#rust anon

“Thank you.” You say to no one but you can hear your team laughing over the com line and you roll your eyes, dropping the stupid pole.

“Rendez-vous in ten on the quinjet, rig this place to blow.” You call out to your team and get various affirmative replies.

When you all pile back into the quinjet you find Hill waiting there and you collapse into your chair and groan loudly.

“If you’re not here to tell me that we’ve earned a week off then I don’t want to hear it.” You accept a bottle of water from a team mate and you sigh when Hill only laughs, placing a file in your hand.

“I need your team in Kosovo. We’ve got a threat on the ground and we need evac and clean up. The Avengers are finishing up now.” You groaned even louder, echoed by your team. Clean up missions involved much too much liaison with civilians and paperwork.

“We haven’t even debriefed on this mission and you’re sending us in to clean up?” You asked and Maria shrugged. “I’m so sick of this job. Wouldn’t it be nice to be just something else for a change? Like work retail or something?”

“If you worked retail you’d murder civilians.” Hill laughed as you opened the file, reading up on all the disasters the Avengers had caused again.

“You’re right but you didn’t have to say it.” You sighed, tilting your head back before breathing in deeply.

“Okay Alpha Team. We’ve got a clean up job to do along with evac of the remaining citizens. Agent Jones and Agent Morris are going to be on evac to the Pejë city limits. I want Robbins and Suarez with me on media coverage and medic triage. Lopez and Green are on relocation for the displaced.”

“Aye aye Captain.” Lopez cheered and you raised your middle finger at him, passing on the brief.

“We’re running a long clean up but on the bright side Agent Hill has just promised me that the Alpha Team are out of commission for six whole days after the quinjet lands back at Avengers Tower.” The whole team cheered while Hill looked as if she’d swallowed a lemon.

“Gonna be nice to get a break.” Robbins sighed, eyes dropping slowly. “This back to back shit is tough.”

Your team was exhausted. There had barely been a day in the last month that there wasn’t a mission and it just seemed to be never ending. This has to be the worst so far, usually you got home and a few hours sleep.

You missed Wanda and you were hoping the Avengers would still be there by the time you cleared out but it wasn’t likely and you knew as much. You hadn’t had some time off with her in so long.

When you arrived on the scene it was chaos. Local police were trying to organize the displaced but people were scared and confused. No wonder, the city was in ruins. Your team spread out professionally to do their job.

Despite the fact you were all bloody and dirty from the fight before no one gave you a second glance. You all fit right in.

It takes well over twelve hours as your team works. It puts you all on well over thirty six hours in the field and each of you were fit to drop. Suarez and Robbins had fallen asleep in the corner the second the last of the injured had been triaged and the last camera stopped rolling.

Jones and Morris were leaning against each other to stay standing, having only just finished with the evacuees. Every time they blinked their eyes stayed closed longer and you were sure they were actually taking minute long naps between blinks.

Lopez and Green were still working hard arranging shelter for each registered evacuee and you had joined them when you’d finished with the media storm of what had happened.

Wanda had exploded a building. No one got hurt, the building was empty and it all would’ve been inconsequential had the building not been a monument older than Steve and Bucky combined.

She’d already sent you a text apologizing for the paper work involved. You’d read it and smiled and then frowned when you realized she had been debriefed and was probably in bed if she had gotten time to text. You were jealous.

“Good news, Hill has gotten our paperwork covered. Pile it on here, get back on the jet.” You instructed and your team began to wake slowly, dropping you the paperwork. You assured Lopez and Green that you had the last of the relocation covered and sent them off.

When your team had left base you continued to work, getting through the last of the displaced in four hours which was less than you thought it would be. In the mean time the quinjet had returned and you boarded with the mountain of paper work you had taken on for your exhausted team members.

You greeted the pilot and took a seat, opening the first of many files and beginning to fill them out. When you landed you barely glanced up from the files, heading straight to your office.

The sun was beginning to rise in New York and you made yourself a coffee quietly so as not to wake Wanda who would probably be out for several more hours. She had used a lot of energy on the mission.

You set yourself up in the office and opened the next file, your eyes blinking tiredly in an attempt to focus. You began writing again, filling in the mission reports, head nodding against your hand.

“Baby, you should come be in bed.” Wanda sighed, her hands resting on your shoulders. You jerked awake, sniffing and rubbing your eyes.

“No. I uh, ‘m fine. If I get this done now I have six days off and so does my team.” You told her and she sighed, wrapping her arms around you, her clasped hands resting over your heart.

“Why’ve you got so much?” She asked quietly, watching as you scribbled your signature six times in quick succession. Your handwriting deteriorated rapidly with each flourish of the pen.

“I took everyone else’s so they could get some rest.” You told her honestly. “We had back to back missions. I though Lopez was asleep standing up at one point.”

“The paperwork can wait.” She assured you, pressing a kiss under your ear. “You’re exhausted. You need sleep.”

“I’m okay. I just have a few more to get through.” You told her earnestly and she looked at the stack of files before shaking her head at you.

“If I wake up and you aren’t in the bed then I’m going to be mad.” She promised, kissing your cheek before straightening up. “You have an hour.”

“I’ll be there. I love you.” You called to her back as she retreated.

“I love you too.”

///

Wanda couldn’t help but shake her head when she found you an hour later. Your pen was still in your hand and you sat in the office chair fast asleep.

Your head was tilted back, your mouth wide open and you were snoring so loud she had no idea how you hadn’t woken yourself. She chuckled to herself, taking the pen from your hand and closing the file.

There was two files yet unopened and she pushed them aside, maneuvering herself between the chair and the desk. “Time to wake up.”

She shook your shoulder with her hand and you jerked awake, eyes flying open. You almost choked on your sharp intake of breath and she gave you a minute to calm down.

“Are you trying to kill me?” You asked in shock, your hand over your thundering heart. You wiped your eyes and she cupped your cheek in her hand.

“You’re doing that to yourself baby. It’s time to come to bed.” She sighed, stroking your cheek with her thumb. “Come sleep.”

“I’m almost done.” You groan and she rolled her eyes, moving so she’s straddling your lap in the office chair.

“I’m so lonely in bed by myself.” She whispered quietly in your ear. Almost automatically your hands cupped her ass, pulling her against you as she whined. “Had to take care of myself while you were gone. Missed you.”

“Wanda.” You groaned as she kissed your neck, whining in your ear. She bucked against you and whined again, as needy as she was acting you were worse. All those lonely nights she had spent You had been surrounded by your team with no way of taking care of yourself.

“Take me to bed.” She begged in your ear. “Make me yours again.”

Who were you to deny a request like that? She clambered off your lap, pulling you by the hand to the bedroom. When you got as far as the bed she pushed you down and you grinned up at her.

“Go to sleep.” She whispered and your jaw dropped.

“You’re going to work me up like that and just let me down?” You asked in shock.

“You haven’t got the energy. I think you’ll actually pass out from trying.” She laughed, climbing in next to you in her usual spot.

“But I-“ You tried but she only shushed you.

“I wasn’t gonna.” You told her, pursing your lips tightly. You knew she had already seen the sliced chicken you had in your hand and was completely caught. “I was just thinking about it.”

“I was just thinking about it.” Wanda mocked stepping closer to you and trying to look around you to find the mangy grey cat that had been crying outside your window ever since you had moved in.

Wanda didn’t like cats all that much and so you hadn’t done anything with the cat and eventually it stopped howling at the window. That’s why you were so worried when it reappeared with a vengeance. Howling all night long at the window.

Wanda had said to ignore it so you felt bad. That’s how you had gotten to here, halfway out the window with the chicken.

“He’s hungry.” You argued and began to slowly open the packet of chicken under the watch of her narrowed eyes. “I can’t just let him starve.”

“If you feed a stray it will just keep coming back.” Wanda argued and you pursed your lips against a smile. “What’s so funny?”

“Isn’t that what I did with you?” You tossed the first slice of chicken to the cat who stopped its incessant cries to eat it up quickly. “Brought you cookies once and you never left.”

“That is not the same.” Wanda couldn’t fight her own smile. “I won’t use the plants as a bathroom.”

“So we get a litter box.” You dropped a second slice of chicken, fighting your smirk.

“We? I’m having no part in it.” She held her hands up and you pouted at her.

“Sure would be nice to have some company when you’re gone away.” You knew you were playing dirty and it made Wanda laugh, knowing she’d lost already.

“Bring it to the vet. It stays in the living room. Don’t let me find it in our bed. Ever.” She warned, her finger pointed at you.

///

“Morning bubs, you want some breakfast?” Wanda remembered when you’d ask her if she wanted breakfast. Now you were talking to the damn cat.

She groaned loudly, pushing herself out of bed despite the fact she only fell into the bed less than three hours ago, coming home from a mission.

When she joined you in the kitchen you were feeding the cat who was sat up on the counter like he owned the place. Wanda scowled as she made her way to the coffee machine.

“I thought we had rules.” You jumped in surprise and turned to look at her with a frown. “No kitchen.”

“What are you doing up?” You asked her gently and she pouted.

“You got up.” She told you, cupping her mug between her hands. She had wanted to spend time with you but you got up to feed the cat.

You usually slept in after a mission together, tangled up in each other and the blankets.

She couldn’t believe a cat had taken away her well earned lie in.

She couldn’t believe she was jealous of a cat.

“I got up to make you breakfast. I was coming back to bed.” You assured her, moving into her embrace when she opened her arms. “I love our late mornings.”

“I’ll go back to bed.” She promised and you kissed her cheek happily, returning to your frying pan. She brought her cup of coffee, returning to the bed.

When you pushed in the door the cat followed you in and Wanda narrowed her eyes when he curled up at the end of the bed happily.

“He’s been sleeping in here.” She pointed out and you nodded, passing her the plate and cutlery.

“It’s not exactly what I had in mind either!” Wanda replied, her hands moving quickly to incapacitate the shooters while you searched for a way out and your two missing colleagues.

“If this is your way of breaking up with me then message received, loud and clear!” You called over your shoulder. Wanda only laughed, continuing to work through your assailants.

It was only early days between you both, probably too early to joke about breaking up but you and Wanda weren’t entirely conventional.

The lack of noise over the com unit was making you worried and you kicked through another door particularly roughly.

This was supposed to be a quick mission. Getting in and getting out of the compound in no time which wasn’t working out.

Your partner Hayley and Clint had gone dark almost thirty minutes ago. It worried both you and Wanda because according to all intel you had received, you’d both taken the corridor that was suppose to prove difficult.

You and Hayley had been partners almost six years and never took a mission without the other if it could be helped.

The only time it had happened was when you’d broken your wrist several months ago and she’s gotten roped into working with Clint. He now insisted on working with Hayley whenever the Avengers and Shield Agents came together.

You came hand in hand with Hayley which had eventually led to you meeting Wanda. It was the best thing that had ever happened to you and you’d bought Hayley three bottles of her favorite Irish whiskey to make up for it.

Another set of doors and Wanda brought the ceiling down in a controlled way, blocking off the agents the other side of the door. It gave you a minute to reload and catch your breath.

“I don’t want to break up with you. I do want to reschedule our date tonight though. I don’t think I’m going to make it.” She told you earnestly and you laughed.

“Tomorrow night, eight?” You asked, loading your gun and raising your eyebrows.

“Eight.” She agreed and you both were off, sprinting down the corridor that should lead you to where Clint and Hayley had disappeared from.

Atleast, one of the dividing corridors would do that.

You shared a look with Wanda and she closed her eyes, inhaling deeply as she attempted to listen out for either Clint or Hayley. She opened her eyes on the exhale, shaking her head.

“We should split up.” She told you and you winced before nodding. It was the only way to go about things.

“If you can’t hear them then they’re too far away. By the time we both get down a corridor and figure out it’s the wrong one we might be too late.” You agreed.

“I’ll call Steve, he isn’t more than twenty minutes out.” She told you and you nodded, holding your hand out, fist clenched.

“You’re a child.” She told you fondly and you both shook your fist three times. You pulled rock and she pulled paper. You realised a second too late she could read your mind. “I’ll go right.”

“Perfect. See you soon.” You ducked in for a quick kiss before taking off at a run without looking back.

///

You weren’t sure wether it was good or bad that the corridor you’d gotten lumped with had been abandoned. There was no sign of life in any of the rooms you passed and the feeling of being watched made you itch between your shoulder blades.

You had your gun slightly raised in your grip and you were listening closely for a sound that wasn’t your own footfalls. It had been a noise behind you that distracted you. An errant agent that had been hiding in an office You had bypassed, deeming it clear. Not clear enough.

Three gunshots later you were running again, your left leg screaming in protest and your right arm ached so bad you had to hold your gun in your left.

You didn’t see the wire. It tripped you up, sending you sprawling. You used the momentum, scrabbling forward across the linoleum flooring to get as far away as possible.

The explosion blasted you against the wall and your last thought was that you’d wake in time for your date.

///

You woke up slowly, well aware someone was talking but you hoped they weren’t talking to you, you were too tired to answer. Your eyes opened and you blinked away the flashing red lights. You were in someone’s arms and they were yelling.

Your leg hurt but not the one you had been shot in which was not good. Your head was thumping and you never got to figure out who was yelling because the darkness overtook you and you succumbed to the numbness again.

When you woke next it was to the beeping rhythm of what could only be a heart monitor. It had to be the most annoying sound in the universe. You’d bet your life.

You were pleasantly buzzed and in no pain which meant you were on the good stuff. Dr. Cho was a goddess.

“Hey sleepy head.” Hayley chuckled when your eyes fluttered open. “Think you slept long enough?”

“Wha’ time ‘s it?” You slurred and she laughed at you before lifting her watch to her face and dropping it again.

“Almost three in the afternoon.” She told you, petting your hair fondly. “Gave us quite a scare.”

“Gonna make date night.” You sighed happily, reaching a shaky hand out for a cup of water by your bedside. Hayley helped you sit up and take a sip.

“Date night was yesterday. You’ve been out for two days.” Hayley told you. Now that you were awake you had a niggling awareness of something with your right leg. You pulled the blanket back and found a bright red cast with Hayley’s signature already scrawled across it next to Clint’s.

“Damn.” You whispered. Your other leg was heavily bandaged too and your right arm was well wrapped up. “Where’s Wanda?”

“Probably our hovering in the corridor trying to convince Cho to check your vitals for the eighteenth time.” Hayley sighed. “She hasn’t been in since you got back. She’s in a mood.”

“Oh.” You mumbled, looking to the door and back to Hayley. “I’m going to be okay though, right?”

“No.” She said solemnly. “You’re going to be that ugly forever.”

“Fuck off.” You laughed, smacking her hand away when she poked your cheek. “Why won’t she come in?”

“Thinks it’s her fault. Apparently she cheated on Rock, Paper, Scissors or something along those lines?” Hayley said and then furrowed her eyebrows. “What sort of dumbass plays Rock, Paper, Scisssors with someone who can read minds?”

“The same dumbass that got shot in one leg and broke the other.” You groaned, inhaling deeply as the niggling awareness became a subtle ache.

“You’ll never learn.” Hayley sighed, pressing your call button and almost immediately a nurse bustled in, checking your charts and your monitors. “She’s sore.”

“‘m not.” You insisted childishly and Hayley only raised her eyebrow. “Only a little.”

“Time to go back to sleep.” The nurse told you, fiddling with the IV in the back of your hand. “Sweet dreams, darlin’.”

When you woke again Clint was by your bedside, chewing loudly on chips and watching something on his phone.

“Tell Wanda if she doesn’t get over her one-woman pity party then I’m gonna drag myself out of this bed and down to her apartment.” You told Clint, teeth gritted against the onslaught of pain your wounds brought.

“You want some painkillers?” He asked, hand paused between the bag of chips and his mouth.

“I want my girlfriend.” You grunted, your left hand raising to your right bicep where you’d been shot. “Now.”

“On it.” Clint scrambled from the chair and out the door just as a nurse bustled in looking all business.

“Some more painkillers.” She told you softly, barely giving you a chance before she was opening the IV line again and offering you the cool relief of medicine.

The door opened and you reached your uninjured hand out to Wanda. You had no idea if she took it or not. You had already been pulled under by the meds.

///

“If I get knocked out one more time I’m going to scream.” Wanda was sitting in a chair near your bed but too far away to touch. “How long has it been?”

“Four days.” Wanda looked dreadful. The bags under her eyes were a Deep Purple and her cheeks appeared gaunt as if she hadn’t been eating or resting. “Are you in pain?”

“No.” You told her evenly. “Have you slept in four days?”

“No.” At least she was honest. “Haven’t slept either.”

You paused in opening your mouth to ask the question she had just answered. “Why’s that?”

“Been waiting for you to wake up and tell me it’s over.” She admitted and you scrunched your nose up as you readjusted yourself. “I shouldn’t have cheated.”

“I shouldn’t have played guessing games with a telepath. Neither of us had anything to do with my injuries.” You told her. “That’s down to those motherfuc-“

“I heard your thoughts, you wanted right so I took it.” She admitted in a rush like you were going to lash out at her. “I chose it because I didn’t want you to win.”

“Wanda.” You sighed. “What happened was just bad luck. I lived to tell the tale and now I’ll have some epic scars to show off.”

“You’ll attract all the ladies.” Wanda agreed, her hand reaching out to hover over trout right bicep when you were heavily bandaged.

“I only want the one. But she’s busy throwing a pity party despite the fact she didn’t even get shot.” You teased and she rolled her eyes, scooting her chair closer. “I don’t blame you.”

“You should. I got you shot.” She whispered, her finger tracing down your arm to the palm of your hand. You liked your fingers and held on tight, smiling through the ache in your body.

“I missed date night. Now we’re even.” You told her, trying to lift some of the tension weighing her shoulders down. “Wanda, come on.”

“There was so much blood when I found you.” She whispered. “I thought I’d killed you.”

“Hard to kill a bad thing.” You told her with a grin, tightening your grip on her hand. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Promise?” She asked shakily.

“I promise. Now crawl in here beside me and get some sleep.” You shuffled to the side, wincing but persevering until you made room for her in the bed.

She chastised you and shook her head, refusing. You brought your free hand up to your bullet wound, finger poised over the bandage warningly. “I will literally dig my finger into my flesh if you don’t.”

“Jesus, fine!” Wanda clambered in next to you, avoiding all your wires and monitors. “You’re a brat.”