the pillows, still holding Wanda close.

“…Then sleep here.”

Wanda blinked. “Here?”

“With me.”

“You need space to heal.”

“I need you.”

Silence settled between them as the words lingered in the air. A faint blush colored Wanda's cheeks.

“…Okay.”

She carefully lay beside Y/N on top of the blankets, mindful of every bandage. The bed was small, but neither cared. Wanda rested her head lightly against Y/N's shoulder while Y/N held her just tightly enough to keep her close.

“There.”

“There,” Y/N echoed.

For the first time in days, Wanda's body finally relaxed. The tension eased from her shoulders, and the fear that had kept her awake every time Y/N's breathing changed slowly melted away.

Y/N buried her face in Wanda's hair. “…Sleep.”

“I will.”

“You promise?”

A soft smile spread across Wanda's face.

“I promise.”

Within minutes, her breathing became slow and even. Y/N smiled faintly. It had taken nearly being torn apart for Wanda to finally rest. She pressed one last kiss to the top of Wanda's head before closing her own eyes—not to sleep, but simply to listen to Wanda's heartbeat.

A sound she would never take for granted again.

Today was one of those weird mornings. Wanda woke up feeling all wet and sticky between her legs and she had no idea why. Her back was pressed against your front, her ass against your cock, and every time she shifted, she felt another jolt of sensation between her legs.

She didn't understand it. This had been happening more and more often now that she had moved into your room and started sharing the same bed as you. She'd feel you pressing against her and her pussy would just get all achy. 

She tried to make it go away by gently rubbing against you, but that only seemed to make it worse. She could feel the slickness beginning to coat her thighs now. She rolled over, looking at you to see if you were still asleep.

Big mistake. Seeing you all sleepy and handsome just made her throb even more. Wanda's eyes raked over your beefy frame, admiring the way the dull morning light made the scars on your chest glimmer slightly. She whimpered, leaning forward and nuzzling her face against your broad chest, taking in your scent and sturdiness. 

"Y/N?" she quietly mumbled, her face buried in your chest as she straddled your thigh, gently rocking against it to try to get some relief. She needed you to wake up, needed you to explain what was happening to her. 

You were a heavy sleeper, but you were also very attuned to your girlfriend's needs. You blinked your eyes open as she mumbled your name a second time, taking in the scene.

You felt Wanda pressed up against you, needy and clingy as she always was in the mornings. But then you felt the motion against your thigh and the wetness that bypassed the thin scrap of her panties. You heard her trying to hold back little whimpers, and then it all clicked for you. Wanda needed to be fucked. 

You sat up now, your big hands going to her hips and gripping them tightly. You slowed her grinds, bringing one hand up to her chin to make her look into your eyes as you asked, "What's going on, sweet girl?"

Wanda bit her lip, trying to avoid eye contact with you. She was so shy, and what she was feeling just seemed so… dirty. She blushed a deep pink when you spoke again, "Look at me, love. You know you can tell me anything."

Wanda slowly brought her eyes up from your chest to your eyes, and just due to her nature, she gave the most coy and shy answer possible, "I just… I feel weird."

You gave her a gentle smile, knowing it was going to take some work to get a good answer out of her. "Weird how, baby? Can you describe what feels weird?"

Wanda looked down once more, trying to avoid your gaze. She felt so embarrassed that she was even telling you this at all. "It feels weird… between my legs. I woke up sticky."

Finally. Now you were getting somewhere. You reached a hand down, gently rubbing one finger over her crotch, causing her to jolt and whimper again. "Is this where it feels weird, princess?"

Wanda nodded, her hands coming up to grip your shoulders to steady herself. "M-mhm! I woke up and it felt sticky down there, and I don't know why. When I rub myself against you, it only makes it worse!"

God, she was so adorable. You just wanted to ravish her right now, but you knew you had to be gentle. You pulled her closer to you so that she was now sitting completely in your lap, your hands sliding under her oversized t-shirt (one she stole from you) and running along her curves. You spoke in a gentle, understanding tone as you soothed her. "Ohhh, okay, love. I understand. Can I ask you a question, though?"

Wanda nodded, pressing herself as close to your body as she possibly could, gently shivering from your touches. "Y-yeah. Of course."

"Did you have any weird dreams last night?" you asked, pausing your touches to look up at her so she knew that she had your full attention. 

Wanda paused, thinking about it. Her nose scrunched adorably in confusion as she thought back to her dreams, and then, once they came to her, a blush dawned across her face. "Uh… yeah. I had one that was… kinda weird, I guess."

You nodded, staying quiet, allowing your girlfriend to continue at her own pace. "Um… I had this dream where I was with you. We were right here in bed, and, uh, you were on top of me. You were making me feel really good, and then I woke up feeling sticky. But what correlation does that even have?"

Wanda was fairly naive, thanks to her sheltered Sokovian upbringing and limited education. Now, as an adult, she often didn't understand nuances or universally recognized concepts that the majority of people did. You were endlessly patient with her, always willing to explain things to her.

You gave her a smile, brushing some hair out of her face that she was using as a way to hide from you. "There is a correlation, baby."

Wanda looked confused, her head instinctively lolling to the side as she tried to figure it out before you explained it. How cute. 

"You had something called a wet dream," you continued, "Sometimes, when people have dreams about things that turn them on or they find hot, they wake up feeling aroused."

You reached down, running your fingers along the soaked fabric of her panties. "This stickiness? It's just your body telling you that you're needy, that you want to be touched."

Wanda's face was completely flushed at the explanation you gave, feeling even more embarrassed than she was before, but also so, so needy. She ground herself against your lap again, whining as she felt the ridge of your cock. "O-oh. I… wow, okay."

Fuck, she was so adorable. You just wanted to… eat her up. 

Your hands went to her hips, stopping her motions so she could focus on you again. You made her make eye contact once more, her mouth hanging open adorably as you murmured, "Do you want me to make the aching go away, love? Do you want me to help you feel better?"

Wanda nodded dumbly, leaning in so that her head was tucked in the crook of your neck. "Y-yes, please."

You smirked, leaning down to give the top of her head a kiss as you replied, "Okay then, princess. Daddy's gonna make you feel all better."

You then slowly moved Wanda so that she was sitting on the edge of the bed, getting down to kneel between her legs once she was in position. You parted her legs slightly, and began to kiss up her soft, creamy thighs as she trembled.

You knew that Wanda was innocent and new to sex, so you had to take it slow. You two had been intimate before, but it usually just led to Wanda cumming within five minutes, getting emotional, and then wanting to cuddle and watch a sitcom. You were always down for whatever she wanted, but this morning, you wanted to really take care of her. 

"Spread your legs a little wider for me, pretty girl," you murmured, her thighs instinctively closing around your head before you could even get to where she needed you most. Wanda immediately complied, nervously spreading her legs for you.

Once you'd kissed all the way up to her crotch, you didn't pull her panties off immediately. You wanted to get her there slowly. You reached up, gently rubbing your thumb over the fabric of her panties, right where you knew her clit was. Your ministrations caused her to jolt, a loud, "Oh!" involuntarily leaving her throat.

"Yeah? Does that feel good?" you murmured, continuing to slowly rub over her clit before dragging your thumb further downwards and feeling how wet she was.

Wanda was wearing pretty white panties, and they were so soaked by her own arousal, you could see the outline of her pussy completely clearly. God, she looked delicious, so needy for some touch and friction. "You're so wet, love. You must have had a bunch of naughty dreams, hmm?"

The condescending tone of your voice made Wanda throb, her hand coming down to rest on the top of your head, lightly squeezing your hair. "I… I've been so sticky since I woke up. Please… just make me feel better."

You looked up at her, giving her a wink before reaching up to her hips to pull her panties down. God, she looked even more beautiful all bare like this. Her folds were soaked, her clit hard and throbbing, her cunt looking so empty and needy. You leaned forward, breathing in her scent before placing a slow, soft kiss to her clit. "You're so beautiful, my sweet girl. What a gorgeous pussy. And all for daddy, right?"

Wanda nodded, biting her lip as she pushed her sex closer to your face, trying to get any amount of friction that she could. "Y-yes, daddy. My pussy belongs to you." 

Her confirmation made you growl, and you waited no longer, finally attaching your mouth to her clit and beginning to suck. Her body jolted, a high-pitched wail leaving her mouth as the pleasure overtook her. "FUCK! Oh my God…"

You smirked against her cunt at the sound of her pleasure, your tongue traveling downwards to lick a long stripe through her folds, from bottom to top. You felt her hips push closer to your tongue, desperate for more of your touch. 

You couldn't help but groan at her taste, you always did. She tasted absolutely divine. You lapped at her pussy hungrily, trying to absorb as much of that sweet tang as you could. "Goddamn, babygirl… you taste like heaven."

Wanda whimpered loudly as the vibrations from your words hit her clit, her hand tightening in your hair. Her thighs wrapped back around your head, but this time, you loved it. She whined, "I… I wanna taste good for you, daddy."

Fuck, she was so eager to please, even when she was the one being pleasured. You couldn't get enough of it. Your tongue then dove into her, pushing as deep inside her heat as it could go. That earned a scream from her, a desperate whine of, "Don't stop!"

You followed that command well, continuing to alternate between licking along her slit, pushing your tongue inside her, and sucking her clit. Her hips were going crazy by now, bucking up to grind against your tongue with each swipe it made.

To stabilize yourself, you reached up, your big hands wrapping tightly around her plush thighs, squeezing them to give her even more sensation. Wanda whined loudly, her fingers tightening in your hair as her thighs began to tremble.

As you sucked particularly hard on her clit, you heard her mumble, "D-daddy? 'M close…"

You let out an involuntary groan, her voice was so needy and sweet, and the feeling of your vocalization on her clit made her thighs clench even tighter. You were able to pull away for just long enough to be able to reply, "Cum, sweet girl. Cum for daddy."

Your permission was enough to send Wanda over the edge, and within seconds, you heard her wailing, "DADDY!" and felt her clit throbbing against your tongue. Your sweet girl was shaking as she came, her soft whimpers gracing your ears as her pussy throbbed, and you happily licked up every single trace of her orgasm.

You pressed a final kiss to her clit before getting up, ready to clean Wanda up and give her aftercare, but you noticed something in her gaze. Her eyes weren't fucked out like they usually were when you two had sex. She still looked hungry.

Speaking of her eyes, they were locked onto your crotch. You were still just wearing the boxers you had slept in, and her eyes were on your bulge. You chuckled, but you wanted to hear it from her, first. "Is something wrong, love? Do you need something else from me?"

Wanda realized you had caught her staring, and though she already looked a mess from cumming, she somehow blushed even more. "I… uh… well…"

She was so shy. So adorable. You walked closer to her, her eyes still focused on the outline of your cock as you approached her. You tilted her head up once more, her big, needy eyes locking onto yours again. "Words, princess. Tell me what you need."

Your prompting always helped her, and Wanda managed to shyly mumble, "I… you made me feel soooo good. I just… I still feel empty, daddy."

God, the sheer need in Wanda's voice should have been illegal. It took everything in you to not just bend her over right then and there, but you wanted to ruin her slowly. 

"I can help with that, sweetheart," your murmured as you shifted her position once more, having her lay down on the bed, head in the pillows and her legs still spread wide.

You pulled your boxers down, your soft cock bouncing free. You reached down to where the pump was, squeezing your balls to bring yourself from soft to hard. Wanda bit her lip as she watched; it was a sight that always made her wet, knowing that you were getting yourself hard for her.

Once you were fully hard, Wanda made grabby hands at you, whining, "C'mere, daddy."

You laughed, crawling across the bed so you were on top of her, gazing down into her beautiful eyes. You leaned down to give her a slow, deep kiss, mumbling, "'M here, princess. I'm right here, and I'm ready for you."

You grabbed the base of your cock, sliding it along Wanda's slick folds to get it lubed up and ready for her. Wanda whimpered as the tip bumped against her clit, bucking her hips up to try to pull you inside of her. "Please fuck me," she whined, "Please."

It was impossible for you to say no to that voice, and with one rough thrust, you buried yourself all the way inside of her. The sudden intrusion caused Wanda to cry out, her hands flying up to your broad back to anchor herself.

You let out a deep groan as you felt Wanda clench around you. her warmth pulling you as deep as you could get. You leaned down to kiss her as you began to slowly thrust, growling in her ear, "Fuck, babygirl. Your pussy is perfect."

Wanda let out a giggle that mixed with a moan, her black-pained fingernails digging into your back as she let herself get lost in the pleasure, "'N your cock feels amazing, daddy. You fill me up so good."

You began to thrust faster, the knowledge that you stretched her out working like an aphrodisiac, making you want her even more. Wanda whimpered, "Yes, daddy!" at the quickened pace, and you knew you were making your girl feel amazing.

Wanda loved to feel completely owned by you during sex, so as you fucked her, you leaned down, your mouth latching onto her neck and leaving dark marks that everyone would see tomorrow. Your voice was low and ragged as you spoke, "You're mine. Your heart is mine. Your cunt is mine. It all belongs to me."

Your possessiveness made Wanda clench even harder around you, your intense works making her clit throb. Her fingers dug even harder into your back as she keened, "Fuck, yes. You own me. Mark me. I'm yours."

You groaned at the sheer need in her voice, beginning to fuck her harder. You imagined filling her up, claiming her in the deepest way possible, and it made you twitch inside of her. Your hands went to her hips, holding her in place as you continued to slam into her needy pussy.

Wanda was nearly crying from pleasure at this point, overwhelmed by the feeling of being fucked hard by the man she loved more than anything. One of her hands came down from where it was on your back and gently rubbed along the scar on your forearm from where the skin graft was taken for your phalloplasty. "You're so handsome daddy. I wanna be full of you. Please cum in me."

You nodded, her desperate plea and the way she so reverently touched your scar spurring you on. You pinned her down now, your fingers lacing with hers as you pinned both of her hands to the bed beside her head. "Gonna fill you up, sweet girl. Gonna pump my load so deep inside of you.

Wanda was trembling as a result of the rough pace and your dirty words, some red magic beginning to emanate from her hands, where both of yours were interlocked. That always meant she was close. She whimpered, begging, "Please, please do it…"

Seeing her so needy, so submissive, so spread out and begging for you, a man who never thought he'd find a woman who'd accept him as he is, was enough to push you over the edge. You let out a deep groan as you buried yourself to the hilt inside of her, your cock throbbing as it leaked clear, sticky cum inside of her. "Fuck, Wanda! I love you!"

Feeling you cum inside her was enough to give Wanda her orgasm; the woman trembled, her body shaking and red magic swirls darting out from her body as she wailed your name, cumming for the second time this morning. "Y/N! Daddy! Fuck! I-I love you, too!"

You had been slowly thrusting as she came, helping her through her climax, but once you saw she had calmed down, your thrusts slowed, and you just gazed down at her. Now she had that fucked out look in her eyes that you had been waiting for. You leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "You were such a good girl, baby. Do you feel better now?"

Wanda nodded, her arms reaching up to hug you, pulling you back down on top of her once you let go of her hands. "Much better. You always make that ache go away."

You smiled, admiring her adorable, post-coital expression. You gave her another kiss as you finally rolled off of her, pulling her into your strong embrace. Her favorite place to be.

She sighed deeply as she cuddled into you, her face pressed against your scars like she was first thing this morning. As she drifted back off to sleep, she mumbled, "I know we have an Avengers meeting soon. Shush. That can wait.

The morning of Wanda’s first day, she wakes up three hours early. 

Kate stumbles into the kitchen at 6:30, blearily blinking at Wanda and sighing gratefully when a second cup of coffee is shoved into her hands. 

“Someone’s excited,” Kate mumbles, taking a long sip of her coffee. She collapses into a kitchen chair, watching Wanda’s flurried movements around the kitchen. A second later, a plate of toast is dropped in front of her. 

“I just,” Wanda stops for a moment, setting her own plate down much more gently. “I really want this day to go well.”

Kate snorts. “Of course it will, from what I heard, Agatha is nothing less than thrilled to have you there.”

“Right, but what if I show up and forget what I’m doing and then they all know that I’m a fraud?” Wanda scampers away at the thought, furiously whisking eggs in a bowl. “Do you want scrambled eggs?”

“I- sure, yeah,” Kate blinks again, scrubbing at her eyes. “Listen, you belong there. You’re going to do great, just try not to burden your thoughts with depressing what-if questions, yeah?”

“Right,” Wanda murmurs, pouring the eggs into a frying pan, her fingers tapping on the spatula handle. 

“Drink some more coffee,” Kate instructs. “Not too much though, I feel like your heart rate is already through the roof. Why did you set your alarm so early?”

Wanda turns, sheepish. “I set it for 7:30, but…” She gestures helplessly at the kitchen. “I woke up and couldn’t fall back asleep so, here we are.”

Kate just shakes her head, shoving a piece of toast into her mouth. 

Wanda does calm down after breakfast, her food settling comfortably despite the nerves churning in her gut. She cleans the dishes while Kate disappears into her bedroom, her roommate declaring herself in charge of Wanda’s outfit. 

The dishes have never been done faster. Wanda finally manages to make it to the bathroom, taking a deep breath as she locks eyes with her reflection. “You’ve got this,” she whispers, her reflection nodding as she speaks. 

Luckily, she has a short skincare routine, and she applies the barest amount of makeup. A dab of concealer to cover a stubborn acne scar on her chin that just won’t go away, and a small amount of mascara. She would apply eyeshadow, but her fingers are trembling a bit too much for that at the moment. 

Her official title and job description had been sent over with other paperwork HR had requested to be filled out. ‘Junior Editor’, it said, and Wanda had squealed in excitement with Kate when the paperwork asked her to fill out the information for her order of business cards. 

Her nerves were giving way to excitement, and Wanda suddenly found herself impatient to start the day. 

Her phone buzzes, and she caps the mascara tube before dragging a hairbrush through her (fortunately) shiny hair.

Enjoy your first day. Let me know how it goes.

Wanda smiles, fingers hovering over Natasha’s text, when another one appears. 

I’m proud of you.

The smile that graces her face is no less than brilliant, and she responds with a quick thank you and a promise to talk after work before making her way to her bedroom.

Kate greets her by holding up a pair of dark brown corduroy pants, a pair of green leather boots in the other. 

“Okay, I’m thinking of a forest theme, but professional and cozy at the same time,” Kate says, her words rushed, like she can’t wait to be rid of them. Wanda can tell that her mind is going a thousand miles per minute. 

She may have brewed the coffee a little too strong.

“I have that really thin dress shirt that you can layer easily with, and two different sweater options to go on top of it.” Kate points to the bed, one beige sweater and one dark green sweater with a subtle pattern on it laid out. A white dress shirt with a collar is hanging from the doorknob of her closet. 

“Put these on,” Kate urges, handing the pants and boots to Wanda before returning to the walk-in closet. “I’m finding you a belt,” she calls, her voice slightly muffled. 

Wanda just chuckles, stripping her pajamas off and stepping into the pants. She snags her most comfortable bra, putting it on and tugging the collared shirt over her head. She hated buttons, so she never bothered to undo more than the top one. 

“I think I’m gonna go with the green sweater,” Wanda calls, putting it on. 

“Good choice,” Kate says, walking out of the closet with a brown belt in her hand. “It’ll go well with the boots. Here, this should match everything.”

Wanda takes the belt, sliding it through her belt loops and resolutely not thinking about the way Natasha had taken a belt to her ass four days ago. That had been a new experience, and not an entirely unpleasant one, either.

“Okay, jewelry.” Kate claps her hands, making her way to Wanda’s wall, where she’d hung up her necklaces on ornate brass pushpins. 

Slipping into the boots, Wanda steps in front of her full-length mirror, smoothing out any creases she finds. She looks put together. A bit like an English teacher, but like, a young one.

“You always wear gold rings, so I figured this necklace would do well. We won’t stack today, just keep it simple, yeah?”

Wanda nods, grabbing her rings from the small bowl they go in when she’s not wearing them. Kate had taken a ceramics class once, in their freshman year, and had tried to make a little ashtray. 

It did not look like an ashtray. 

So Wanda had claimed it, telling her roommate that she was saving her from thrifting a ring bowl. Besides, homemade is always better. Kate had created a much better ashtray a few weeks later, and that one was now sitting out on their porch waiting for use. 

Grabbing the necklace, a simple gold star on a thin chain, Wanda puts it on, positioning it under her collar perfectly. 

“Hey, you look like a professional editor already,” Kate exclaims, resting her head on Wanda’s shoulder as she assesses herself in the mirror once again. 

“Hopefully I feel that way, too.”

“You will,” Kate says, patting her shoulder. “Just give it some time.”

Wanda shuffles her favorite playlist as she drives. Luckily, their apartment was only fifteen minutes away from downtown Seattle, so she didn’t have too much time to get overly nervous. Still, her hands shake slightly when she adjusts her leather messenger bag over one shoulder. She’d thrifted it that weekend with Kate, her roommate telling her it was the perfect vibe for an editor. 

Whatever that means.

Traffic isn’t too bad just yet, and Wanda triple-checks the email HR sent that tells her which parking lot to pull into, before turning off her car and taking a few deep breaths. 

“You can do this,” she mutters to herself, before shaking her head and smiling. She grabs her bag, nervousness slowly being replaced with excitement. 

She has a job. At the one place she was most hoping would hire her. In a big city. With an amazing roommate and a perfect girlfriend. She had nothing to be worried about. 

Besides, she’s pretty sure Natasha would love it if she didn’t work and just lived in her apartment full-time. So she’s not too concerned about getting fired. It always helps to have a backup plan. 

She knows where to go from her interview, so she presses the button for her office’s floor before standing aside and letting two other women enter the elevator. It’s only a bit awkward, since nobody really says anything, but soon the doors open to Wanda’s office floor. 

Stepping out, she catches the eye of the receptionist, who waves her over with a big smile. 

“Wanda!” The woman practically gushes. “We are all so excited to have you, I can’t believe it’s already your first day. We’ve all been talking about how much we were looking forward to having you on the team.”

The woman has wrapped her arm around Wanda’s at this point, talking a mile a minute as she leads Wanda further into the office area. There’s one desk that stands out, a small red bow on top of the computer, and a gift bag sitting next to the keyboard. 

“I hope it’s not too much, but we always congratulate new hires with a little first-day gift! That’s why we had you fill out that questionnaire about yourself.” The woman halts next to what is apparently Wanda’s desk, smiling widely. 

“This is amazing,” Wanda smiles back at her, “You guys didn’t have to do all of this, I’m just so excited to be here.”

“Of course we did,” a new voice sounds out, and Wanda turns to see a tall, muscular blonde man smiling at her from two desks away. “Excuse my lack of manners, I’m Steve. Believe me when I say that everyone here has been so excited to have you start. Your interview was one of the best, or so I’ve heard.”

Wanda doesn’t quite know what to say to that, but she feels her face heating up all the same. She’s saved by Agatha’s voice ringing out from the reception area. 

“Is she already here?”

A chorus of people says yes, and a few more of her colleagues stand and make their way towards her desk. There are so many smiling faces around her, and people introducing themselves, that Wanda begins to feel overwhelmed. 

“Give the poor girl some space, we all know how exciting a first day can be,” Agatha says, pushing her way through the crowd. There are two coffee cups in her hands, and she hands one to Wanda. “Hiya, hon. Congrats on your first day!” She nods to the coffee cup. “That’s for you, and you’ll find other goodies inside this bag. Get used to your space and familiarize yourself with your computer, one of our IT guys should be down soon to help you get all set up, and then we have our weekly meeting at 11 sharp, in my office.”

Agatha speaks at a mile a minute, and Wanda feels all of her nerves fade away. She’s already feeling like a part of the team, and she hasn’t even done any real work yet.

“We’re pairing you with Steve for the first few weeks, just until you learn the ropes, he’s one of the best mentors we’ve got. I don’t think the man has a limit to his patience.” Agatha winks, returning the easy smile Steve sends her way. 

Leaning in, Agatha murmurs, “Let me know if you need anything, alright? No question is too silly, we all want to see you succeed in any way that you can here. Got it?”

Wanda nods, a big smile on her face now, too. 

The crowd disperses after a few minutes, all of her colleagues introducing themselves and offering words of encouragement. The excitement doesn’t seem to fade, though. There is plenty of chatter around the office, and Wanda opens her gift bag while waiting for IT. 

The office itself is amazing, she notes. The inside is all brick, with large windows letting light stream in. Their floor is one of the higher ones, so she has a pretty decent view of the city. Although the building is older, given the brick, their workspaces are completely modern, with the latest models of computers and sleek keyboards. Most notably, the overhead lights are all off, only a few lamps around the space needed, since the sun provides plenty of light to see. 

It’s the perfect work environment, in Wanda’s opinion. 

IT finally arrives, another muscular man who introduces himself as Bucky. (What is with everyone working here looking like a Greek god or goddess?) Wanda is pretty sure that’s a nickname. She doesn’t miss the way the man’s eyes keep drifting over to Steve, or the way the blond man can’t seem to keep a soft grin off of his face. 

Interesting. Wanda is already figuring out how to subtly mention her girlfriend to Steve. If he was trying to be discreet about his attraction to the weirdly muscular man from IT, he’s failing spectacularly. 

Wanda finally manages to get her computer all set up, and the day is a blur from there. 

Agatha seems to mostly stay in her office, the space big enough for the whole team to fit inside for their weekly meeting. Wanda brought along a notebook, glancing at others as they scrawled in them as Agatha was speaking. Steve had nudged her, telling her he’d catch her up to speed on what notes to take after the meeting. 

Steve was extremely helpful, co-editing a few simple pieces with Wanda. He’d told her that she didn’t need much coaching, and she’d felt a burst of relief and warmth bloom inside her chest. She’d figured out how their workflow went, how different projects were assigned, and who to get a sign-off from. 

At one point, a tall brunette with heavy, black eye makeup had waltzed through the door with a paper bag clutched in her intricately designed fingernails. She strode right into Agatha’s office, and Steve had whispered that the woman’s name was Rio. Wanda didn’t need him to tell her that the women were married, not after Rio had planted a huge, slightly obscene kiss on her new boss’s lips. 

Agatha seemed all the more cheery after the short visit from her wife, if that was even possible. Realistically, Wanda knew that it was only her first day, but all of her coworkers seemed nice and relatively drama-free, and her boss was easy-going, if not meticulous about details. 

Plus, she was really happy about working with queer coworkers. It was somewhat of a relief not to feel the urge to hide her relationship or the pronouns of her partner.

“Feel free to decorate your space,” The receptionist was saying, leaning against Wanda’s desk. The clock was nearing the end of the day, and Wanda still hadn’t figured out the girl’s name. “We all do, some have pictures of their family or pets, and others have their diploma displayed. Have you seen Agatha’s? She’s got a Master’s degree and everything!”

Wanda just blinked and smiled, her mind seeming like it was going a million miles an hour. There was so much to process from the day, but she didn’t mind. This was the most fun she’d had in a while, even going over her bank details for her paycheck with HR seemed interesting.

“I’ll be sure to bring some stuff in, then, thank you…” Wanda winced. “I never really caught your name, sorry. There’s just so much going on today.”

The girl giggled, waving her off. “No worries, Wanda. My name is America, it's not super easily forgettable, right?”

Wanda’s eyebrows rose. “No, it’s not. I’m sure I won’t forget it.” She offered a chuckle of her own. “Thanks for showing me around a bit, that was really nice of you.”

America waves her off again, pushing off from her desk. “It’s no problem at all! I hope you enjoyed your first day, you’re already doing great, I can tell.” She winks at Wanda, before cheerily striding off to the front desk. 

Honestly, was everyone who worked here happy all the time? Did anyone have a bad day?

Wanda’s phone buzzes, and she sneaks a glance at it, her smile growing as she reads the text from Natasha. 

I hope you’ve had a successful day, I’m positive that you’re doing well already. Do you have evening plans? If not, I’ll make dinner at mine. 6 p.m. sharp.

Quickly, Wanda responds, even knowing her coworkers don’t really care if someone is on their phone. They only seem to care that everyone gets their work done effectively, the exact environment Wanda thrives in. 

As long as I get to pick the wine.

After a few seconds, Natasha starts typing. 

I will give you two options to decide from.

Wanda smirks. Control freak, that’s what her girlfriend was. 

Sounds good, I’ll be there at 6. I can drive, don’t you dare send Nick to pick me up.

She doesn’t wait for a response, hearing her coworkers slowly begin to pack up. There are only ten minutes left in the workday, a few people having left earlier, but mostly the office was filled with chatter now. 

Wanda powers down her computer, looking up and smiling at Steve as he gives her a thumbs up. 

“You did great today, kid,” he says, zipping up his leather backpack and grabbing his water bottle. “Any fun places to celebrate your first day?”

“Yes, actually,” Wanda remembers the way Steve had eyed the IT guy. “My girlfriend is cooking dinner, so I’m celebrating with her.”

Just as she suspected, Steve didn’t bat an eye. “That’s great! I hope you have a fun time, and I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ve got my own date to get to.” He winks at her, before striding out and waving his goodbye to America. 

“Alright team,” Agatha’s voice sounds out, the woman’s coat draped over one arm as she holds her purse. She shuts her office door behind her. “It’s a Monday, so don’t dawdle too much. Great work today, everyone. I look forward to another successful week. And Wanda, we’re all very pleased to have you here.”

Wanda blushes as a few coworkers clap, smiling at the wink Agatha throws her way. 

As soon as Agatha leaves, most of her coworkers surge toward the door, chatting as they leave. Wanda follows, still drinking in the fact that she’d just completed her first day at her new job, and she hadn’t failed spectacularly. 

She drives home in a state of slight disbelief, excitement from the day still buzzing in her veins. It felt weird to not worry about homework in the evening, her recent graduation still lingering around the edges of her mind. 

Wanda could do whatever she wanted, without something hanging over her head. It felt freeing, and she fought a cheesy smile that threatened to take over her face. All she had left to do today was go home and get ready for her date with Natasha. 

Ah, fuck. What was she going to wear?

Wanda dialed Kate, knowing she was still at home, her foot pressing slightly harder on the gas. She really was awful at picking out outfits. 

—

Natasha had graciously given Wanda a key to her penthouse, so when she stepped out of the elevator and silently rounded the corner, she was greeted with the sight of Natasha in the kitchen. 

The woman’s hair was clipped casually in a claw clip, a few strands hanging loosely. She wore dark green linen pants and a slightly oversized, yet boxy white button-up shirt. Her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, and she seemed intently focused on whatever she was cooking on the stovetop. 

Grateful for the jazz that slowly filled the kitchen, Wanda slid into a seat at the counter, content to just watch her girlfriend. God, she looked hot. Her gaze traveled down the woman’s body, lingering at her hips, before dropping her eyes further and flushing. 

Catching a glance of two wine bottles on the counter, unopened, Wanda smiled. At least Natasha was true to her word. 

“Wanda?”

Wanda’s eyes moved before she could even register Natasha’s voice, a small smirk appearing on her face at the sight of her girlfriend wielding a wooden spoon.

“Hey,” she chuckled, tilting her head slightly, unable to suppress her amusement.

Natasha blinked, lowering the spoon hastily. “You’re early.”

“And you’re adorable.”

The older woman’s face crinkled slightly, her eyes rolling the barest amount before she turned and resumed stirring something in the frying pan. “Thank you, darling. But you’re still early.” She turned slightly, one of the strands from her claw clip finally escaping to frame her face. “It’ll be a few minutes before the food is ready.”

If Wanda didn’t know Natasha as well as she did, she would have missed the slight worry in the woman’s tone. 

“I’m fine with waiting, truly. It gives me more time to decide on which wine to drink,” Wanda murmured, slipping from her seat as Natasha gave a short nod. She rounded the counter as Natasha returned her attention to the stovetop. 

Barely even glancing at the wine bottles, Wanda breezed past them until she was directly behind Natasha. Her fingers reached out, almost as if drawn to the older woman’s body like an irresistible magnet, grazing her hips before circling around her waist. 

Natasha’s face turned slightly, and Wanda could see a satisfied smirk pulling at the corner of her lips. 

“I like the bottle with the green design better,” Wanda whispered, pressing herself flush against her girlfriend’s back and resting her chin on the woman’s muscular shoulder. 

“That’s a blackberry wine,” Natasha says, her tone giving the impression that she’s not bothered by Wanda’s closeness at all. “I know you like a sweeter wine, so I picked blackberry and raspberry, it’s your choice. They’ll both go well with the dish.”

Aha, she was affected by Wanda’s touch. Natasha was rambling, her movements a little too mechanical as she stirred the already-cooked dish. 

“Is the food ready yet?” Wanda whispered, putting her lips near Natasha’s ear. One of her hands came up to brush the wayward strand back into the claw clip. She smirked at the way Natasha’s shoulders tightened slightly, a sign that the woman was solidifying her composure. 

“Just about,” Natasha turned again, planting a soft kiss against Wanda’s lips. “Go pour us some wine, I’ll plate the food. Good plan?”

Wanda just nods, feeling her cheeks heat up at the closeness of their lips. She presses forward for a moment, stealing one last kiss before detaching herself from Natasha's wonderful warmth.

Picking up the blackberry wine, she struggles with the cork for a minute before finally popping it out, sneaking a glance over her shoulder to make sure Natasha hadn’t witnessed it. She pours a healthy amount in each wine glass, ignoring what the older woman had taught her about wine decorum. Tonight was a celebration, after all.

The only response she gets from Natasha is a quirk of the eyebrow when she sees the glasses, before a plate of steaming food is set down in front of her. The pasta is cooked perfectly, with little flakes of parmesan cheese sprinkled over it, and a medium-rare steak cut into slices resting in the middle.

“This looks amazing, Nat,” Wanda gushes, too focused on the delicious food in front of her to see Natasha’s small smile at the nickname.

They chat for a while, Natasha listening as Wanda describes her first day, her eyes warily following the fork in her hand as she gestures. Her green eyes barely leave Wanda’s, save to glance at her wine before taking a sip. 

Eventually, the conversation reaches its natural end, and Natasha delicately tips her wine glass all the way up, finishing it. 

“When you’re finished eating,” she begins, her low voice sending warmth down Wanda’s lower spine, “I want you to grab a pillow from the couch and kneel on it, facing the window. Do you understand?”

Flushing, Wanda nods, glancing over her shoulder at the open concept living room area when Natasha stands to clear her dishes. The windows are floor-to-ceiling and overlook Seattle. Luckily, the penthouse is on the top floor of this building, so she doesn’t have to worry about anyone looking in. 

Finishing the last few pieces of steak on her plate, Wanda swallows a healthy mouthful of her wine. She stands, catching Natasha’s gaze. 

At the subtle head shake she receives, she slowly puts her wine glass down, leaving it for Natasha to clear from the counter and wash. Feeling a pleasant buzz in her veins, she ambles over to the couch, her limbs feeling slightly weighted. 

Grabbing one of the decorative pillows, she sets it down in front of the couch, sinking down to her knees on it. Setting her hands on her thighs, she feels herself relax as she gazes out the window. 

Seattle is amazing at night, the lights twinkling softly from lit-up skyscrapers. She can’t see any stars, being in the heart of the city, but she doesn’t mind. The view of the city is even better when she’s up high.

Fuck, she can feel that familiar heat settling in her lower gut, her mind going slightly fuzzy as she waits. She can hear Natasha in the kitchen, water flowing as she rinses the dishes. It settles in the back of her mind like a pleasant hum. She can smell Natasha, her cinnamon perfume floating around her head. She wonders if the woman had sat on the couch earlier today, reading or working on her laptop. 

The water stops, and Wanda smiles as Natasha appears in front of her. 

“I love it when you look at me like this,” Natasha murmurs, her hand reaching out to cup Wanda’s chin. She gently applies pressure until Wanda’s head is tilted up, those green eyes boring into hers. 

Her pupils are dilated, and Wanda watches as her chest swells when she takes a deep, steadying breath. 

“Such a good girl for me, Wanda,” Natasha whispers, releasing her chin and moving out of her line of sight. She can see Natasha’s knees on either side of her as the woman sits on the couch, and she resists the urge to lean against one of them. “How are you feeling?”

“So good,” Wanda says, her words slipping into a soft whine as Natasha’s hands come down on her shoulders. The woman pulls her back slightly, until she feels the woman’s strong core against her upper back. Those wonderful thighs tighten around her arms, and Wanda bites her lip. 

“Do you want me to make you feel better?” Natasha whispers, her hands firmly massaging Wanda’s shoulders. 

“Yes, please,” Wanda sighs, relaxing into the touch. Her hips strain as she keeps still, her clit throbbing as she feels Natasha’s warmth surround her. 

“Yes, what?” Natasha asks, her tone slightly firm. 

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good girl,” Natasha bends down to place a soft kiss on the top of Wanda’s head. One of her hands leaves Wanda’s shoulder, and the other decorative pillow is placed in front of her. “Put this between your thighs and hump, baby.”

The moan that escapes Wanda is wanton. She quickly positions the pillow, her back arching as she begins to hump, relieving the pressure that has been steadily building. Her clit throbs roughly, her movements stilted with need. 

“You sound amazing, darling,” Natasha husks, her hands moving yet again. Her fingers trail over Wanda’s collarbone, wrapping loosely around her neck, a reminder of her place. “Keep humping for me, show me how badly you want it.”

“Mmm, fuck,” Wanda whimpers, her breath coming out fast and rough. Her hips burn as she grinds herself against the pillow, and she can feel her arousal smearing in her panties.

The hand around her throat squeezes. 

“Watch your language,” Natasha commands, the pressure subsiding as Wanda nods. Two fingers gently touch her lips. They dance along her bottom lip, the sensitive nerves sending pleasure straight to her core. 

Natasha’s lips graze her ear. “Suck, Wanda.”

The fingers slide into her mouth, her tongue eagerly wrapping around them. Her lips close, and she sucks, a soft moan rumbling in her throat. 

“Doesn’t this feel good? Obeying me, letting me take care of you?” Natasha murmurs. “You’re being so good for me, humping my pillow and sucking my fingers. You’re my perfect little slut, baby.” 

The fingers in her mouth begin to move, Natasha pulling them almost all the way out before slowly sliding them back in. She pumps her fingers languidly, and Wanda can feel some of her drool escape, sliding down her chin. 

“Keep going, Wanda. I want you to cum for me. Fall apart for me, baby.”

Wanda’s clit throbs once, and that’s the only warning she gets before her orgasm overtakes her. God, she hadn’t even realised how close she was, but Natasha’s permission had sent her over the edge almost instantly. Her thighs shake, her muscles seizing as she cums, the movement of her hips against the pillow rough and shaky.

Natasha’s fingers keep idly pumping in and out of her as Wanda’s muffled moans escape. Her other hand rests against her sternum, keeping her pressed into Natasha’s body.  

“I love feeling your body tremble when you cum,” Natasha says, her voice rough and low. “You’re so perfect, малышка. So obedient.”

All Wanda can do is nod, riding out the aftershocks of her orgasm, sure that the pillow is damp underneath her. 

“Keep humping, nice and slow. Let me make you feel good, hm?” Natasha continues. “Let your head go fuzzy for me. I’ll take care of you.”

Nodding, Wanda obeys, slowly grinding against the pillow, nearly frictionless. She resumes sucking the wonderfully long fingers in her mouth, her head filling with only thoughts of Natasha, her body warm from pleasure.

Natasha leans down, kissing Wanda’s damp temple. “Congrats on your first day, Wanda. You’ve made me so proud.”

Next Chapter

Dm or comment to be added/removed!

It had been torture for Wanda ever since she had moved into the Avengers compound. 

She had been thrilled when she found out that the room she was placed in was next to Natasha Romanoff and Y/N's. She was just a wall away from the Black Widow and one of the most powerful super soldiers in the world; she hoped that the proximity would help her make some new friends and maybe even learn a few new combat skills.

She couldn't have been more wrong, though. The only thing she got from the proximity was a pair of drenched panties every night. 

Every single night, without fail, Natasha and Y/N made love. A better way to describe it would be to say they fucked, considering how loudly she heard Natasha cry out for them and how she could always hear the headboard slamming against the wall. 

She thought that the walls in such a high tech facility would be thicker, but alas, she was stuck hearing Natasha get fucked the way she yearned to every night. But she wouldn't deny that she liked it. Now, she was so used to it that she got sad if she couldn't hear them.

Tonight was particularly intense. Y/N was being extra rough, and Natasha was loving every minute of it. Wanda's skirt was up around her waist, her panties long discarded somewhere across her room as she desperately rubbed her clit.

"Fuck, you love this dick, don't you?" Y/N growled, and Wanda could hear their hand coming down to land on Natasha's ass with a loud smack!

She'd begun fingering herself by that point, and she answered Y/N's question with a whisper so there was no risk of the couple hearing, "Y-yes. I love your cock so much, Y/N."

Natasha, on the other hand, wailed out loudly, "Fuck yes, daddy! You feel so fucking good!" 

Y/N grunted in return, their hand coming down on Natasha's ass once more, and Wanda could hear the bed frame slamming against the wall even harder. 

God. Wanda's clit throbbed as she imagined how Y/N looked as Natasha called them daddy. Probably feral and sexy. From listening in on the couple for months, she knew all the things that drove Y/N crazy.

Wanda got lost in her own thoughts, imagining Y/N pounding her, begging daddy to go harder, to use her as their cum dump. The thought of being so thoroughly used made Wanda whine, her hand immediately clasping over her mouth, praying neither of the people in the next room over heard her. 

Fortunately, they were too lost in their own moment to even consider someone could be listening in. At night, when they were like this, they essentially forgot Wanda even existed. 

"Please, please let me cum on your cock, daddy!" Natasha keened, clearly desperate for her orgasm. "I've been such a good girl, please!"

Y/N wasn't the only one who made Wanda's clit throb. Natasha did, too. Wanda would be lying if she said she didn't stare at the woman whenever she had a chance. The Widow had full lips, sensual hips, and curves to die for. Who wouldn't look? 

Wanda always got so needy and sticky when she thought about the older woman. She'd imagine grinding against her, rubbing her cunt against Natasha's as the two women squirmed and whimpered into each other's mouths. 

She was pulled out of her thoughts once again when she heard Y/N's deep, feral voice command Natasha, "Cum, sweet girl. Cum for daddy. You earned it."

That did it for Wanda. Her pussy throbbed, clenching hard around her fingers as she came, letting out a high pitched whine that was fortunately overshadowed by Natasha screaming "FUCK!" over and over again.

She laid there, panting, her sheets soaked with her own fluids. She turned her head, staring at the wall that separated her from the two people she yearned for. For now, she'd find a way to be content with her own fingers and the sounds of their pleasure.

--------------------------------------

Wanda was awoken with a start the next morning at the sound of someone rapping on her door. She had fallen asleep in the same position she had came in last night, skirt bunched up around her waist with nothing covering her underneath.

"Just a moment!" she squeaked out, flying out of bed, scrambling to pick her panties up from where she had tossed them last night and slid them back on. Once she was decent and smoothed her skirt out, looking as presentable as possible for a girl who spent the majority of the night touching herself, she went to open the door.

She froze when she saw that it was the woman she'd spent the whole night listening in on, Natasha Romanoff herself. After gawking for a couple seconds, Wanda stammered, "H-hey, Natasha. What's up?"

Natasha smiled softly at Wanda. Wanda's eyes had gone from Natasha's own to her neck and collarbone, which easily drew the eye, due to the fact that she was absolutely covered in hickeys. Natasha let out a small laugh as she saw the younger woman's eyes dart from her face to her neck, and back again. "What you're staring at is what's up. Y/N and I got a little wild last night, and Fury doesn't tolerate any signs of lovemaking in meetings. I have an info session in fifteen minutes, so I gotta get this covered up. You have any spare concealer?"

Wanda gulped. She had barely heard what Natasha had said. All she had been thinking about were the marks and imagining how amazing it must feel to be marked by Y/N. Once she registered Natasha's question about concealer, she awkwardly turned, inviting Natasha in and beginning to rummage through her makeup bag.

Natasha glanced over her shoulder, peeking at the contents of her bag. The spy at heart never truly went away. Eyeliner, eyeshadow, lipstick. Definitely fitting for the young woman's emo style. 

As for Wanda, she was practically sweating as she dug around for the concealer. She could feel Natasha's eyes on her. She wondered what she was thinking; it felt like Natasha could somehow tell that she had been listening in on she and Y/N last night. God. That thought was just making her more flustered as she desperately shoved different products aside, trying to get to the one Natasha needed.

Finally, she felt the shape of the small bottle of concealer at the bottom of her bag, quickly pulling it out and offering it up to Natasha, almost too eagerly. "Here! Sorry, it was literally at the very bottom of my bag. I hope it works!"

Natasha smiled at her, gazing at Wanda like she was thinking about something more than just concealer. She took it from Wanda's hand, turning it over in her own, examining the shade, before handing it back to her. "You seem pretty good with makeup. Can you put it on for me? It's always such a weird angle, having to cover up hickeys."

A soft blush involuntary spread across Wanda's face at Natasha's request, but she knew she would be a fool to say no. She swallowed hard once again, taking the concealer back and nodding, squeaking out, "Mhm. Sure. Just let me grab a blender."

Wanda turned back to her makeup bag, trying to soothe herself. She'd talked to Natasha many times before, why did she feel so flustered this time? Maybe her crush on the woman was bigger than she thought… Her mind traitorously wandered back to the image of them grinding on each other, and a shiver went through her. She needed to stop. Focus on the moment.

Once Wanda had taken the time to calm herself, feigning difficulty in finding her beauty blender, despite it being at the top of the bag, she made her way back over to Natasha, already sitting at her desk with her makeup light pointed towards her neck. Natasha laughed at how nervous Wanda looked, beckoning her over with an inviting wave of her hand. "Come on, Wanda. I don't bite. Now I only have ten minutes, so let's get this done, and I'll get out of your hair."

Wanda nodded, leaning against the edge of the desk as she squirted some concealer onto the blender, beginning to pat it along the marks on Natasha's neck. Natasha was staring at the younger woman as she worked, but Wanda couldn't handle the redhead's intense gaze, so she opted to look at the marks instead.

She tried to not pay attention to the way her pussy throbbed as she stared at them. She almost hated covering them up, she wanted to stare at the proof of Y/N's passion all day. They were so dark. So intense. So clearly possessive. All she could imagine was being on the receiving end, being pinned to the bed as they laid their claim on her-

"Five minutes, Wanda. We still have half of my neck to go. Chop chop."

Natasha's words snapped her out of it, and she quickly nodded, mumbling, "Sorry," as she reapplied concealer to the blender and patted it into the other side of Natasha's throat. 

Wanda had tried to work fast, but she was a perfectionist at heart, and by the time Natasha had to go, there were still a few spots left. The latter quickly checked herself in the mirror, analyzing Wanda's work before speaking, "Thanks for all you did, Wanda. Better than I've ever done, you're dedicated." 

She then picked up the concealer, twirling it in her fingers as she continued, "Can I take this? There's a couple spots left, I'll just quickly cover them up using my fingers as I walk there, and I'll return this to you later. That okay?"

Wanda nodded, almost dumbly. She would have said yes to anything Natasha asked of her. "Yeah, of course! No worries, just get to your meeting! I hope it goes well!"

Wanda thought she sounded way too earnest. She wanted to kick herself for it. But Natasha just smiled, pocketing the makeup product as she quickly left Wanda's room, calling out as she walked, "Thanks again for everything, hun! I appreciate it!"

Wanda was glad she was no longer in Natasha's line of vision as she said that, because now, her face was red as a tomato. Hun. Natasha had called her a pet name, a term of endearment. She knew it meant nothing. She was just being kind. But Wanda couldn't deny the wetness soaking through her panties after that whole encounter. Now, she'd ruined this pair twice in the span of twelve hours. Fuck.

--------------------------------------

Wanda had hoped to see Natasha sometime throughout the day to strike up another conversation but, unfortunately, no such moment occurred.

She had spent the day training with Clint. Wanda figured Natasha was probably off at the mission she had the info session about this morning. She was disappointed, but she knew she'd see the woman again eventually. Or, maybe, she'd even see Y/N. That would be a dream. She could ask about the concealer, maybe Y/N would bring her back to their room to look for it, and then, if she was lucky, Y/N would-

"Ouch!" Wanda squealed, pulled out of her dirty thoughts by the feeling of one of Clint's arrows grazing her forearm. She was supposed to have been using her magic to stop his fire, but she had been a little too lost in her own head.

She looked down at where the arrow had struck her. No blood, thankfully, but she could already see a bruise forming. She knew that if Steve, her Avengers mentor and sponsor, saw this injury, he would fuss over it for at least a week and prevent her from training, though it was really just a minor scratch. 

Wanda gave Clint a wave, signaling to him she was fine and that she was just going to take care of it as she walked back to her room. Some concealer would cover this up just fine. It's what she always used when she got these little bruises she wanted to hide from Steve.

Her mind had been so lost in the fantasy of Y/N, along with getting surprised by Clint's arrow, that she completely forgot a certain hot redhead currently had her concealer. She rummaged through her makeup bag, spending a whole ten minutes searching, before she looked up, her eyes landing on her makeup light that had been left on from this morning.

Now she remembered. She didn't have the concealer. The hottest woman in the compound did. She didn't want to go hunting for Nat, but she needed the makeup. She had training with Steve at 8:30 tomorrow, and if she didn't have the bruise covered by then, she was screwed. 

She checked the time. 7:15. Y/N and Natasha's ravenous fuck sessions usually didn't start until 8:00 at the very earliest, so she knew she had more than enough time to sneak in their room, quickly look to see if the concealer was there, and sneak back out. 

She was all nerves, but she swallowed her fear and crept out of her room, walking just a few feet away to the couple's. She pressed her ear against the door, listening for any kind of sound at all. Even if they weren't fucking, she still didn't want them to know she was there. 

Fortunately, though, she heard nothing, and, with the help of her magic, unlocked the door and stepped in. She shut the door ever so carefully behind her, creeping down the small entryway towards the main room, already looking frantically for her concealer.

As much as she wanted to, she couldn't let herself get distracted. Nope. No way. Not even by Y/N's boxers hanging off the laundry basket, which she yearned to sniff, or Natasha's collection of lingerie she saw through the cracked door of their closet. 

Focus, Wanda, focus, she told herself, In and out. Get the concealer, leave. That's all this is. 

Her eyes traveled from their clothes to their desks. She could tell which one belonged to each resident of the room, with one being strewn with empty protein shake cans and unfinished mission reports, and the other being organized, the only things out on the desk being a planner, a photo of Y/N and Natasha kissing on New Year's, and a thin tube of makeup.

The concealer. Finally. 

Though she had eyes on it, her task was far from over. The desks were all the way in the other corner of their room, and Wanda was still crouched in the entryway, hand hovering over the door handle. 

She took a deep breath, swallowing before beginning to walk across the room. She loved her magic, but in this moment, she wished she had her brother's super speed. Maybe if she were less nervous, she would have thought to just use it to float the concealer across the room. But when has anyone ever thought rationally when they're nervous?

As Wanda got to the desk and snagged the small bottle, shoving it in the pocket of her skirt, she suddenly realized the white noise she hadn't even registered was there in the first place had stopped. A dull hum, a pitter patter that had been going in one ear and out the other was now gone, replaced by the sound of laughter, a man's deep voice, and a woman's smooth voice. 

Her head snapped towards where the voices were coming from, and she saw a door with light coming out from the crack under it. Fuck. She had been so absorbed in their clothes and desks, Wanda's eyes had simply grazed over that door when she had first looked around the room, not even giving it a second thought.

She now immediately registered what it was. A bathroom. God, she felt so stupid. They had been here all along, showering together, and the white noise that the water provided simply bypassed her senses. 

Wanda knew she should have run. Should have booked it out of there the second the concealer landed in her pocket, but as the bathroom door handle began to turn, she froze. Her irrational thoughts overriding her mind once again, she quickly ducked under Natasha's desk, crouching down and hiding behind the chair the best she could. 

Fortunately for her, though, Natasha and Y/N were far too absorbed in each other to even take the slightest notice of her. As they walked, or rather stumbled, out of the bathroom, they were both completely naked, wrapped up in each other's arms, kissing so hard it looked like they were eating each other's faces off. 

"Fuck, I love seeing my marks on you again," Y/N growled, climbing onto the bed, sitting against the headboard as they pulled Natasha on their lap, to which she happily complied, "Fuck Fury for making you cover them up. You're mine, and everyone should know it."

Natasha moaned then as Y/N leaned in, kissing over the marks they had left last night, beginning to redo the ones that had already begun to fade. "Baby, it's just policy. Some things we just have to deal with. Everyone knows you own me. You saw how fast the concealer washed off in the shower."

Y/N simply huffed, continuing to kiss and squeeze at Natasha. "Where'd you even get that, anyway? The brand you get doesn't come off that easily."

Natasha threw her head back, her hands absentmindedly coming up to run through Y/N's wet hair as she mumbled, "The new recruit in the room next to us gave me it. Wanda."

Y/N simply let out a grunt of acknowledgment, their mouth going down to kiss along her collarbone and breasts. Natasha let out a whine, hips bucking before speaking again, "She's a sweetheart, you know. I think she has the hots for me."

Y/N laughed a little, pausing their ministrations to look back up at their lover, "She's cute. I did training with her last week and she shivered every time I put my hands on her to correct her form. She let out a little gasp when my hand went to her hip. I think she's into me, too."

Natasha giggled as she imagined Wanda that way, leaning down to give Y/N another kiss. "Well, who can blame her? You're a sexy man."

Y/N moaned into her kiss, grabbing her and flipping her over so that they were now on top. "And you're the sexiest fuckin' woman I've ever seen. That emo chick can be number two."

The couple descended into foreplay, the topic of Wanda being forgotten, but for the woman under the desk, she couldn't stop replaying their words. Y/N thought she was cute. Natasha thought she was a sweetheart. But, more than anything, they both thought she was sexy. It was nearly too much for her to handle, and she had to slap her hand over her mouth to cover up a squeak that was a bit too close to escaping.

As she did her best to remain quiet, her eyes stayed on the couple she was obsessed with. Natasha and Y/N had gone past the making out phase, and now, she was making her way down their body, pressing kisses along their muscles. 

Once Natasha got to Y/N's cock, she nuzzled against it, her hand instinctively going to their balls to squeeze their erectile pump and make them hard. Y/N's hand came down to Natasha's fiery red hair, and they murmured, "You wanna suck it, princess? You wanna show me how good of a girl you can be?"

Natasha let out a needy whine, murmuring, "Yes, daddy," before leaning in and taking the head of their cock into her mouth, her back arched and her ass sticking out to put on a show for Y/N, and, unknowingly, for Wanda.

Wanda had been wet from the moment their naked bodies had stumbled out of the bathroom, but now, she was completely soaked. Natasha's ass, all soft and ready for the taking, had her mesmerized, and Y/N, hard, huge, and throbbing made Wanda yearn for it to be deep in her throat.

Y/N's hands were in Natasha's hair, guiding her as she sucked them, slowly forcing her to take their cock deeper, making her gag. Wanda was so jealous, so desperate to also have her mouth be used that she reached up, shoving two fingers in her mouth and pretending they were Y/N's cock. 

She began to suck on them, holding in her whimpers the best she could as she followed the directions Y/N gave Natasha. 

"Fuck, take it deep, sweetheart," they'd murmur, and Wanda would push her fingers back as far as they could go. "Get me all nice and wet, baby," they later commanded, and Wanda spit and frothed on her fingers, making them as sloppy as possible.

Wanda could keep quiet during all of those commands, but her resolve finally broke when Y/N shoved Natasha as deep down on their cock as they could, growling, "Swallow my load. All of it. Be a good girl."

The deep, predatory tone of their words, combined with the the visual of Natasha gagging and Wanda's own fingers deep in her throat, were too much for the young woman to handle. Desperately, against her will, she choked out around her own fingers, "Yes, daddy!"

She then froze, fingers stilling in her mouth. Fuck. Did she really just moan that out? No, it had to be Natasha. She was fine, they didn't know she was there. She was just imagining things, right?

As much as she wished that were true, she knew it wasn't when Natasha and Y/N also froze. Natasha slowly pulled off their cock, looking up at them with trepidation. "D-did you hear that? Or am I just imagining things?"

Y/N didn't look tense, though, their eyes just scanned around the room, looking in the more obvious places as they answered, "Mhm. But we're perfectly safe. A voyeur isn't a threat, Nat."

Nat sat back on the bed, still naked as Y/N stood up, beginning to look around the room. They first checked the obvious places, the closet and the entryway, and then they began to go lower.

Wanda knew she didn't have a chance as she watched them glance under the bed, their head then beginning to turn towards the desks, right where she was, fingers still buried deep in her throat. She felt paralyzed.

As Y/N's head turned, their eyes immediately landed on her, but instead of disgust or fear, a predatory smile spread across their face. Wanda looked so fucking adorable. Legs spread, skirt bunched up around her thighs, fingers in her mouth. She was the sweetest thing, just begging to be fucked. 

Y/N made the "come here" hand gesture, speaking lowly as Wanda nervously crawled towards them, "Hey there, sweetheart. You liked what you saw there, huh? Were you feeling a little jealous of Natty?"

Natasha was now perched on the edge of the bed, the look of fear that had previously graced her face being replaced by a look of excitement and desire. "Aww, hey, Wanda! We were just talking about you, you know."

The older woman looked Wanda up and down, taking in the way her skirt was rumpled, drool was dripping down her chin, and her eyes were dilated, full of need. She glanced at Y/N, giggling as she spoke, "You're right. I think she's down bad for us both."

Wanda had never been so embarrassed. Out of all the possible outcomes, this one was the worst. She was living a nightmare. She reached into her skirt pocket, nervously taking out the concealer. She couldn't meet the couple's eyes as she nervously stammered, "I-I wasn't trying to spy! I needed the concealer back to cover up a bruise, and I knew Nat still had it, so I came to look for it! Y-you guys were in the shower, and when I heard you, I just instinctively hid, and then-"

"Hiding doesn't mean getting off to us fucking, though, does it?" Y/N cut in, smirking as they saw Wanda's face flush an even darker shade of red. Both them and Natasha didn't mind what Wanda did, they thought she was adorable, but teasing her was just too fun.

Y/N tilted Wanda's chin up, forcing her to make eye contact with them. The girl could barely stop her eyes from darting around, but Y/N's gaze was magnetic, drawing her in whether she wanted it or not. "We're not mad, love. We think your neediness is just… adorable."

Natasha nodded, sauntering behind Y/N, wrapping her arms around their shoulders as she also gazed at the nervous brunette. She whispered something that Wanda couldn't hear in Y/N's ear, their eyes lighting up as soon as the mystery words left her lips. "That's an amazing idea, Natty. Why don't you ask Wanda what she thinks about it?"

Wanda was trembling now, her eyes darting between the man and the woman, exhilarated and terrified about what Natasha would ask her. The redhead slowly moved away from Y/N's ear, and made deadly eye contact with Wanda. The words that left her lips had Wanda stunned. "Why don't you join us, Wanda? The more the merrier, right? And it's more than obvious that we all want each other."

Wanda was silent for a moment, not knowing what to say. Was this real life? Was she dreaming? She knew it was real, but she could barely process it. She'd been listening to these people fuck every night for months, and now she was being offered to join in?

Y/N's fingers then gently rubbed along the bottom of her chin, pulling her from her thoughts. "Use your words, sweet girl. Would you like to join us, or not?"

Wanda immediately nodded, not wanting to risk them thinking she didn't want this. Her voice was shaky, but she blurted out a clear "yes."

Y/N and Natasha exchanged devilish looks at her consent, a silent agreement that this night just got a whole lot more fun. 

Natasha then stepped out from behind Y/N's bulky frame, pressing her naked body against Wanda's still clothed one. She began to lift the younger woman's shirt off as she mumbled, "Y/N and I are bare, it's only fair we get to see your beautiful body in return."

Wanda was completely willing, lifting her arms as Natasha slid her shirt off and stepping out of her skirt and panties as Y/N pulled them down. The couple stepped back to admire Wanda, now completely naked. They each let out a groan, Y/N's hands reaching to squeeze Wanda's ass, and Natasha leaning in to kiss her neck. 

"Fuck, you're so beautiful," Y/N mumbled as they continued to grope her, with Natasha following, saying, "Such a pretty thing. You're gonna look so good all ruined and fucked-out."

Y/N smirked at that, eyes darting between the two women. Wanda could see an idea form in their mind and watched as they sat down on the edge of the bed, spreading their legs so their cock jutted out at full attention. "Wanda, since you seemed so eager to suck your fingers, why don't you suck the real thing instead?"

The brunette's eyes widened, and seconds later, she felt a hand on her back, pushing her down to her knees. She immediately complied, willfully kneeling down and scooting closer to Y/N. Y/N reached down, tilting her chin up and gently rotating her head so she was looking at Natasha, who was sitting beside her. "Natty will guide you if you need help. Just focus on making daddy feel good, okay?"

The way Y/N spoke to her, so gentle and nurturing, had Wanda willing to do absolutely anything they asked. She let out a low whimper as she leaned forward, eagerly taking the head of their cock into her mouth, and beginning to suck. She didn't have much experience, but when she heard Y/N groan, "Fuck!" she knew she was doing something right.

She continued to focus on the tip, gently sucking and running her tongue along the ridge, when suddenly, she felt a hand on the back of her head, pushing her further down. "Take it deeper, sweetheart. They love to be deep in a warm, wet throat." 

Natasha's words washed over Wanda, and she quickly accommodated, allowing the older woman's hand to push more of Y/N's cock into her mouth. She gagged once, her throat constricting around their length, but it only made them throb and moan louder. "Goddamn, your mouth feels so good!"

Wanda's heart skipped a beat at Y/N's crude praise, and she continued to hold them as deep in her throat as she could before she gagged again, needing to pull back to catch her breath. Natasha's hands immediately went down to her hair, pulling it back and leaning down to give her a kiss on the mouth. "Good girl. Take a breath."

Wanda did, but she wanted more. She took her moment to breathe and then took Y/N back into her mouth. She listened to Natasha's words of guidance, licking along the underside just the way they liked and leaving kisses on their sensitive spots.

Y/N's hands were in Wanda's hair now, having pushed Natasha's away long ago. A low, deep groan tore from their throat as they tensed up, pushing their cock as deep into Wanda's throat as possible as they groaned, "'M gonna cum. Swallow it all, baby. I know you can do it."

Wanda whimpered once around their cock, the vibrations being what made them lose it. Seconds later, they were roaring out sounds of pleasure as she felt their cock throb against her tongue, leaking clear, tangy fluid into her mouth. 

They stayed there for a couple moments, making sure Wanda had taken their whole load before gently pulling her off of their cock. The younger woman's cheeks were streaked with tears of pleasure, her makeup running down. Natasha didn't waste a minute in pulling Wanda into her arms, whispering praises to her.

"Shh, there we go. You did so well. You made daddy feel so good." The redhead whispered, leaning down to give Wanda a sloppy, wet kiss on the mouth. She groaned as she tasted Y/N's cum on on the other woman's tongue, her hands squeezing Wanda's hips as she kept the younger girl close. "I've only seen them cum that hard a couple of times. You did such a good job."

The praise had Wanda melting; she happily leaned against Natasha, feeling the warmth of her body as she caught her breath. Y/N then approached them, calmed down now slightly from their orgasm, and pulled both women up from the floor. 

They carried Wanda over to the lounge chair beside the bed, kissing her forehead as they spoke, "Good girl, princess. You pleased me. Just rest and recover from that while I fuck Natty. You can touch yourself if you need to, but don't cum. Once I'm done with her, that pretty pussy is all mine."

Part of Wanda wanted to protest, wanted to beg that she should get their cock first, but the obedience embedded in her soul and the urge to see the action she had heard through the wall each night overrode it, and all she did was mumble, "Yes, daddy."

Natasha, who had been standing by the bed, giggled as Y/N practically pounced on her, pinning her to the bed as they kissed down her body. Wanda watched longingly as Y/N lavished attention on Natasha's breasts, kissing and sucking at her hard, pink nipples, eliciting whimpers from the older woman.

Wanda's pussy was already throbbing from having sucked Y/N off, and now, watching them make love to Natasha made it ache. She had been listening in on the couple for so long, she wanted it to be her so badly.

Y/N stroked their cock once, rubbing it along Natasha's own drenched folds to get it ready before sliding in. Natasha let out a loud moan, and Y/N's hands immediately went to her waist, pinning her down as they began to thrust. "Fuck, you're so wet for me, pretty girl."

Hearing Y/N's praise directly, not through a wall, had Wanda going even crazier, and she began to rub her clit slowly, imagining it was them touching her. She let out a low whimper, and both Natasha and Y/N glanced at her, their eyes widening with lust as they saw how needy she was.

Y/N then began to really fuck Natasha, slamming into her with long, deep strokes, causing her to cry out and dig her nails into their back for support. Once she adjusted to the new rhythm, she looked over at Wanda and purred, "You're next, princess. Get ready to be fucking ruined."

The end of Natasha's sentence turned into a loud wail as Y/N's cock hit that sweet spot inside her, the one that made her see stars. Their huge hands were on her waist, pinning her to the bed as they fucked into her like she was nothing more than a toy for their pleasure. Her nails left bright red marks on their muscular back, marks Wanda wished so badly were her own.

Fortunately for her, she could tell that Natasha was close to cumming, and it would be her turn soon. Y/N reached down, rubbing the redhead's clit to finally push her over the edge. She moaned and writhed, screaming out Y/N's name, which sounded even louder now that there was no barrier. 

Y/N was panting and groaning as they felt Natasha cum, her tight walls clenching around their length, causing Y/N to cum, too. They growled, "Take my load. There's my good little slut." 

Their crude words made Wanda's sopping cunt clench around her fingers, she had now been fucking herself in time with Y/N's rhythm, another whimper escaping her lips as she imaged they were saying those words to her. Their focus remained on Natasha for the moment, making sure all of their cum was inside her before they turned back to Wanda, slowly standing up and walking over to where she was.

Wanda was an absolute mess, and Y/N couldn't get enough of it. Her legs were spread, two fingers buried deep in her soaked pussy, her juices dripping down onto the chair. She was sweating, her nipples hard and needy, and her face was streaked with the eyeliner that was so perfect only an hour ago. 

Y/N reached down, taking her free hand and guiding her over to the bed. "You're such a needy thing, baby. I know, it must have been hard having to watch Natty get what you desperately needed, but since you were a good girl, now it's your turn."

Wanda could only squeak out a small "thank you," her mind was mostly mush at this point. Natasha had scooted over so that she was sitting on the edge of the bed, leaving plenty of space in the center where Y/N guided Wanda to lay down, making sure that her head was resting comfortably on the pillows. 

Natasha reached over, brushing some stray hairs from Wanda's face as Y/N slowly began to touch her, trailing their hands along her curves, occasionally cupping her breasts or rubbing her nipples. "Tell me what you need, Wanda. How do you want me to make you feel good?"

Wanda could barely speak; her mind was already fuzzy, and that in combination with the man she had spent months yearning for being on top of her had her brain short circuiting. Her eyes darted between Natasha and Y/N, and once Natasha reached down to squeeze her hand in support, she was finally able to mumble, "I want your cock. I want you to fuck me."

Hearing such dirty words from the shy girl made Y/N shiver, and it took all their strength to not just ram right into Wanda right then. They leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Wanda's neck as their began to rub their cock through her folds, just like they did with Natasha before.

God, Wanda was so wet. They let out a deep groan, their tip hitting her clit, making her squeal. She was already so sensitive. They continued to kiss along her face and neck, mumbling as they got close to her ear, "You're soaked, pretty girl. You're eager for my cock, huh?"

Wanda nodded, since she could barely speak, whimpering out a choked syllable that sounded like "yes." Her hips were already bucking up to meet their cock, and they hadn't even entered her yet. 

Natasha giggled at the sight, one of her hands reaching down to feel Wanda's folds. She let out a gasp of faux surprise as she felt the extent of Wanda's arousal, immediately coating her fingers. The redhead's voice was sexily condescending as she spoke, "Oh, my. She's practically begging you for it. You wouldn't let a girl this needy stay empty, would you, daddy?"

Y/N growled at the way Natasha teased them, lining up their cock so that the head was notched at Wanda's entrance. Wanda whimpered from just that first initial contact, and let out a scream as they began to push in. They were so thick, she already felt completely stretched just from the tip. "I-is it all in, daddy?" 

Y/N let out a low laugh, and Natasha leaned in, letting out a patronizing cooing sound. She took Wanda's hand in her own, giving Wanda something to squeeze. The older woman kissed Wanda to distract her from the feeling of being stretched and mumbled against her lips, "Not even halfway, sweetie. But you can do it. I know it's a biiiiiig stretch, but you can be a good girl for daddy, right?"

Wanda nodded, squeezing Natasha's hand tightly and leaning into her kisses to help ease the stretch. She looked back up at Y/N, whimpering, "D-don't stop, daddy. I can take it. I promise."

Y/N smirked, continuing to push in, their hands going up to massage Wanda's hips and stomach to further relax her. "Good girl, baby. Just relax. Focus on me and Natty."

Wanda felt Y/N bottom out inside her, a sweet little whimper escaping her lips as their tip bumped against her cervix. Y/N's hand went to gently press down on the outline their cock made in her abdomen, making her squirm even more. Natasha smiled, squeezing Wanda's hand and lathering praise onto her, "There you go, baby. You took it all. We're so proud of you."

Y/N nodded, leaning down to leave some marks on Wanda's neck as they began to deliver just the smallest of thrusts, pulling back ever so slightly before pushing all the way in again. "Mhmmm, you're all full of me now, princess. You're doing such a good job."

Wanda bit her lip, the sensations of Y/N's cock inside her, their frame looming over her, and Natasha's hands beginning to travel along her body all becoming so overwhelming. She let out a wail as Natasha pinched her nipple, looking back up at Y/N as she spoke, '"P-please fuck me, daddy. D-do what you did to Natty. I wanna make you feel good…"

Y/N smirked, their big hands going to Wanda's arms, and slowly pinning them above her head. The girl easily surrendered control, so deep into her submission that she never would have protested. They then began to deliver slightly bigger thrusts, pulling out until only half of their cock was inside her before pushing back in. The longer strokes had Wanda's hips bucking up to meet theirs, mumbling, "Faster, daddy. Please."

Y/N couldn't say no to that needy tone, so they delivered, quickening the pace so that they were now consistently drilling Wanda, the younger woman's eyes rolling back in her head from the sheer pleasure. 

Now that she was all stretched and worked up, Y/N knew they didn't have to hold back anymore. They glanced over at Natasha, who gave them a nod of conformation, and they began to pound into Wanda like they did with the former only minutes ago. 

The fast pace had Wanda moaning and writhing, hands itching to hold onto something, but loving the way Y/N kept her pinned down and dominated. She felt her clit throb whenever Y/N bottomed out, the patch of hair at the base of their cock brushing against it and sending shocks through her. 

Natasha wasn't making it any easier for her, the older woman's touches only made Wanda more sensitive. Her hands were all over Wanda's breasts, kneading them and gently pinching her nipples, earning more whimpers from her. When her hands weren't on her breasts, they were gently, sensually running along her body, heightening every sensation the younger woman was feeling. 

As Y/N continued to fuck her, they felt her pussy clenching more and more, her body tensing up, and her moans getting louder and more frequent. They knew she was close. They looked over at Natasha, murmuring, "Our girl is about to cum. Why don't you help push her over the edge?" 

Natasha smirked, her eyes going from Wanda's needy, glazed over ones to Y/N's devilish ones, murmuring, "It would be my pleasure."

Wanda was an absolute mess, bucking up to meet Y/N's thrusts, tears running down her face, and constantly incoherently babbling things that sounded like "Please" "Daddy" and "Fuck." Natasha knew exactly what would make Wanda cum, just a simple touch. She reached down, gently rubbing slow circles on Wanda's clit, and the response was instantaneous. 

Wanda let out a scream that they were sure was heard throughout the entire avengers compound, her walls clenching hard around Y/N's cock as they fucked her through her orgasm. Her body was trembling, her clit throbbing under Natasha's fingers as she squirted, her juices coating Y/N's cock and Natasha's digits. Red tendrils of magic were even emanating from her hands, a sign that she was feeling one of the most intense sensations she'd ever felt.

Wanda's orgasm sent Y/N over the edge, growling, "Fuck, here it comes!" as they hilted inside her, pushing as deep as possible before letting go, their cum leaking from their cock and coating Wanda's insides. The feeling of their load seeping into her had Wanda wailing, "Daddy!" at that same loud volume, her body clearly overstimulated. 

Y/N and Natasha were gentle with her now. Y/N pulled out slowly, ignoring Wanda's babble that she could take more. They all knew she couldn't. Y/N laid beside her, letting go of her hands and beginning gently massaging her. "Baby, you did so well. You took my cock like an absolute pro."

Natasha went to Wanda's other side, giving her gentle, loving kisses as she praised her, "You looked so beautiful, love. You made us both so proud."

Wanda, for her part, was completely fucked out. Her brain was just now coming back to her; it had been so fuzzy before, and now, she was back in the moment. She nuzzled close to both of them, wanting to feel their bodies against hers in the aftermath of such an intense moment. She sighed, murmuring, "Thank you both. I… I've never felt so good. That was amazing."

Natasha and Y/N exchanged a look, a smirk that confirmed this definitely wasn't just going to be a one time thing. Natasha pressed a kiss over one of the marks Y/N left on Wanda's neck as she said, "You were amazing. Now let's get you cleaned up."

Y/N nodded in agreement, picking Wanda up and carrying her towards the bathroom, the place where this night had started. They sat her down on the edge of the bathtub, running the water as they spoke. "Natty's right. We need to get you all cleaned up. After your training with Steve tomorrow, you better be ready for round two."

Natasha holds the cookie up, feeling guilty as your bottom lip trembles. “All you have to say is ‘cookie please Mama’. Or even just ‘cookie please’. Hell, even just ‘cookie’. Please baby? For Mama?”

Your eyes water as you stare helplessly at her, opening and close your mouth. Natasha feels even worse and she sighs, handing you the cookie, “It’s okay baby, you tried. Have your cookie, it’s okay. I’m not mad, I know you did your best.”

Natasha watches as you walk dejectedly to the couch with your cookie, feeling even worse at the way your shoulders have slumped. When she’d adopted you four years ago you’d been a little chatterbox – you wanted to tell her absolutely everything, no matter how mundane. At times it had been difficult, especially if Natasha was working on something at home or if she just wanted five minutes peace, but now she’d give anything to just hear your voice again.

Seven months ago you’d stopped talking. Natasha had done everything to try and get to the bottom of why but the only explanation the Doctors could come up with was that you were anxious, though no one was sure what had brought it on. You’d simply woken up one morning and hadn’t said a word since. Every day Natasha wracks her brains, trying to remember if anything had happened the night before, a sign that you were suddenly going to stop talking. There’s nothing though, nothing that's obvious to Natasha.

She’d started sending you to speech therapy but that hadn’t yielded any results so far. Every day she tried to encourage you to say something, anything, but quickly caves when she sees the worried look on your face. Natasha wasn’t about to withhold things from you just because you couldn’t talk. It was obvious just from the look on your face that you were trying. Forcing you would surely only make you more anxious.

Natasha is particularly worried about tomorrow though – it’s your birthday. And despite her asking, you haven’t been able to communicate what you’d like to do. You won’t even write things down for her which can make trying to figure out what you want or need very difficult. Natasha sighs as she heads into the living room, sitting down next to you and pulling you into her lap as you finish your cookie.

“I love you so much,” Natasha mumbles, kissing the top of your head. “It’s okay if you can’t talk. You’ll start talking again when you’re ready. No rush.” You lean your head on your shoulder and Natasha smiles, running her hand up and down your back. “You’re my baby and I love you so much. You’re going to have a great birthday tomorrow. I have an idea that I think will work. Just you wait.”

The next morning you climb out of bed and cross the hall to climb into Natasha’s bed. Despite your lack of speech Natasha can see that you’re practically vibrating with excitement. She smiles lazily, wrapping an arm around you and kissing your forehead, “Happy Birthday kiddo. Nine years old, practically a grown up.”

She tickles your sides and you squeal with laughter, trying to squirm out of her grasp. Natasha grins too before sitting up, “So I thought you could have a special breakfast today. And since you can’t tell me what you want… I have an idea.”

Natasha dips her hand into her bedside drawer, pulling out two pieces of paper. “Remember that TikTok trend I showed you? Well I thought we could do it today as a fun little treat. On each piece of paper I’ve written down something you’d like for breakfast and you’ll blindly pick one. And we could do that all day. Does that sound fun?”

You nod enthusiastically, remembering the TikTok trend that Natasha had shown you a while ago. Natasha holds up the two cards and you look between them both for a long moment before reaching out and plucking one out of her hand. The card says ‘chocolate chip pancakes’ and you squeal with excitement. Natasha grins at your enthusiasm, glad that she’d thought of this. It had taken a while to think of things to put on the cards and sometimes she’d doubted you’d even like this idea but now she can see that she’s struck gold.

Once you’re both dressed Natasha makes you the chocolate chip pancakes, adding two candles to the top of them and singing to you as she brings them to the table. You blow them out, making a wish in your head, and then Natasha lets you add as much syrup as you want – it’s your birthday after all.

After breakfast you spend some time opening your presents. Natasha is always surprised by the mountain of presents that you receive – all the Avengers love spoiling you as much as she does. You spend a long time admiring each and every gift you receive, clearly thrilled with all of them. Once everything’s open it’s time to pick another card so Natasha holds them up again, laughing as you spend a long time debating the two. Eventually you pluck one from her hand that reads ‘Carnival.’ You squeal with excitement all over again and begin jumping around the room.

Natasha manages to rein in your joy just enough to get you into the car. The other option had been ‘Movie Theatre’ which would’ve made for a quieter day but Natasha is glad you picked the carnival card. She’d already done some research on a carnival that was in town for the day so she knows where to go. “We’re going to have such a great day,” Natasha says, reaching over to ruffle your hair.

At the carnival Natasha produces more cards throughout the day. Your snack ends up being cotton candy, Natasha tries hard to win you a stuffed giraffe and eventually manages it, you ride all of the rides including the water ones because it’s a warm day. For lunch you pull a card that says ‘burger’, so Natasha gets you a burger with fries from one of the food stalls, along with a banana milkshake. Natasha’s thought of quite a few card ideas to keep you going throughout the day, taking the pressure off you – not only do you not have to decide anything, you also don’t have to say anything.

Natasha can’t remember the last time she saw you so excited, so happy. It makes her heart warm every time she looks over at your beaming face. Natasha had never taken you to a fairground or theme park before and she’s impressed that you’re so eager to ride everything. As the sun begins to set you start to yawn, rubbing your eyes and Natasha lifts you into her arms to carry you back to the car, your giraffe stuffie held tight in your arms as you lean your head on her shoulder.

You fall asleep in the car, clearly exhausted from the fun day at the carnival. Natasha smiles as she glances over at you, the radio playing low in the background. Although you haven’t spoken a word, Natasha can tell that you’ve had a good day.

You stir a little as Natasha carries you into the apartment, your eyes lighting up when you see the pile of presents you’d opened this morning as if you’d half-expected them to disappear. Natasha kisses your cheek, helping you into your pyjamas and then sitting down on your bed, smoothing out your bed sheets. “Shall we have a story?” Natasha asks. “I didn’t do any cards for your bedtime stories but you can always pick one out-”

“Mama?”

Natasha’s gaze immediately snaps to you when she hears your tiny voice. She can hardly believe that she’s finally heard you speak after praying to hear your voice for so long. Her hand finds yours and she gives it a gentle squeeze as she tries to keep her voice even, “Yeah baby?”

“I- I had a really great birthday,” You say quietly. “Thank you for taking me to the carnival.”

Natasha smiles, not wanting to push her luck but wanting to keep you talking, wanting to hear as much of your voice as possible. “Yeah? What was your favourite part?”

You pause and Natasha’s heart sinks, worried that you’re done now but eventually you manage to say, “I liked the log flume.”

“Yeah? I liked it too, there was such a big splash and we got soaked.” Natasha smiles fondly. “And I liked seeing you so happy. I had a really nice day too.”

“I liked picking the cards,” You say. “And I like my new giraffe.”

“What are you gonna call him?”

You think again for a moment, “This one should be called Tony.”

Natasha grins and rolls her eyes affectionately. You always name your stuffed animals after people you know. There are a couple named after kids in your class then you have a Clint, Yelena and a Steve. Natasha leans over to kiss your forehead, “I love you so much.”

“Love you too Mama.”

Natasha doesn’t say anything about the fact that you’re speaking, not wanting to break the spell, not wanting to make you feel self-conscious. But hearing those three words after so many months brings tears to her eyes and she leans forward to wrap her arms around you, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “Happy Birthday baby. I’m really, really glad you had a good day.”

You wrap your arms around her neck and kiss her cheek. “You’re the best Mama ever.”

It had been the strangest week of the Maximoff siblings’ lives. They’d gone from hating Tony Stark to fighting alongside him and the rest of the Avengers, to doing their best to save their fellow citizens from annihilation, to destroying an AI that they’d nearly sided with. Perhaps the strangest part though was the kid waiting for them on the helicarrier.

Pietro had spotted you during the first stage of evacuations, back when the city was still on the ground. He’d recognised you instantly, having had a few run in’s with you back in his and Wanda’s protesting days. Unlike them, you hadn’t been arrested as far as Pietro was aware. Whenever the police started to break up the riots and make arrests, you’d darted through the crowd and disappeared before anyone could even blink. Pietro and Wanda had talked about you often at the time, the angry kid who always seemed to be alone at the protests.

They’d talked to you on a couple of occasions but you’d been cagey, avoiding most of their questions. It had taken them a lot of pestering for them just to get your name out of you. Any personal questions you mostly ignored but you’d been happy to talk to them about the protests, about your hatred for Stark and the Avengers. “Y/N!” Pietro had called out when he spotted you.

It had been a few months since the twins had seen you, having not been back to Novi Grad since they’d volunteered for Hydra’s experimentation. Pietro was surprised to find you scrounging through trash cans, your face dirty, looking like you’d lost weight. When you whipped around you’d glared at him fiercely and he’d grinned, holding his hands up, “Come on. We’re friends, right?”

“No,” You’d retorted instantly. “Where have you been anyway?”

Pietro had grinned, “Undercover work. Look what I can do now.” He’d shown off his super speed and had been unable to stop himself from laughing at the unimpressed look on your face. “Listen, you need to get out of here, it’s not safe.”

“Yeah right. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Kid, the Avengers are here. We’re evacuating the whole city, you can’t stay.”

You’d narrowed your eyes at him, “You’re here with the Avengers? With Stark?”

“He’s- It’s not- Just trust me, okay?”

“Traitor,” You’d retorted, darting off into the city. This time, Pietro was able to keep up with ease and he’d lifted you into his arms, ignoring the way you thrashed angrily. Hydra had kept the twins on a strict workout schedule over the past couple of months, and Pietro was stronger than ever, more than strong enough to pick you up.

Before he could take you to safety, Sokovia had lifted up into the clouds. Wanda had caught up with Pietro, surprised to find him holding onto you. “What are they still doing here?”

“They weren’t exactly easy to persuade,” Pietro had complained whilst you still thrashed angrily in his grasp.

Eventually the siblings had found you somewhere to hide whilst they fought, though of course you hadn’t stayed there. More than once Pietro had had to run you back to safety when your curiosity got the better of you. When the helicarriers had arrived and civilian evacuation had been the top priority again, the first person Pietro had dragged on board was you, telling you sternly not to go anywhere. Every time he suspected you were going to jump off, he’d whizz back over and force you back on board.

Now the fight is over, and Wanda and Pietro have boarded the helicarrier, finding you waiting for them. Gone is the grumpy, petulant expression on your face, replaced with what appears to be genuine worry. Wanda takes a seat next to you, “It’s okay-”

“The whole city’s just... Gone.” You mumble. “It’s not okay.”

“I know… I know, it was our home too,” Wanda says softly. “But everything will be okay.”

Pietro squats down in front of you, “Once we’re back on solid ground, we’ll help you find your parents, okay?” When you don’t look up, Pietro and Wanda exchange a glance, immediately understanding your silence. They used to get the same look on their faces if anyone questioned them about their parents. “You’re an orphan too… Aren’t you?”

You nod and Wanda sighs sympathetically, wrapping an arm around your shoulders, “Who’s been looking after you?”

When you don’t reply, Pietro raises his eye-brows, “Look kid, you can either tell us or you can tell Captain America when we land. Or maybe even Iron Man himself.”

With an irritated glare you finally mumble, “I’ve been looking after myself.”

It all falls into place. Why you’d always darted off whenever the police turned up to the protests, why you were so dirty, why you’d been scrounging around the garbage cans earlier… “Oh Y/N,” Wanda says quietly, holding you tighter. She’d always had a soft spot for you, the angry kid who was always at the protests come rain or shine. Realising that you’d been fending for yourself for so long now made her feel even more protective of you.

“You don’t have any family who would take you in?” Pietro asks.

You shake your head. All you’d ever had was Novi Grad, the busy capital of Sokovia. You’d known the streets like the back of your hand – you’d known where to find food when you were desperate, the best spots to sleep in which weather, which areas to avoid. Now you have nothing. Just how you’d felt when Stark’s bombs had fallen all those years ago.

Pietro and Wanda exchange glances again, and when the helicarrier does finally land, Wanda keeps hold of your hand as you all climb off. Both of twins wait awkwardly for more information, not really sure where they stand now or what their place is. Eventually Steve comes over, telling them they’re all heading home and that the twins should come back to the compound with them. “We could use people like you on our side. And you'll be safe with us.”

When Steve casts his gaze to you, you look down at the ground, partially hiding behind Wanda. Pietro just smiles easily, “Oh we didn’t tell you about our younger sibling? If we’re going to America, they have to come too.”

Your eyes are wide as you follow the twins to the helicarrier, clinging tightly to Wanda’s hand. You’ve never flown before in your life – you’ve never owned a passport or left Sokovia in fact. You squeeze Wanda’s hand as the helicarrier lifts off the ground, and Pietro places a reassuring hand on your shoulder. It’s only once you’re used to the motion that you pull away from them both, folding your arms, “Why did you say I was your sibling?”

“So that you’d have somewhere to live, neumen,” Pietro says. “You wanna keep eating out of garbage cans?”

“I’m not your sibling,” You insist stubbornly.

“Okay but we couldn’t just tell them you were some random kid from the streets, could we?” Wanda says, trying to take your hand back in hers, flinching when you snatch it away. “They would’ve called the social, and you’d have gone into the system, something we’re pretty sure you were trying to avoid.”

You’re stuck on what to say for a moment because that’s true enough. You’d managed to avoid the police and social services all this time, the last thing you wanted was to be handed over by Tony Stark of all people. Your face is still set in a stubborn frown, “I don’t want to live with the Avengers.”

“Too bad kid, you don’t have much choice,” Pietro says, ruffling your hair and grinning when you swat his hand away. “You’re stuck with us for now.”

You stubbornly ignore them for the rest of the long flight but when the Quinjet lands, you can’t help reaching out for Wanda’s hand again, hiding behind her as you’re all lead into the compound. Wanda squeezes your hand reassuringly, feeling a little overwhelmed herself but trying her best to be strong for you. At least she’s been to the compound before, and she generally knows the Avengers – this must be even more overwhelming for you. She can see it in the way you shrink back, glaring furiously when Tony walks just slightly too close to you.

Pietro and Wanda are assigned bedrooms right opposite each other, with you being given the room next to Wanda. None of you has many belongings so Pietro puts a comforting hand on your shoulder, “It’ll look more like your room soon. We’ll fill it with things you like.”

You shrug his hand off your shoulder and mumble moodily, “I don’t know what I like.”

“That’s okay,” Wanda says positively. “We’ll figure it out together.”

Her heart only swells with protectiveness as she sees the defiant look on your face. Behind all that bravado was the kid who’d clung to her hand like their life depended on it, the one who’d stared out the window of the Quinjet marvelling at how high up you all were, who was clearly terrified to be somewhere unfamiliar.

“We could show you around the compound,” Pietro says. “Not that we really know our way around but we could explore.”

“That would be fun!” Wanda says with a smile. “We can figure out all the best hiding spots and- Oh, Y/N.”

Both of the twins are surprised to find tears rolling down your cheeks, and Wanda sits on the edge of your bed, pulling you into her lap. Pietro squats down in front of you like he had on the helicarrier, “Start talking, otrok. What’s bothering you?”

You sniffle, quickly trying to swipe at the tears on your face but you make no attempt to climb up from Wanda’s lap. Wanda pats your back, gently rocking you, “You can tell us. Maybe we can help.”

You shake your head, “You can’t help. It’s too late.”

“Too late? Is it your parents?” Pietro asks. “Our parents died too, we know-”

You give another shake of your head; “No, it... I used to have a twin too. A brother. He perished with my parents. It was like a piece of me just- A part of me- It just-”

You cut yourself off with a sob and Wanda wraps her arms tighter around you, trying to imagine how she’d feel if Pietro died. She can’t even begin to imagine it but she knows it’d be how you’d tried to describe it. Like a piece of her very soul had been ripped out. Wanda has always been a twin – she was born a twin and she’ll die a twin. Pietro is the only person that Wanda has ever been certain that she can trust. She doesn’t even want to think about the possibility of not having him around.

“What was his name?” Wanda eventually asks.

“Luka,” You say quietly. “It’s not fair! I don’t want to be alone anymore… But I don’t want to replace him either.”

Understanding passes over Pietro’s face, “We didn’t mean… We don’t want to replace him. That wasn’t our intention, I’m sorry.”

“I know it wasn’t,” You say. “I like you both; I liked seeing you at the protests. But now you’re with the Avengers and I’m in America and everything’s weird and- And- There’s nothing linking me to my brother anymore.”

You cry harder and Wanda closes her eyes, feeling your pain like it’s her own. “It’s a lot,” She says. “We know it’s a lot. But the Avengers are good. Tony is… He’s not the person we thought he was.”

“We can find a way to bring a piece of your brother here,” Pietro says. “We could… Plant something for him maybe. Anything that you want, we’ll figure it out.”

You nod hesitantly, “Yeah… Yeah, okay.”

“We’re not replacing your twin,” Wanda says softly. “We’re older than you; we’ll be your big brother and sister if you’ll let us. Only if you let us.”

“It’s hard,” You whisper.

“We know,” Pietro says. “Me and Wanda have been alone for so long, when Captain America approached us… We didn’t want to join him. And it’s harder for you; you’ve been completely on your own for so long.”

“We’re all still kids,” Wanda says. “We all need to let someone take care of us for a while. Steve is really nice, I promise. And I bet the others are nice too.”

“Even Stark?” You ask sceptically.

“Even Stark,” Pietro says. “I think so anyway.”

You still hesitate but you can’t deny that the thought of having two older siblings to look out for you is appealing. No one’s touched you at all in years – Wanda’s arms around you feel foreign but not unwelcome. The thought of sleeping in this room, in a comfortable bed, instead of your usual spots on the street is an appealing one and you yawn, the stress of the day catching up with you. Pietro looks around for something you can wear as pyjamas, just for tonight, whilst Wanda continues to gently rock you in her arms. “Will you stay in here with me?” You ask quietly. “This place is too big, I might get lost when I wake up.”

Wanda nods immediately, “Yeah. Yeah I can stay here with you.”

Clint smirks, he knows he shouldn't. “Kids got your mouth, Nat.”

“Hey, don't look at me. I didn't say anything. Blame JARVIS. It was the AI, yeah,” Tony mutters defensively.

“We were concerned—” Bruce starts.

“Oh Asgard,” Thor interrupts. “Honesty is a virtue. I merely suggested that Lady Natasha may wish to know the exploits of her daughter.”

Natasha finally speak, her voice calm but with a knife-like edge. “You're grounded by the way.”

“Seriously?!” you spin, turning to face her. “After everything you taught me? Oh my God, I didn't even throw the first punch!”

Natasha's eyes narrow. “Arguing with teachers, sneaking out to parties, putting yourself at risk...that's not what I taught you. I taught you to defend yourself, not self destrut.”

The air in the room tightened. You could feel every Avenger watching, half-amused, half-sympathetic. Clint whistled low under his breath. Steve rubbed the back of his neck. Bruce coughed. Tony mouthed 'ouch'.

“I'm not self destructing, I'm living! I'm sixteen, you can't spy on me forever!“

Natasha steps closer, her eyes narrowing again. “I'm not spying, I'm protecting you. You're not a soldier, Y/N. You're my kid. And one day, when your older, you'll understand the difference.”

“Fir Gods sake! God forbid I'm just being a kid!”

“I know. I was your age too, I know what making mistakes feels like—”

“No,” you interrupt. “You don't! What do you know about being a kid! You never were one! You don't know anything about being a kid or having a normal childhood, so why are you trying to control mine like they controlled your!” you snap. Shit. You immediately regret the words the second they came out, but anger, stubbornness prevent you from apologising, or even just looking regretful.

The room goes silent. Thor stops smiling. Bruce looks like he wants to disappear. Even Tony and Clint can't crack a joke or something sarcastic.

Natasha doesn't yell. Maybe that makes it worse, because god you wish she would. Thad make it easier. “Get out.” she says, her voice icy.

“Mom—”

“Nat—” Steve tries to reason.

“Get out.” she repeats, her voice too calm, too steady for comfort. Icily cold. You stand in front of her a moment, frozen. You hated that tone. The one that screamed 'i'm not angry,, just disappointed.' You think that makes it worse. For the first time in your life, she doesn't look angry. She looks wounded.

“Fine,” you snap, storming out of the front door of the tower, grabbing a jacket off the hook. Her jacket.

The streets of New York are cold. That kind of night time air that chills you to the bone. You slide her jacket over your arms, wrapping them around your waist. The streets are fairly empty now, most people already home from work and school. Streetlights blink lazily above you as you walk, protesting the dark night.

In a local park, you find a bench. Brown painted wood, though chipping in most places. Normally, there'd be dozens of kids running around playing in the park, or tag or chasing each other on bikes. Not now though. Most kids were asleep, dreaming, not outside because they shouted something unforgivable at their mother. You sigh, slouching back against the bench. “Fucking idiot...”

The night is calm around you, quiet save for the buzzing and humming of insects in the grass. It's peaceful, you can feel yourself calming down as you sit back on the bench.

Something is off though. Like the darkness is watching you. You sit up slightly, turning your head to look behind you. Nothing. Just your imagination. The hair on the back of your neck don't settle, still raised like a sixth sense. You flip around again, eyes searching the brush behind the bench. Scanning...nothing again. But suddenly, in your peripherals as you turn around again, you catch movement. Not big, not obvious. Small, careful, hidden movements, coming closer and closer to you.

You stay forzen for a moment, checking. It could just be an elderly lady, slowly taking a late night walk. Or a small, scared kid who'd played too hard at the park and got lost from their parents. Or even a single parent, tired but trying to get home from a late shift to see their children. You try desperately to tell yourself that's all it it, but deep down you know it's unlikely.

The shadow gets closer, closer still. Moving definitely towards the bench, not along the path. You're suddenly aware of how empty the park is. No dog walkers. No traffic. No voices. Just you.You barely manage to linge forwards off the bench as a gloved hand flies towards where your head was. Shit. You duck again, spinning back towards the person.

“You're coming with us,” the person hisses. Female. The woman leaves the shadows slightly, black leather jumpsuit shining slightly in the warm, flickering streetlight.

“I'm not going anywhere—” you're cut off as the woman lungers again, forcing you to drop to the ground to avoid her arms. Controlled, you notice. Clearly knows what she's doing. Shit.

The hand shoots toward you. You stumble back so quickly your heel catches on the bench. The figure keeps coming. Wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Your heartbeat slams against your ribs. You shove at them and try to bolt, but your legs feel clumsy, heavy with panic.

"Get off me!" you snap, the words coming out far thinner than you meant. Not angry at all. Suddenly this isn't some stranger in a park. This is danger. And all you can think is, I want my mom.

A pair of arms wrap around your waist before you can escape, pulling you against her front. One hand moves up to force your jaw up, your breathing heavy, heart pounding in your ears, jaw, head. You slam your elbow backwards. The woman grunts. You wrench free for half a second and run. Three steps. That's all you get before something catches your ankle and sends you crashing onto the pavement. "Stubborn," the woman mutters, hauling you upright. "Just like her."

The woman forces you to walk forwards with her, towards a cul-de-sac nearby. Empty, isolated. Shit. You grunt as she forces you forwards again, towards a large dark shadow pulled up at the side of the road. Something slides open. “Get off me,” you snap, trying to sound braver than you feel.

“Shutbup, girl. You're coming back home,” she hisses back, continuing closer and closer to whatever has slid. Was that a van?

“I am home—”

“Shut. Up.”

You do, remaining silent, until you're shoved forwards into the back of a van, the woman tying your hands behind you back before sliding the door shut again. Shit.

The engine hums, vibrating beneath you. You manage to manuveur yourself to sit up. You whimper slightly as the rough driving shoves you into the wall, banging your shoulder.

You need your mom.

Your phone, shoved in your hoodie pocket, isn't exactly an easy reach. Your tied hands grasp desperately at your hoodie, trying to tug the pocket round so you can slide your phone out. A small thud on the metal flooring. Your hands fumble around for where it dropped until they find something small and rectangular. Your fingers work numbly to type in your pin number. Your neck ached from craning it almost behind you to allow your hands to use the phone.

Finally, finally, you press on Natasha's number. Mama ♡︎

The phone rings. Once. “Come on...”

Twice. “Mom..pick up ”

A third time. “Please.”

Nothing.

Natasha watches it ring, taking another swig from her bottle of vodka. The towers flat roof is quiet, just the wind blowing past her routinely. The vodka burns going down. Good. Her phone buzzes again.

Detka is calling...

Her thumb hovers over the green button. She lets it ring. She can't do this tonight because you were both angry and he can't bare to hear your voice now, angry and defensive, calling her controlling.

“Please, mom...” you whisper, eyes glued to the 'calling Mama ♡︎...' on the screen. The call ends. You try a text, fingers moving slowly across the keyboard.

'Mim'

No reply. Not even read by Natasha.

'wuick'

Another sip of vodka burns down her throat. She'd heard worse.Had knives held to her throat. Been called a monster. 'You never were one.' That one stayed. Her phone vibrates. 2 missed calls. 3 text messages.

'Mim'

'wuick'

'please'

Natasha sighs. You weren't even bothering to apologise, yet you were begging her to reply to you? Her jaw clenches. “I can't deal with this right now...” she mutters, running her hands down her face. Besides, you were fine. Maybe you'd dropped your phone.Maybe you were drunk at some stupid party.

The fourth text buzzes through — 'hekp'

What the hell does that mean?, Natasha wonders. Her brain dismissed it at first. Then it rearranged itself. Help. Help? Why would you be asking for help? Because if you just wanted her to apologise for telling you to leave, you had another thing coming. But something knaws at her, low in her stomach. What if you weren't just texting bullshit for the sake of it? What if you really did need help?

“JARVIS,” she says quickly the second she's back inside. “Track my daughter. Now.”

“Y/N Romanoff is moving rapidly near the local park, Ms Romanoff,” the AI responds.

“Shit,” she mutters, grabbing her keys off the counter, pressing her phone to her ear again as she calls you. “Come on...”

Two rings. “Please, baby...”

On the bottom floor of the Tower, Natasha slings a leg over her motorcycle, clicking the key in the ignition. Third ring. “Come on, kid...pick up.”

She lets the bike idle under her for a minute, just hoping you'll pick up. Just as Natasha is about to hang up and set off, the line clicks.

“Y/N?” Natasha asks, holding the phone on her shoulder as she revs the bike.

“Mom...?” your voice whispers through, high pitched and chocked, like you were close to tears. You manage to maneuver your tied wrists under your body to the front of you, holding the phone closer to your ear. Natasha's heart shatters. Hearing her baby, her world, her daughter's voice break in fear like that? None of it matters anymore. Not the argument, or what you'd said or the vodka. None of it matters. Her baby sounds terrified.

“What's happening? What's 'help', baby? That's what you meant, right?” Natasha asks, pulling out of the garage.

Your voice shakes. “Mom I'm so scared, I— I don't...I don't know where I— I'm going a— and...”

“Come on, sweetheart...slow down. Breathe. You can't help me find you if you pass out, okay?”

“Okay...” you whisper, your breathing coming through the phone heavoly. You can hear Natasha's bike revving and swerving between other cars.

“Slowly. What happened, baby?”

“I— I was sitting, um...on a bench at the park, and...it was calm, and then— then some woman just um, just lunged at me and...and now I'm in a van...I'm scared, I'm so scared mom...”

“I know...I know darling. Just breathe. Nice, deep breaths for me,” Natasha replies calmly, wind whipping in the background. “Did you see what they looked like?”

“It— it was a woman...”

“Clothes?”

“I...I don't...” you hesitate.

Natasha sighs slightly. Her baby...you shouldn't have to be dealing with this. “Come on, malysh. Try for me.”

You pause, furrowing your brows in concentration. The van rattles around you, wrists starting to chafe at the restraints rubbing. “I think...like, a leather jumpsuit thing, um...black...kinda shiny..” You pause again. “Kinda looks like your Black Widow suit, actually..”

Natasha's heart skips a beat. That could not be good. Someone wearing a Widow suit could only be... Natasha's blood turns cold. Black leather. Controlled movements. A woman. Widow. “Shit.”

“What— shit what, what's shit? Mom?” your voice echoes through, more panicked now if that was possible.

“No ,nothing. Don't panic. listen to me. You're okay. I'm coming to get you. Do you hear me? I'm coming,” she replies. “I nerd you to do something for me, okay?”

“...okay.”

“You need to text Tony, and tell him to get JARVIS to send me directions to your location through Comms, okay?” she asks.

You nod, even though she can't see you. Shaky fingers click on Tony's name.

'nerd jarvis to grt mom locdtion over coms'

“He said thumbs up,” you murmur, tugging her jacket sleeves over your hands.

Natahsa keeps talking to you. Calm, collected. The way someone who's trained to be calm in every situation is. But deep down, she's panicking. Because you're her world. The one thing she never thought she'd be able to have.

Suddenly you shush her over the phone. “Shh! She's talking about you...”

From the front seat, you can hear the woman talking to an older lady. “The defected Widow's daughter. You have her?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“And she's in one piece?”

“Yes ma'am.”

Shit. Natasha thinks. This wasn't just a random coincidence. This was a targeted attempt to take her child from her.

“Next left, Nat,” Tony's voice comes through her comms, repeating JARVIS' instructions.

“Dont panic, don't panic baby. JARVIS is tracking you... we'll find you.”

“Mom?” you say after a moment. She hums. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean it, I was just...”

“I know. I know, baby. You were angry. I was angry too. When I was your age, and now.”

“I shouldn't,” you hiccup. “I shouldn't have left.”

"No, sweetheart. Listen to me. You could've walked out ten times tonight and none of this would've been your fault.”

“Nat, duck right through that park and you should be able to catch up with her.”

She swerves hard right, multiple cars honking angrily at her as she cuts them off. She doesn't care. Her daughter is being taken to the place Natasha was raised. They wanted her and took her daughter instead.

“I'm coming, detka. Hold on.”

The van suddenly swerves hard, throwing you uncontrollably face first into the metal walls of the van, your phone clattering to the floor from your loose grip. You hiss. “Agh...fuck...”

“What? What happened? Y/N? Answer me,” Natasha says quickly, ducking under branches and jumping the motorcycle over loose roots.

“Ow...my nose.”

Natasha's heart nearly stops. “Your nose?” she asks quickly. "Baby, are you bleeding?”

You sniff, touching your face with shaky fingers. “I...I think so. Not a lot. It just hurts.”

“Okay. That's okay. You're okay.” Her voice stays calm despite the fact she's gripping the handlebars hard enough that her knuckles are white. “Can you still hear me?”

"Yeah.”

“Good girl. Stay with me.”

The van rattles again. You pull her jacket sleeve over your hand and wipe under your nose. Your breathing is still shaky. “Mom?”

“I'm here.”

“I don't wanna go there.”

The words come out so small that they nearly break her. You're sixteen. Too old to sound like that. Too old to sound like a little kid. But you're scared. And all Natasha hears is her baby. “You're not going there,” she says firmly.

“You don't know where they are taking me.”

”No.” She swallows hard. “But I know you're coming home.”

Silence. “...Promise?”

Natasha's eyes sting. “I promise.”

A voice suddenly sounds from the front of the van. “She's still on the phone.”

You freeze. Natasha hears it too. The woman on comms sighs. "Take it.”

Your breathing picks up. “Mom—”

“I'm here.”

The van slows. The door handle rattles. “Mom—”

“Look at me, detka.”She knows you can't actually see her, but she keeps talking anyway. “Listen to my voice. I'm right here.”

The doors slide open. Cold air rushes inside. The woman appears.

Her eyes narrow at the sight of the phone. She reaches for it. You pull back instinctively. ”Mom—”

“Y/N.”

“I don't want—” you start.

“I know.”

The woman grabs your wrist. You gasp. Natasha hears it. Every protective instinct in her detonates.

“Do not touch my daughter.” The words come out low. Deadly. The woman pauses. The woman hesitates. Only for a second. A motorcycle bursts out from the tree line. Headlights flood the road. The Widow flinches. Natasha doesn't even wait for the bike to stop completely. She throws herself off it, boots hitting the pavement hard. "Mom!" you sob.

You have never been so happy to see anyone in your life. The woman recovers quickly, one hand still gripping your wrist. “Back off, Romanoff.”

Natasha goes terrifyingly still. “You know me?” she asks.

“Everyone knows you.”

Natasha's eyes flick over you. Your tied wrists. The blood beneath your nose. The way you're shaking. Something dark settles behind her expression. “Let. Her. Go.”

The woman straightens. “Orders.”

“I don't care.”

“They want you.”

"I know.” A pause. “Take me instead.”

You freeze. “Mom, no.”

Natasha doesn't look at you. The woman studies her carefully. ”You'd trade places?”

“Without hesitation.”

“Mom!”

Natasha finally glances at you. And the expression on her face nearly breaks you all over again. She's terrified. Not for herself. For you. “You don't ever have to be brave for me, detka,” she says softly. Tears spill down your face. “I can be brave enough for both of us.”

The woman frowns. “You really would do it.”

Natasha almost looks offended. “She's my daughter.”

Silence. Noise. Not police. Avengers.

Red and gold streaks overhead. A shadow lands beside Natasha. "Wow,” Tony says, looking between everyone. ”I leave for five minutes and suddenly we're doing kidnappings now?”

Another figure drops beside him. Steve. Then Clint. Then Thor. Then Hulk. The woman's grip on your wrist loosens. She knows she's lost.

Natasha notices immediately. She moves. One second she's standing several feet away. The next she's beside you. Her hand catches your face. “Hey. Hey, look at me.”

You can't stop crying. “I'm sorry," you choke out.

Natasha looks like you've punched her. "No.”

“I'm sorry I said—”

“No. Her hands move to your face properly now. “Not one word right now.”