Learning Curve

Now, however, you were getting restless. You grew stronger every day. In secret, you walk around circles in your room to stretch your legs, but you want to be out and around everybody again.

So, it's nice to see Sam and Bucky look up from the table and smile warmly as you approach.

"Hey, glad to see your captors have granted you release," the super soldier teases.

"The way they keep you tied to that bed, I'm surprised you can still walk," Tony jokes.

Bucky nearly spits out his breakfast from laughing. Sam on the other hand sits up in his chair and smacks Tony on the arm, "dude, lower your voice! Maximoff is right there man!"

At the sound of her name, Wanda turns from her place in the kitchen to look in the direction of the sound.

The moment her eyes land on you, her brow knits together with concern. She drops everything and instantly makes her way over to you.

You're laughing innocently at the guys' antics until you hear the stern voice of your girlfriend quickly approaching.

Wanda wraps her arm around your waist, supporting most of your weight with her powers.

You won't admit it, but it helps. It releases the tension in your abdomen from holding yourself up. The soreness in your side dissipates.

If you let it known that standing causes even the slightest bit of pain, she will drag you back to bed and keep you locked up for who knows how long.

It seems she is going to drag you back to bed anyway.

The sokovian begins to gently guide you back the way you came, "what do you think you're doing?"

"Getting breakfast."

"I was going to bring it to you," she scolds, "You're supposed to be taking it easy."

You stop in your place before she can drag you out of the room, "I'm not training. I'm just coming down for breakfast." You defend yourself, "I'm well enough for that."

Wanda purses her lips. You can tell she is trying to determine if this is a battle worth fighting. Sighing, she relents, "ok." She pecks you on the cheek with a smile, "good morning."

You nervously glance over to the guys who seem to have gone back to their previous conversation. You sigh in relief. Turning back to Wanda, you smile, "good morning. What are you making?"

"Your favorite," the witch walks back to the kitchen with arm still around your waist.

When the two of you reach your destination, you break apart. Wanda continues her cooking, and you lean against the counter to watch her.

The distance you leave between the two of you does not go unnoticed by Wanda. It hurts her to think the habit they need to help you break.

"You don't have to make a quiche every morning," you laugh.

"I know, that's why today I'm making french toast too," the witch smiles cheekily. She closes the distance between you, bringing a piece of toast to your lips, "here, try."

Your heart pounds in your chest having her this close to you in front of other people. Still, you take the toast between your lips and chew slowly. It's delicious. You close your eyes to savor the taste.

When you open your eyes, Wanda is grinning at you victoriously, "good?"

"Amazing."

She bounces happily. Before you can react, she pecks you on the lips and just as quickly, returns to her cooking.

You're shocked still, almost certain you stopped breathing for a second. Once again, you check over where the guys sit. They seem not to be paying attention, so you make yourself calm down.

You know that they know about your relationship. You know you don't have to hide it anymore. Still, you have trouble remembering in the moment though.

"Will you at least sit down?" Wanda asks, drawing your attention back to her. She's looking at you with a sincere expression, "I know you are sore. I just don't want you to overdo it...... please, for me?"

You can't lie that it doesn't hurt, so you nod with a small smile. You move to the stools on the other side of the island. Just as you sit, voices come from the doorway.

Natasha and Steve enter back from their run. Your girlfriend's eyes land straight on you.

"There you are," she walks over quickly.

"Here I am," you playfully respond.

"You weren't in the room when I went to change. I got worried," she says as she stops in front of you. "What are you doing down here?"

You can't help the eye roll that follows. "Like I told her..." you nod your head towards Wanda on the other side of the island, "...I am perfectly capable of walking down to breakfast. You do know I'm not helpless right?"

"Of course, we know that, detka," the widow stands between your legs and wraps her arms around your shoulders. "We just worry is all. We love you."

You smile up at her from your spot on the stool. "I love you too," you say softly, so no one across the room can hear.

Natasha leans down and kisses you slowly, and you forget there are other people in the room with you. After a long moment, she pulls away and smiles down at you, "good morning, detka."

"Good morning."

"EW, get a room!" Yelena calls as she walks into the common space.

Everyone on the other side of the room laughs, and your left with cheeks the color of a tomato. You burry your face into Natasha, trying to hide from the embarrassment.

This is gonna take some getting used to.

Walking into the living room for movie night, you find that most everyone is already seated.

Natasha had claimed their usual couch, while you and Wanda went to the kitchen to grab some snacks. She sits on one far end of the couch, leaning against the arm.

After passing out snacks, Wanda takes her place next Nat, curling into her immediately. You sit beside Wanda, however you do not scoot in. You leave a gap between them and you, just happy to sit on the same couch.

The two of them watch you, waiting for you to come join them, but you don't. They look away sadly, and their minds race.

They've come to pick up on things. Things that you have missed out on. Things that are just second nature to them, but almost foreign to you. Wrapping an arm around each other in the hallway, holding hands during meetings...

... and cuddling during movie night.

They share a look, a 'we need to fix this' look.

Natasha leaves her seat and moves to the opposite side of the couch and on the other side of you. Once settled, she reaches over and tugs you into her lap.

Wanda scoots until she is pressed to Natasha's side. She lifts your legs and drapes them across her lap.

At first, you sit completely stiff and rigid. Displays of affection like this are natural for you behind closed doors, but in front of others like this, you still feel uneasy.

Wanda places a hand on your thigh, drawing soothing circles onto your leg with her fingertips. Natasha rubs your back comforting you. They smile when the tension in your body releases, and you relax into them.

You curl into Natasha's chest and take Wanda's hand into your own, playing with her fingers. They chuckle when you start rearranging the rings on her fingers.

"Great, they're being gross again," Yelena teases from her place with Kate.

To everyone's shock, you confidently lift your middle finger to her with a smirk on your face. Everyone laughs, and Yelena throws a pillow at you. Of course, Wanda catches it with her powers and lowers it down into your lap.

"That's my girl," Natasha says proudly before kissing your cheek.

Steve stands in the middle of the room, with the remote in hand, "we're voting on the movie. You guys are the last ones to vote." He explains your options are a comedy or an action movie that everyone knows Tony loves to watch because it features some of his new tech. The action movie has 2 more votes than the comedy.

"Wait a second," Tony pops up in his chair, "they're all gonna vote together and win every time. They get one vote together."

"We may not even vote for the same movie!" Wanda counters.

Steve raises a hand to quiet them, "everybody gets their own vote. So?"

Natasha nudges you to vote first. After thinking for a moment, you go with the comedy. Immediately, your girlfriends vote for the same. Winning by one vote.

"I told you," Tony grumbles.

You smile knowing they did, in fact, just pick whichever movie you wanted. "Hey, we can watch that one next, Tony," you soothe him, and it seems to work.

As the movie plays, you keep getting distracted by the feel of your girlfriends' arms around you. You wonder if they know its all you've wanted every single movie night since you've been together.

A few happy tears escape your eyes and fall down your cheeks. You didn't notice, but Wanda did.

"Detka," she speaks into your mind, drawing your attention. "What's wrong?"

Swiping away the tears, you smile and shake your head, "I'm happy."

A buzzing sounds from your bag on the other side of the gym.

This morning's workout was interrupted by a message from Fury calling for a team meeting in an hour. You perk up instantly.

Does this mean he's putting you on your first mission since you were shot?

You have patiently waited months to heal fully. Cho had finally cleared you for business as usual last month, but you knew there would be an extended 'just to be sure' period before getting back to work.

Believe it or not, Fury still feels a bit guilty that you nearly died on a mission you should never have been sent on.

With this message, you could be actually getting back into the field, and you are beyond excited. You practically skip through the halls on the way to the meeting.

Filing into the conference room, you see that your girlfriends have sat with an open chair between them. You smile and move to your spot in the middle.

They've kept you in the middle almost always since you got back. Maybe it was just them being overprotective or maybe they're just making up for all of the time you were away. Either way, you weren't complaining.

As the meeting began, Fury explains that there are two upcoming missions they will be discussing before handing the floor over to Hill.

Natasha started taking notes as always. Her other hand reached for yours. Your interlocked hands rested on top of the table for everyone to see.

You know you should be used to this by now, but you can't help the nervous feeling that rises in your stomach. Your heartbeat picks up, and you can hear it loudly in your ears. You're sure everyone else can too, but no one makes any show that they do.

A saving grace comes in the form of Wanda resting her hand on your thigh. It's still noticeable to others, but it's under the table. It grounds you without adding to the anxiety.

Thankfully, it soothes you enough to pay attention to the meeting as Maria begins detailing the first mission, intel retrieval. It's a simple in and out. You were expecting as much for your first mission.

"On this one, we need the Falcon, little Hawkeye, Belova, Maximoff and L/N," she lists.

Natasha's pen freezes mid-word. She looks up pointedly, "and me."

Everyone turns to her for a moment, then looking back to Hill, awaiting her response. You, however, keep your gaze locked on the Russian. You have to stop yourself from saying something.

"Agent Romanoff, you've been assigned to the other missio-"

"No," she interrupts, "if Y/n is going on that mission, so am I."

All is quiet until Wanda speaks up from beside you, "I'd feel better if she was there."

Your attention wrenches around to your other girlfriend now. Suddenly, anger floods you.

Why are they doing this? They know that you've been cleared for missions. You've been sparring together for months! Why are they fighting orders for this?

Crossing your legs, you force Wanda's hand to fall away from your thigh. You want to rip your hand out of Natasha's, but her grip tightens protectively.

"Agent L/N has been clear-"

"Director, request for new assignment," Natasha interrupts Maria, standing and facing Fury.

The room is silent. Everyone watches the gears turning in the director's head. After what felt like an eternity, he nods.

"Granted."

It seems like the entire room lets out a sigh, except you. They relax as the tension in the room is released, and the energy returns to normal.

You, however, feel humiliated. Your girlfriends don't think you can handle yourself on a mission, and they just let the entire team know it. Your clench your jaw tightly, and your leg bounces quickly for the rest of the meeting.

The moment the team is dismissed, you stand and leave without a word to anyone or a glance behind you. You head straight to the gym to resume your workout and blow off this steam before the mission.

After an hour of attacking a punch bag, you feel calm enough to go to your room and get ready for the mission. You're almost there when FRIDAY'S voice rings through the room. Director Fury requests your presence in his office.

You feel dread instantly and know this is not gonna be goood.

"You wanted to see me?" you ask, knocking on the doorframe.

Fury looks up from his papers. "Yes Agent," he stands behind his desk, "upon further consideration, I have determined that too many agents have been assigned to today's mission. So, I am removing you from the mission."

All the anger you just released into that workout comes back tenfold. "Is it because of Natasha?"

Fury tilts his head in the way that suggests you watch what you say next, "It would be irresponsible of me to put an agent at risk unnecessarily."

"Like you did you sent me undercover?" you scoff.

Truly, you hold no resentment towards Fury or Clint for the mission that landed you in the medbay, but you just can't help yourself at the moment.

"I'm sorry, Agent," he sits and returns to what he was working on earlier, "you will be notified of your next mission."

Taking a deep breath, you turn and walk through the hallway. So many emotions tumble around inside you, anger, disappointment, frustration, hurt, sadness.

You had been so excited to get back to doing what you love, to feel like you were yourself again, to put that damn mission behind you.

But that was all just ripped away.

There's no stopping you when you reach your bedroom, and Natasha and Wanda are inside getting geared up for the mission.

"There you are," Wanda exclaims, "you need to gear up."

"What did you say to Fury!?" you look to Natasha pointedly.

She looks at confused, "nothing, what are you talking about?"

"He took me off the mission! What did you say!?"

"Nothing!" she counters.

You look away and begin pacing the room, trying to channel all of this energy.

Wanda walks into your path with her arms open, "hey why don't you sit. We need to calm you down."

"No," you pull away.

When you look to them, they can see the tears now forming in your eyes. Their hearts drop, and they realize that something is really wrong.

You don't want to yell at them, but inside it feels like you need to. You hold it back as best you can, still trying to get your feelings across.

"I waited for that mission for months, and I got kicked off of it because you insisted to go!" You look to Natasha. "I finally had the chance to go back to what I love, doing something that makes the world a safer place. I was finally there again, and it was taken!"

"Another mission will come," Natasha tries to reassure you.

"Who knows when that will be?! You just told the entire team that you don't think I'm ready. That's not your decision!"

"We didn't take you off the mission, Y/n."

You run through your hair in agitation, "they listen to you! ... and they know we're together now! If you act like you don't trust my abilities, they won't either. THAT'S what kicked me off the mission! That's what will keep me off missions! You can't do that. It's not fair!"

"Agent Romanoff and Miss Maximoff, your quinjet is wheels up in five minutes," FRIDAY alerts.

Sitting on the bed, you hold your head in your hands. There's no time. You'll have to finish this conversation later.

Looking up with a sigh, you blink back tears of frustration. "Good luck on your mission. Please be safe. I love you." With that you stand and leave the room. The echos of 'I love you too' follow you down the hall.

When Natasha and Wanda return from the mission that night, they head to your shared room, expecting to find you in bed considering the late hour.

Unfortunately, the room is empty.

"FRIDAY, where is Y/n?" the widow asks the air.

There's a small delay, like FRIDAY actually has to look for you.

"Agent L/N is sitting on the roof patio."

They look to each other having a silent discussion. The pair decide to shower and change first, then they will venture up to the roof with blankets and a peace offering.

They thought a lot about what you said and what had happened. The mission was easy, basically child's play which only fed into their guilt more.

You were more than capable to handle thar mission. You could have done it with your eyes closed, and something they had done took it from you.

When they join you on the roof, Natasha brings the blanket, and Wanda holds a mug of your favorite hot chocolate.

They find you laying on the ground looking up at the stars. It brings back so many memories of the three of you doing just that. Those are some of their best memories.

"Hey," Wanda greets softly. She nods her head to one of the couches, "come sit with us?"

You agree silently, sitting on the couch. Your girlfriends sit on either side of you like usual. Natasha drapes the blanket across the three of you, and Wanda hands you a mug that reads 'This is the We're Sorry mug'.

You can't but chuckle, "where did you get this?"

The sokovian blushes, "the cabinet."

"It was solid white, but she did her thing," Natasha explains wiggling her fingers to reference Wanda's magic.

Nodding, you joke, "ah the wiggly-woos."

The witch rolls her eyes, "ha ha, very funny."

The pair settle into your sides, and you all fall quiet for a while. The faint sound of the nightlife far below is the only noise reaching your ears.

"We are sorry," Natasha speaks up, "you would have been more than capable of taking care of that mission. I shouldn't have intervened." She looks to you tenderly, "I'm sorry."

You gaze into each other's eyes, and you can see the true remorse that she feels. You nod once and lean your forehead forward. She understands the gesture and presses a long kiss to your forehead.

"We let our worries get in the way of your work, and you're right. That wasn't fair," Wanda adds. "We'll always worry about you, but from now on, we will also trust that you know what you are capable of. We won't get in the way anymore."

"and I'll talk to Fury," the Russian offers. "I'll let him know that you are ready.... if that's ok with you."

Smiling, you nod, "thank you. I'm sorry I got so upset."

"If you apologize for one more thing you don't have to apologize for..." the Sokovian threatens.

"You'll do what?" you call her bluff.

Wanda raises an eyebrow, "first, I'll drink your hot chocolate."

Clutching the mug, you gasp loudly, "you wouldn't dare."

"She would," Natasha teases from your other side, "and then we would tickle you relentlessly until you pleaded for mercy." To prove her point, both of their fingers brush against your sides, and you have to be careful not to spill your drink.

"No no no no no, I'm holding a drink," you exclaim between stifled laughs.

They relent, and you are able to relax back into them.

"You don't have to apologize for getting upset," Natasha wraps an arm around your shoulders, "you were excited to have an assignment."

"You deserved the mission," Wanda lays her head on your shoulder, "you have every right to be disappointed. We're sorry for our part in causing that."

Turning your head, you place a kiss to the top of her head, "I forgive you..." you turn to kiss Natasha's cheek, "...and you. Just please don't do it again."

"Promise."

You take a sip of your hot chocolate and hum happily.

"There's still one more part of your apology gift," Natasha nudges you gently. Wanda lifts her head to smirk at you, and your curiosity piqued.

"and what is that?"

The Russian leans until her lips brush against your ear, "after you finish that hot chocolate, let's go to bed, and we will show you just how sorry we are."

That hot chocolate was drank incredibly fast.

Grumbles come from both you and Wanda when the alarm blares at 4am like it does every morning.

One would think Natasha would have turned it off considering the time you three finally fell asleep, but no. Like clockwork, the Russian rolls over to turn off the alarm and get out of bed.

“No,” you mutter and try to hold on to Natasha’s arm.

She chuckles lightly, looking down at you. Leaning down, she briefly kisses both of your lips, “I’m sorry, it’s time for my run.”

A heavy breath escapes your mouth, “ok.” You sit up and scoot to the edge of the bed.

“Wait, where are you going?” Wanda asks you, sitting up in her spot alone in the bed.

“My room,” you respond in the middle of a yawn.

Both of your girlfriends sigh. Wanda on the bed, Natasha standing near the drawers that keep her workout clothes.

It’s been a while since you’ve done this. It’s happened a lot less lately, but occasionally you still forget in a sleepy haze that you live in here now. You have for months.

Quickly, Wanda grabs your arm and drags you back to your spot next to her.

“This is your room,” the witch curls up against you and settles to fall back asleep.

Natasha shoots a quick text to Steve and returns to the bed. “One of these days,” she strokes your cheek tenderly, “I hope you stop trying to escape our bed.”

You look at her with a sad expression, "I'm sorr-"

They both stop you quickly.

Natasha shakes her head, "sshhhh."

Wanda presses a finger to your lips and drowsily mumbles, "no sorry. Only sleep." Her hand relaxes and rests flat on your chest.

Natasha has to suppress a laugh at her girlfriend's sleepy antics. She leans down to capture your lips again.

It's a short, sweet kiss, but it's what you needed in that moment.

When she tries to end the kiss, you chase her lips. You try to deepen the kiss only for her to stop you with a hand on your shoulder.

"Ah ah ah," the widow smirks at you teasingly, "I don't think so. Go back to sleep; you need it. The two of you were giggling until 3am last night."

Playful grumbles fall from your lips as you turn over to nestle against Wanda, pressing your forehead against hers.

"You were giggling too," the sokovian accuses without even opening her eyes. You can't help the happy giggles the bubble in your chest at the memory.

Behind you, Natasha lays down again, wrapping an arm around your waist, "that's why I'm going back to sleep too."

Your brows knit together, and you turn your head over your shoulder, "what about your run?"

"Steve will be alright on his own for a day." She presses a soft kiss to the back of your neck, "I want to sleep in with my girls."

Happiness blooms and takes root in your chest. You settle back in with a smile on your face that stretches ear to ear.

"But what if he gets lost?" Wanda jokes, barely even awake.

A fit of giggles passes between the three of you, and before long, you all slip back into a peaceful slumber.