#polyshipweek25

Polyship Week 2025 Alternate Prompts:

Accidental Child/Pet Acquisition

Body Image

Camping

Canon Polycule

Committing a Heist Together

Dating Same Person Separately

"Did you even read the Google calendar?!"

Draw the Squad

Dysfunction in the polycule

Entire polycule fell for/flirt with the same person

Fake Divorce

Family Traditions

Fishing

Frenemies in the polycule

Harmony

Heatwave

Hiding Birthday/Christmas presents from each other

Illness/Sickness

Large polycule with no threesomes/moresomes

Laundry room

Love-triangle rivals to lovers

Movie Night

Organised Crime AU

Out Of The Loop

Picnic

Poker Table Polyam

Polycule-wide Prank War

Queer Community

Relationship Anarchy

Road Trip

Someone joins the polycule

Trapped in a closet together

You open your mouth to say something, to assure her that it's not as bad as it looks or just that you're okay, but instead a raspy choking sound leaves you, and blood trickles down your lower lip. Natasha's heart hammers even harder at the sight, and she quickly moves the zipper of your uniform down, intent on getting a good look at the injury to try and do what she could in the meantime. But what she finds has a lump of pure dread building in her throat, because there's a gunshot wound to your chest, and its obvious you're loosing a lot of blood

"Oh god" she mutters, quickly bringing you into her lap and pressing her hand against the wound once more, making you flinch again

she's no stranger to the warmth and wetness of blood, more than she wants to remember has been on her hands over the years, but the feeling of yours seeping against her palm has her feeling nauseous. Sure this isn't the first time she's felt it, you've been injured before in training and on missions, leaving Wanda and her to patch you up. But this time, your injury was much worse.

When you look up at her through your teary eyes and you're distinctly aware that you've never seen her look so scared before. Not even when she had a nightmare of the Red Room. That fact alone is enough to make you realize that this is bad. And obviously getting shot is always bad, but this was real bad

"Hey, talk to me" she whispers, her voice almost drowned out by the sound of your own heartbeat in your ears

"It hurts…" you croak out, your voice sounding rough and raw

She nods her head and tries to blink back her tears, "I know it does, but evac is on the way, okay? They'll give you some pain meds and get you stable"

"Okay" you reply, letting out a breath that rattles your chest.

The blood loss is starting to get to you now, and you can feel your mind getting hazy and your body growing weaker. Natasha must feel it too because she suddenly presses more firmly against your wound.

"You're going to be okay" she says adamantly, and you're not sure if she's trying to assure herself or you

You do your best to nod but it ends up being just a jerky movement that makes your head spin. You try to put up a strong front for her sake though, "Wanda's gonna be so overprotective now"

Natasha smiles softly, making a few of her built-up tears roll down her cheeks, "And what makes you think I won't be?"

"You're already overprotective"

She lets out a small huff of acknowledgment, unable to argue with you. But the small humorous moment isn't enough to make her oblivious to you. She can see the light sheen of sweat on your forehead, the way your skin has paled, how your eyes are struggling to focus, how your grip on her wrist has loosened, and how your bleeding has only slowed but not stopped.

"Tasha" you call out lightly, pulling her attention away from her near spiraling thoughts, "I'm cold"

Those simple words make her go from feeling extreme worry to pure terror and her hand immediately shoots up to her comms again, "I need an ETA on that evac"

The same agent from before replies, "ETA is twenty minutes"

She swallows roughly and desperately tries to ignore the nagging voice at the back of her head that tells her you don't have that long, you need help now. Her hold tightens on you and her tears start to fall freely, "I need you to hang on a little longer, okay?"

The way her voice shakes has a knot forming in your stomach. You knew you weren't doing great, but getting the confirmation in the sound of your girlfriend's voice as she pleads for you to fight, well that hits harder than you anticipated. Tears streak down your cheeks then too and you try to swallow away the lump of unease in your throat

You use what little strength you have left to raise your free hand to her face. You gently trace the ridge of her nose with your finger, then the curve of her lip with your thumb before you cup her cheek. She takes a shuddering breath and leans into you touch, and she brings the hand not holding pressure on your wound up to your hand on her cheek

"I love you- "

"Don't" she interrupts, her voice cracking, "Don't act like this is the last time you'll say that. Don't act like this is the last time I'll hold you. Don't"

You can feel the way her body starts to tremble as she tries to hold in her emotions, and though you want to assure her that you'll be okay the reality is that you know you won't be. You can feel that much.

"Tasha" you whisper, shakily rubbing your thumb against her cheek

She shakes her head gently, "Don't"

"I love you" you tell her, "I love you Natasha"

"I love you too. I love you so much Y/n" she chokes out, her lip trembling as she speaks, "You mean so much to me, and to Wanda"

The thought of your other girlfriend being her tears at Natasha heart. This wasn't fair. She shouldn't be having to prepare her goodbyes to you, and she shouldn't have to be doing it alone. If it had to be this way, then Wanda should at least get the same chance she's getting. But life is cruel

"I know I do. And you both mean the world to me" you admit softly, your vision starting to blurry around the edges, "Please tell her I love her, please Tasha. She has to know"

"She already knows detka(baby)" Nat assures you, pressing your hand more firmly against her cheek, "But I promise, I'll tell her"

Your breathing becomes even more ragged and you start to struggle to talk, "Don't….don't let her….see this…she'll want…want to know….but….don't"

Natasha shakes her head, agreeing that this sight isn't something the Sokovian needs to see. Natasha herself wishe's she wasn't seeing it, wishe's it wasn't real, wishe's it was a cruel trick. But she knows it isn't. And she also knows she won't look away from you. She loves you too much to let you suffer alone, even if this is killing her

"Please stay with me" she whimpers, pulling you closer, "Please"

Your chest rattles again as you take another breath and you start to cough. Your whole body shakes with the force of them and blood starts to spill past your lips. Your unfocused eyes widen as you gasp and choke on your own blood

"Shh" Natasha coos through her sobs as she lets go of your hand on her cheek in order to softly rub your head, letting her fingers work through your tangled hair, "I've got you, just breathe detka(baby)"

Your body trembles in her hold and your mouth opens as if you're going to say something, but then suddenly, your body goes completely slack in her hold. Natasha breath catches in her throat and her eyes desperately scan you for any sign of life. But she finds none

"Y/n?" she calls out desperately as her hand cups your face, "Hey, come on. Don't you do this. Wake up"

But you don't. You continue to lay limp in her hold, your eyes wide open and yet seeing nothing. A violent sob tears out of her throat and she finally lets go of your wound in order to wrap both her arms around you. She holds you tightly in her shaking grasp and nuzzles her cheek against the top of your head

"No no no, please" she begs through her sobs, "please don't go, please"

You of course don't answer, and this only makes her break further. And eventually, after an uncertain amount of time, she hears the Shield agent tell her that evac has arrived. It's almost enough to make her spiral.

When the evac receives no word from Natasha, Clint is called over comms to help. When he finds her holding you, cradling your body as she cries, he knows it's too late. And his heart breaks for his best friend

"Nat?" he calls out softly, not wanting to startle her while in such a vulnerable state

She only lets out a whimper in response and he quickly approaches, kneeling down next to her and rubbing her shoulder. She practically throws herself and you into his arms

"Oh honey." he whispers, not knowing what he could possibly say

She lets out a choked sob and presses her head against his shoulder, "she's gone….I couldn't….I couldn't stop the bleeding"

He looks down and can tell by the amount of blood on the ground, on Natasha and on you that the injury was somewhere vital enough that she never stood a chance in doing so. Not without medical equipment

"You did everything you could Nat" he assures her

"But it wasn't enough" she whimpers, "I lost her"

"I'm so sorry Natasha." He sighs, but a large boom in the distance brings him back to the present. The rest of the team is still busy fighting, and he had to get Natasha out of potential danger, "Come on, we need to get you two to the evac quinjet"

At first Natasha doesn't see the point, you're already gone and there's nothing they can do about that. But she knows she has to get you back home, back to Wanda. Even if the thought of facing your other girlfriend without you by her side and telling her that your smile, laugh or touch would never brighten their days again has her already nauseous stomach lurching. She keeps your body cradled in her arms, close against her chest as she rises to her feet and almost stoicly starts walking to to quinjet. Clint obviously knows its a front, shock and numbness shielding her from the harsh reality. So he follows close beside her, keeping his hand on the small of her back to help support her as she carries the weight of your loss the entire way to the jet

As they walk up the ramp she does her best to ignore the pity filled stares of the medics and walks your limp body over to the stretcher they had prepared for you. She hesitates for a moment, not quite ready to let you go yet, but Clint's hand on her shoulder prompts her to set you down. She gently situates you in a position that you would've felt comfortable in before stepping away and taking a seat directly across from you. She knows you're gone, knows you won't call out for her, but she refuses to be far from you.

Her hands shake as she fumbles to buckle herself in, and despite the tears streaming down her cheeks she manages to hold herself together. Clint sits down beside her as the medics and crew get ready for takeoff. One of the medics, just wanting to be thorough, comes over to you and checks for a pulse. And Natasha knows he won't find one, she felt your last breath leave you, had felt you go limp. She knows he won't find anything. But when the medic drops his head with a sigh and walks away from you, she can't contain the soul crushing grief

The sound that escapes her is unlike anything Clint has ever heard her make. And while that's absolutely understandable, it also shakes him to his core. He does his best to comfort her, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close, but he knows there's nothing he can truly offer. There's no comfort to be had when going through a loss like this

The flight home feels almost endless for Natasha. For nearly an hour she has fluctuated through multiple emotions. Dread of facing Wanda alone, anger at the universe and of course Hydra for taking you from her, and of course deep sadness at your loss. She has cried more than she ever thought possible, to the point that her throat is sore and her eyes are red. she's experienced grief before, but nothing this profound.

As the quinjet approaches the tower she does her best to pull herself together. Not because she's afraid of being seen as weak by being emotional, but because she knows that right now she has to be strong for Wanda. They can both break down later, together in the solace of their room. But Wanda will need a rock right now when she learns of your fate, and she intends to be that rock

At the tower, Wanda nervously awaits the arrival of the quinjet. When the evac call went out for you she had been notified immediately, and was understandably worried about your condition. The radio silence since then has only made her anxiety grow, and her mind has been swimming with multiple possible scenarios as to what's happened. And even now, with everything still unknown, she can't help but feel some relief at the sight of the quinjet landing. Because no matter what, at least you and Natasha are home

But as soon as the ramp opens and Natasha walks out, eyes rimmed red, a sadness unlike anything she's seen before etched onto her features, and mission gear covered in blood, she knows. She just doesn't want to accept it. Tears build in her eyes as she rushe's forward, desperate to hear something hopeful come out of the redheads mouth

"Where's Y/n?" she asks, her voice trembling as her girlfriend descends the ramp

Natasha shoulders slump and her lower lip wobbles, "Wans, she….she's gone"

The defeat in her girlfriends voice has Wanda's tears falling, but she still refuses to believe it, "No, no she can't be"

Nat's gaze falls to the ground between them, as if she's ashamed to admit her next words and can't look Wanda in the eyes while she says them, "I did everything I could. I'm sorry Wans, but she is gone. Y/n died"

"No" Wanda contends, her chest rising and falling rapidly as panic sets in.

She attempts to rush forward past Natasha but the Russian manages to grab her. She doesn't want Wanda to see you like she has. Pale, lifeless and covered in blood.

"Let go Natasha, I have to see her" Wanda begs, almost sobbing now

"That's not how you want to see her. When you close your eyes and think of her, you don't want to remember her that way."

But Wanda is stubborn and she refuses to believe the harsh reality that you're really gone until she sees it. She struggles in her girlfriends grasp and looks at her pleadingly. But Natasha doesn't have to respond, because the medics have started to bring your body out. Wanda freezes as she sees the stretcher, a bloodstained white sheet covering a body. A body she knows is you. Not just because of what your other girlfriend has told her, but because in their haste to cover you, they missed one of your hands. Her resolve finally breaks

"No…no no no" she whimpers, clutching onto Natasha's bloodstained hands, "Tasha…"

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry" the Russian chokes out

As the medics wheel you past Wanda feels her world come crashing around her. Her knees buckle and she brings Natasha to the ground with her as a sound that's a mix between a sob and a scream tears its way out of her as her body trembles. Natasha had thought she was prepared, she expected this much as she had reacted the same way. But what she wasn't prepared for was the large wave of red energy that lashe's out of Wanda and into almost all the surroundings

In retrospect, she should have expected it. The same thing had happened when Pietro had died. Only unlike in Sokovia the energy doesn't do any harm to anyone. It simply passes through Natasha and the medics and rattles your stretcher

Clint had walked out in time to witness that and quickly rushe's over to where both women are knelt on the ground. He lays a gentle hand on each of their shoulders, as he tries to offer them some guidance

"Come on, let's get you both to your room. You need time to be alone together to process this" he tells them before looking at Nat, "And you need to get cleaned up"

Natasha looks down at herself, and upon seeing the front of her gear stained with a massive amount of your blood her upset stomach has finally had enough. Bile rises in her throat and she lurches to the side to avoid being sick on Wanda, who is sobbing almost hysterically at this point

"Okay, it's okay" he coos, as he rubs Nat's back with one hand and pulls Wanda against him with the other. He can feel his own eyes water as he watches them fall apart and he knows he'll need help getting them to their room

Thankfully Bucky hadn't been on the mission and he was nearby enough to have heard the commotion. In his rush to help he had passed by the medics and stretcher, and had realized the team had lost someone. He just didn't know who until he saw the two women in such a state. Wanda was only ever quiet and kind. And Natasha was always stoic and sarcastic. To see them like this, he knew it was their girlfriend under that bloody sheet

"How can I help?" he asks the archer, sadness lacing his tone

Clint looks at the women and then back at him, "Can you help Wanda to their room? I'll get Nat."

"Of course" he agrees, bending down to help her to her feet

He quickly realizes though that she's in no mindset to walk so he scoops her up into his arms instead. As soon as she's emptied the contents of her stomach, Clint does the same with Nat. Both men are very solemn as they walk, not knowing what to say to each other of the women they carry. So they resign themselves to being a more physical comfort. They hold your girlfriends close until they reach your shared room.

Clint quickly puts the code in to unlock the door and Bucky follows him inside. They set both women down on the bed, and Bucky instinctively takes a step back. He'd never been in here before, he never had reason to be as he wasn't particularly close with any of the three of you, so he feels a bit like an outsider overstepping right now.

Clint must sense this, because he turns to address him then, "Thank you. I need to stay here with them right now, could you handle informing the team of what happened and how the girls will need some space to deal with this alone before getting their support"

"Yeah, of course" he tells him before he makes his way to the door. He turns around before leaving, "I'm very sorry for your loss"

Clint was no stranger to helping Natasha shower. Since meeting her he's helped her multiple times when she was struggling with her PTSD or an injury she didn't want to admit to having. So helping her to the bathroom while she's almost unresponsive is nothing new. He sets her down on the closed toilet and starts to run the water, trying to get it the right temperature for her

He reaches out and brushe's some of her hair out of her face, "I'll be right back. I need to tend to Wanda"

Nat doesn't respond so he quickly goes to Wanda, who is still sitting on the edge of the bed, trembling and crying. Clint pulls back the covers, helps her out of her shoes, lays her back and tucks her in. Its not perfect and she's likely not entirely comfortable, but it's all he can do for the moment. He then heads back in with Nat and checks on the water. Satisfied with the temperature he leans over in front of her

"We're gonna do this like old times" he tells her, "I'm going to help you out of your suit, and then stand right outside the bathroom door while you finish getting undressed and hop in the shower, okay?"

But he receives no answer, just a blank stare. He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, "Nat honey, I understand this is incredibly hard, but I need your help here, okay? Please?"

She blinks and finally looks at him and her answer comes out so softly that he almost misses it, "Okay"

He nods then does exactly what he said. He helps her out of her belt and holsters, then her boots, then her suit. He makes sure she can stand on her own and support herself before he leaves, closing the door softly behind him. He took her gear with him, not wanting it to sit on the floor and remind her or Wanda of what had occurred. He'll get her guns and gear cleaned up, and Stark can make her a new suit. This one will never see the light of day again

After he leaves Natasha stands there for a moment, looking at herself in the mirror. She takes note of your smeared blood on her cheek where you had touched her and on her stomach where it had soaked through your clothes and hers. The sight has tears running down her cheeks again and she quickly rids herself of her bra and underwear and gets in the shower.

She lets the hot water run down her face and front for a few minutes, wanting to be rid of all the evidence of the violence that had occurred to you. She watches the water turn pink as it swirls the drain and can't contain the sob that slips out. This isn't the first time she's washed away blood, but it is the first time that she feels like she's washing away evidence of you. Of your existence. And that just adds to the pain she's already feeling.

Eventually she pulls herself out of the shower, turns it off, dries off and changes into her pajamas that had been left in there this morning. she's not sure how she managed to do all of that and honestly Clint isn't either when she opens the door. Regardless he helps her over and into bed too. As soon as she's there Wanda turns to her and buries her face against her chest. Nat doesn't hesitate to wrap her arms around her girlfriend, pulling her close to offer what little comfort she can

"If you need anything, don't hesitate to call or tell FRIDAY you need me" he tells them before taking his leave

The medics take you to SHIELDS morgue that's in the tower, and you're quickly brought out from under the sheet and placed on a metal table. The mortician sees no need to rush so he takes his time in getting your gear off. But as soon as your top is off he hears a metallic clank and looks down to find the bullet on the table. His brows furrow in confusion, there'd been no evidence in your gear that the bullet had gone all the way through you, and there shouldn't have been a way for it to come back out the entrance wound.

He rolls your body to the side to double check your back and sure enough, there's no hole. He places you back down and prods though the bloody mess of your stomach, attempting to figure out what's going on but instead he just winds up more confused because he finds no entry wound. He gets his supplies ready and just as he goes to turn the water on your eyes open and you take in a gasp. He screams and runs out of the room, leaving you to feel the cold table beneath you and stare up at the gray ceiling. You make no effort to move.

As soon as Clint is told the news he goes to check for himself. There's no in hell he's telling your girlfriends anything until he's absolutely certain. And when he first sees you, he almost is. You're sitting up, breathing, clearly alive as the doctors clean you up. But when he walks in to see you sitting there, letting the doctors clean you up while poking and prodding with a blank expression on your face and not offering a word, he has his doubts

"She hasn't spoken yet?"

The one doctor looks at him, "Not a word. Won't answer any questions and didn't ask any herself"

His brows furrow, "She didn't even ask for Natasha and Wanda?"

"No."

Clint sighs but figures you might be just as traumatized as Natasha is and besides there's a more important question right now, "How is it possible that she's….."

"Alive and seemingly unharmed?" the doctor finishe's, "I have no idea. There's no medical explanation I can give you for that"

Once they've gotten you cleaned up and settled he knows he has no choice. He heads back up to your room where he lets himself in, and finds your girlfriends just how he'd left them. Cuddled together and crying. He has no clue how to tell them, if he just outright said it they'd likely think him cruel or malicious.

"I…I need you both to come with me"

Wanda doesn't move but Nat sits up enough to look at him, knowing from his voice that something serious is happening, "Why?"

"Something happened. Something with Y/n"

Wanda sits up then too and lets out a broken, "What do you mean? Did someone…"

"No, no one did anything to her body" he clarifies, "She…she got up"

Both their hearts jump at that but for entirely different reasons. While Wanda is full of hope while Natasha's is full of trepidation.

Wanda hurries to get out of bed, "she's alive?!"

"Yes" Clint nods

But Natasha shakes her head, her heart guarded by disbelief, "That's not possible"

"Natasha, we have to go see her!" Wanda exclaims, not understanding why the Russian is not beside her

She slowly gets out of bed, "I held her as she died Clint. I don't want it to be true, but I know I lost her."

"I know, believe me I know" he says, "But I wouldn't have come here saying this if it wasn't true. She opened her eyes and took in a breath, scared the shit out of the mortician. She's with doctors right now, there's not a mark on her"

Both women practically race past him and out the door, eager to see you for themselves. He has to run to catch up so he can properly lead them to where you currently are. As soon as Wanda sees you she races to your side, but Natasha chooses to linger in the doorway. As happy as she is to see you sitting there, something in her gut tells her this isn't right

Tears stream down Wandas cheeks as she cups yours, her thumbs brush over your cheeks softly, "Oh my god, Malysh(baby)"

But you don't say anything, you don't even give any indication that you heard her. She doesn't seem bothered by this though, at least not currently. She's too busy looking you over. She lets her hands trail over your chest to feel the breaths you take before she runs them across your abdomen feeling for a wound that isn't there

"How is this possible"" she asks, more to herself than anyone else

"The doctors are sure there's no medical explanation" Clint tells her

"That's because there isn't one" Nat affirms, taking a tentative step into the room, "I think…I think this was Wanda"

The brunette turns to face her girlfriend, "Me?"

"Your powers, they surged when the medics brought her body…..when they brought her past us"

"I just lost control of them with my grief" she explains, "I didn't…I didn't think…."

"Its alright" Clint assures, "I don't really think the how or why is important. What matters is she's here, she's alive"

Wanda nods and cups your face once more, "How are you feeling, sweetheart?"

But you're still silent, almost eerily so. Her brows furrow and her stomach twists. But she pushe's away any negative feelings and turns to Clint for guidance

"She hasn't said anything yet" he explains, "Doctors couldn't get her to answer any questions"

Wanda swallows thickly but refuses to let go of her joy, "I'm sure she just needs some time. I can't imagine what she's been through"

But Natasha isn't so sure. She tentatively steps closer to the bed, "Y/n?"

You still don't respond, your eyes don't even glance in her direction. And she feels like she's been plunged into ice cold water. Because those might be your eyes, but they're lacking everything that made them distinctly you. There's no brightness in them, no emotion. It makes her feel ill all over again. But she doesn't say anything about it, because she honestly hopes she's wrong. She hopes more than anything that you'll snap out of this funk, so she'll at least give you time

It's been a little over a week since you woke up. Your behavior hasn't improved. You don't engage in conversation or answer questions, you don't even acknowledge that you're being spoken to. There's no contagious laughter or gentle touches. No corny jokes or soft flirtatious remarks. No hand holding or forehead kisses. No hugs or cuddles. No bright eyes or warm smiles. You just sit and stare.

Wanda, ever the optimistic one, is refusing to let your uncharacteristic silence get to her. She's just happy you came back, even if you aren't yourself yet. She's willing to give you the time you need to recover. She helps you get dressed, tend to your hair, eat, and shower. And she talks to you almost constantly despite your lack of reaction. If your behavior bothers her, she isn't letting it show

Natasha on the other hand refuses to say you came back to them, because truly, you haven't. You're just an empty shell of the woman she loves. You're her girlfriend's body, but not her. All individuality and heart, they're gone. You aren't going to get better. And she's starting to resent the fact that Wanda is refusing to see it

"There we go, all settled" Wanda says with a soft smile as she gets you settled into bed

Natasha stands at the foot of the bed, her heart aching at the scene. It was right, but it wasn't. Because that wasn't you, not anymore. She blinks back her tears and looks away from you

"Wans, can we talk?"

She looks up at the redhead, "What is it Tasha?"

"I'm gonna go sleep on the couch in Clint's room" she says, gesturing to the door of the shared quarters

Wanda's brows furrow, "What? Why?"

"Because I can't….I can't be in bed with her" she admits, "I can't keep sleeping beside her pretending everything is fine"

"Natasha!" she scolds, "Its not Y/n's fault she's having trouble coming back to herself"

"You're right. Its yours" she says under her breath, hoping the younger woman doesn't catch it

But she did, and her expression twists into one of sadness and guilt, "She needs support, Tasha. And ever since she woke up, you haven't been giving her any. You hardly look at her or touch her, I'm doing everything. And now…now you just want to leave us at night?"

"Because it isn't her!" she snaps, clenching her fists when she sees the hurt expression on the younger woman's face, "At first I wanted to have some hope, even if I knew it was impossible. But I can't keep going on like this when she's….like that"

"Its only been a few days" Wanda stresses, practically begging

"It's been nearly two weeks, Wans" Nat sighs, "She doesn't recognize us, she doesn't care about us. She just sits and stares because that's all she can do"

"That's not true!" Wanda shouts, clutching your hand even though you don't return the gesture, "She loves us! You know she does"

"Y/n loved us. But that's not her, not anymore." She says, a few tears falling down her cheeks, "And I can't pretend like you can"

And with that she turns and walks out the door, leaving Wanda alone with you. The woman wipes her own tears away before she looks at you, "It's okay, Tashas just…she's struggling. I lost you too, but she watched it, felt it. So having you back when you aren't yourself yet, it's difficult for her."

A few days have passed since your girlfriends disagreement, and while Natasha did come back to the room at times throughout the day, she still kept her distance with you. This only managed to upset Wanda further, and now the tension between them was palpable.

"How is she?" the redhead asks, breaking the tension filled silence. She hated that a part of her still held onto hope despite everything

"Oh, so now you care?" Wanda scoffs, still hurt by the older woman's words and actions, "Unbelievable"

"Of course I care, Wanda. I loved her too." Natasha answers softly, as if she's trying not to fight

"Love" Wanda corrects, her tone harsher than she intended, "She's right here Natasha, so you love her."

The older woman sighs, frustrated that Wanda won't just let go and accept the circumstances, "Has she improved?"

"No" Wanda answers, averting her gaze because she knows Nat won't like the answer, "She still lets me help her with basic tasks, but she still wont talk or do things on her own"

"Then she's not right here, is she?" Natasha asks bitterly

Wanda has to blink back tears as her brows furrow, "She is. She's right here. I talk to her every day. I hold her every night. She's right here Natasha! Why cant you see that?!"

"Because that's not our girlfriend!" she shouts, frustration boiling in her blood. Because why does she refuse to see what's in front of her, "That's just the empty shell of who she used to be!"

"Stop saying that!" she shouts as she starts to cry

Natasha's hit her breaking point now and decides to ask the one thing she knows Wanda will have the answer to, "Are there even any thoughts going on in her head?"

"I…I don't know" the brunette mumbles as her fingers toy with the hem of her shirt

"You haven't looked?" Natasha asks exasperatedly, not understanding why that wasn't the first thing she did, "Why the hell not?!"

"Because that's very invasive and I don't have her consent. She's been through enough trauma" she weekly excuses. In reality she hasn't done it because she's absolutely terrified that Natasha is right

"Bullshit!" Nat exclaims, "You don't want to look because you're afraid of what you'll find"

"Maybe I am afraid, is that really so wrong?" she asks, looking at Natasha almost pleadingly

"It's not wrong" the redhead sighs, her frustration momentarily softening, "I understand your hesitancy, but we have to know what's going on in there Wans. I need to know."

Wanda swallows thickly and nods her head. She knows her girlfriend is right, she knows this has to be done, but it still fills her with a sense of unease, "Okay. You're right, we need to know so we can help her"

Natasha lets out a breath of relief at that. It finally seems like Wanda was starting to come to her senses. She watches Wanda lift a hand to your temple and close her eyes. The brunette concentrates, focusing her powers on reaching inside your mind. For a moment Wanda thinks something must be blocking her out of your mind. But then she realizes the cold silence she's feeling is your mind. The dread she feels is immeasurable. Her eyes fly open with a gasp, and she covers her mouth with her hands as a sob escapes her.

That coupled with the broken expression on her face tells Natasha everything she needs to know. She tears her gaze away from you then, unable to look at you any longer. She knew that wasn't really you, but God did she hate being right. An almost overwhelming anger fills her. How dare the universe make her lose you not once but twice. She knew life was unfair but this, this was downright cruel. But, she reminds herself, this wouldn't have happened if Wanda hadn't interfered

"What the hell did you do, Wanda?" she seethes, saying the words before she realizes. But she can't take them back now

The younger woman turns to her with tear filled eyes and agony written on her features, "Natasha, no….I….I didn't mean to. This….it just happened…"

"And it shouldn't have." she retorts, her green eyes blazing.

She can't do this, she can't stay knowing that's not you, knowing you'll never really come back to them. And intentional or not, this was Wanda's doing. The anger she feels at her girlfriend may be unfair, but right now she doesn't see it that way. In her eyes, Wanda made them both needlessly suffer and then refused to even see it, let alone own up to it

"You did this, so you can figure out what to do now" she says pointedly, causing Wanda's chest to tighten, "I'm done, and so are we"

"Natasha, wait" Wanda cries out, reaching out for her. But it's too late

She's already turned and walked towards the door. She doesn't even look back at either of them before closing the door with a slam. The finality of it causes Wanda's heart to shatter. she's just lost both her girlfriends, and there's nothing she can do to fix it.