Gene Kelly.
Battlefield in Sokovia,
August, 2016.
She pressed her hands, roughly down, against his stomach, his blood leaking between her fingers.
Rain fell on their skin, soaking the brown hair, that sticks to her face. The violence roared, as they hid behind a building. Victor's back leaned against the brick wall, as he, heavily, breathed from both his mouth and nose, his chest rapidly rising and falling.
She tried desperately not to look up at his wet eyes, and ignore his whimpering. She told him, more importantly, herself, that he was going to be okay.
"I promised my father that, I would protect them." His voice was weak and raspy. She clenched her teeth while raising her head. Victor shook his head, tears streaming down his face, "T-that Morgan would be okay."
"and you will keep that promise, Vis," She said, her determined eyes staring into his glassy ones. Victor clenched his jaw, stopping them from quivering, as he nodded.
She released one of her hands from his wound, "You going to be fine, alright?" She said, moving to grip his hand, she gave him a crooked smile, "We've been through worse together."
He chuckled, closing his eyes.
He never opened them again.
Wanda sends flowers to Pepper every day and makes sure Morgan isn't alone at school.
She doesn't know if it's helping but she tries.
•
Natasha rearranged the sacked of folders neatly on her desk, before leaning back into her chair, her neck arching against the headrest, she smiled, satisfied with the small pop she heard. Yesterday was family day, they had gone to the arcade as the boys insisted. And she did beat Wanda, which was worth all her strained muscles.
Two knocks on her door, causing her to lift her head.
"Come in."
The door slowly cracked open, revealing a gorgeous brunette. Natasha smiled, seeing her wife walking through, with a bouquet filled with, her favorites, peonies and lilies, and a brown bag in her hands, and said, "Hello, beautiful."
"Hi," Natasha said softly, her brows furrowing. She stood up from her desk, watching as her wife came closer to her, and stopped in front of her desk.
She walked around her table, glancing towards the flowers, "Are these for me?"
Wanda hummed, holding them out for her, "Of course."
With one hand, she took the flowers, then she placed the other hand on the side of Wanda's chin, and leaned forward, pressing their lips together, she could feel Wanda smile, as they kissed.
Wanda had tilted her head downwards, deepening the kiss. The corner of her lip curled, as the brunette's hand moved to her upper back. They barely had time to get lost in each other's touches, because as soon as it started, it ended.
The sound of someone clearing their throat, causes them to separate.
The blonde licked her lips while looking up, curiously, toward her door. A brown-haired woman with shoulder-length hair, stood there, with furrowed brows. Her eyes darting between her and Wanda, before deciding to settle on the doctor, she frowned.
"I'm sorry, am I interrupting?"
Natasha shook her head, immediately.
"No, you're fine, do you need anything?"
The brunette shrugged her shoulders, awkwardly, "I just was wondering if you wanted to grab lunch but I guess..." Her eyes turned, and Natasha looked up towards Wanda, whose eyes were squinted, staring, emotionless, which she chose to ignore for the moment.
She turned back and nodded, apologetically, "Yeah, I'm sorry, maybe another time."
Wanda frowned, looking between them before raising a brow towards Natasha, in question. She tugs on the blonde's arm, causing her wife to turn towards her, slightly frowning, before seeing the confusion in her eyes.
She nodded her head, "Right, babe, this is my favorite doctor, Maria," Natasha said, smiling, as she gestured between the pair, "Maria, this is my imaginary wife, Wanda."
Then Maria says, the same thing Wanda was thinking, "Oh."
The doctor approached Wanda, holding out her hand, "Nice to finally meet you, I've heard a lot about you."
Wanda nodded, wrapping her hand around hers, with a firm grip, "To be honest I didn't even know you existed," Wanda lightly joked, causing her to get a slap on the hip, the brunette smiled, softly, "Nice to meet you too."
Maria pulled back, clearing her throat, not letting the awkward silence that was bound to come, fill the room, "Well, I'll be going.”
Natasha smiled, kindly, "Well, okay... uh, enjoy your lunch!"
Maria pressed her lips together, tightly, nodding, before rushing out the door, Wanda's eyes followed her closely as she left.
Natasha frowned, "what?"
Wanda leaned on the desk, shrugging her shoulders, then stated, "She likes you." Natasha rolled her eyes while moving her arm around Wanda's waist, "Just like everyone else, huh."
Wanda's brows rose, as she smiled, slightly, "When did your ego get this big?"
Natasha shook her head, leaning down, and pressing her head against the brunette's shoulder, "Both you and Yelena insist that almost everyone here likes me," The blonde muttered, softly. A soft chuckle touched her ear, "You are a beautiful woman, Natalia,” Wanda stated, her fingers brushing through the blonde's wavy hair.
Natasha nodded, without a word, only hums. Allowing Wanda to take the lead in their conversation.
"Speaking of Yelena, where is she now?"
Natasha chuckled, turning her cheek, so she was talking into the side of Wanda's neck, "Probably in some closet somewhere making out with her girlfriend."
She can't see Wanda, but she feels the brunette's head slightly raise at the information, "Wow, girlfriend... I guess a lot did change."
She can't help but agree.
Kate is the name of her girlfriend, she is a tall slim raven. Natasha was surprised to find out about them. Of course, she was shocked about Yelena being in the relationship, but the main shock was how she caught them. Another reason why she swore to stay out of the closet.
Natasha pressed her lips against Wanda’s skin while bobbing her head. A blow of breath touched her ear, as Wanda sighed, her arm circling the doctor's waist, "I'm not staying long."
Natasha's head raises from her neck, to look the marine in the eyes. Wanda smiled, raising her hand, brushing away a stray piece of hair, "Sam has this thing wants me to help with."
Natasha's brows creased, "When is that?"
Wanda shrugged her shoulders, before looking up, probably, at the clock on Natasha's wall, "An hour or so."
The blonde grinned, in a way she knew Wanda would call mischievous. Natasha leaned forward, pressing their lips together.
"I think we have enough time."
She feels Wanda smile.
•
A warehouse,
an hour later.
"I didn't know I would have to do labor," Wanda said, looking around the building. There were other tables set up with businesses she didn't or she thought she knew of.
"Why am I here again?" Agatha grumbled, crossing her arms, Sam smiled, at the pair, as he shook his head.
"Come on. Don't pout, you're going to love this."
And he was right, Wanda did love it quite more than Agatha. The woman was grumpy the whole time so people didn't greet her, but Wanda was completely the opposite.
She kept a nice smile on her face and answered every question politely.
"Should I join?"
Well, most of the questions. She didn't respond to those. She didn't want to lie or tell the truth about how she felt for the military.
So she just lets Agatha take control of that part because she seems more excited for it.
Agatha turned to the boy and smiled for the third time that day, "of course! The Marine Corps is the best place for you."
Wanda, internally grimaced, as Agatha handed over a pamphlet, and went on a rant about all of the benefits of joining. Wanda stood watching, silently, hoping the boy was smart and didn't believe a damn word she said, but when she looked at him, he seemed interested.
A body bumps into the boy, knocking him forward slightly, "sorry," A voice apologizes, Wanda notices the boy's eyes widening, she guessed he knows who it is. His brows rose, as he turned around.
"Hey, MJ!"
A brown-skinned girl spins around, her brown eyes widened, when she sees him, "oh! Hey, Peter," She said, smiling widely, seeming as happy as he is to see each other. The girl looked as if she was going to take a step towards him, when a taller guy grabbed her arm, pulling her away.
She hears a soft sigh, causing her head to turn away from MJ, and toward Peter, who stares in her direction with a look that most people (Agatha) would say she wears more than anything, a love-struck one.
"Ah, your first love."
The student's head snapped towards the marines, who looked back at him with a knowing expression.
"What?" Peter asked, or well, squeaked, his face turning a bright red, Wanda smiled, softly at that.
"You like her, right?" Wanda asked, gently, the teenager opened and closed his mouth for a moment, before sighing and nodding his head.
Wanda leans across the table, with a smile, "Well, I think you should—,"
"No," Agatha denied, immediately.
Wanda frowns, "What?"
"Maximoff, are you of all people seriously about to give dating advice?" Agatha protested, Wanda's brows furrowed, turning to her friend, just because she was married to her high school sweetheart doesn't mean she didn't know anything about dating.
"What? Do you think you should, Harkness?" Wanda questioned, spitting out her maiden name like an insult. Agatha dared to nod with some pride in it. The raven shrugged her shoulders, "Well, I've dated more than you, I think I know a lot."
Well, stop thinking, she had thought but didn't say, she just scoffed, and Agatha shook her head, turning to the student, "Think about it, kid, are you seriously trusting someone, who's been stuck with the same girl since she was 14," Agatha stated, and Wanda almost kicked her in her shin, because she wasn't stuck, if she was happily placed there.
Wanda crossed her arms, "Well, you should, out of the two of us, I'm the only one who knows how to keep a relationship," Wanda snapped back at Agatha, who in return rolled her eyes.
For a moment the teenager's eyes darted on the pair, frowning, as he decided who to choose, he ended up making a smart choice and settled on the brunette. Peter straightened his back, "What should I do, Misses Maximoff?"
Wanda smiled, triumphantly, as Agatha's shoulders slumped.
"Just be yourself, bring her flowers or whatever she likes and ask her, it's as simple as that," Wanda told him, his brows furrowed, at her straightforward statement, causing Wanda to chuckle, "Believe me, Peter, I was just as nervous as you are, but when I asked her out, it was like all those things I stressed out about was idiotic."
"What if I... you’re wrong and she doesn't like me?" Peter asked, anxiously, fidgeting with his badge.
"If she doesn't like you back, it's her loss," Wanda stated, she sees the disappointment in his eyes, and Wanda quickly gives him a comforting smile that seems to brighten his mood, "but she does."
She watched as his shoulders relaxed, and he nodded, his demeanor reminding her of the way she acted when she was younger. She spent days stressing over what she should do or what she would say. She didn't tell him, Natasha was the one who asked her out.
"Yo, Peter!" A male's voice called out, gaining all of their attention.
They turned to a boy wearing a yellow and blue letterman jacket, with a wide smile. He looked towards Peter, with an excited gaze in his eyes, "Dude, there's a biology lab set up here! We gotta see it!"
The kid smiled, nodding his head, as he turned back to the marines, and held out his hand, "Thank you."
Wanda smiled, shaking it firmly, "you're welcome," She said, then he moved towards Agatha, who shook his hand, politely. The teenager pulled back with a nice smile, and his friend grabbed his shoulder, giving the marines a nod, which was returned.
"Have a nice day, Misses Maximoff, Miss Harkness," Peter exclaimed, as he was pulled away.
"You too, Peter."
"Right back to you, kid."
Her shoulders eased, he was a nice boy, Wanda thought, as a couple of people walked by, and glanced but never came up to the table. With a huff, Agatha fell into her seat, and Wanda, silently, followed behind.
The raven glanced up towards her, "So when is break?"
Wanda chuckled, shaking her head, although she was wondering the same thing.
•
Sokovia, EU,
Somewhere in 2011.
"A beautiful damsel comes with a fierce attitude, and she wouldn’t like me at the beginning, but with a lot of my charm—," At first Wanda was half-listening, while she read over her letter home, before deciding it was good enough, and lifting her head towards her brother, who paced around with a smile.
"—And she would look me in my eyes, and fall madly in love, and as will I." Her brows furrowed, at the fairytale-like description. Wanda chuckled, softly, shaking her head, "You wish, Pi."
He said, his next words came out softly, and it surprised her, "I do."
He smiled, "I want your happiness, I want a wife, children," He said, dreamily, before chuckling, "and a dog unlike you."
"And you will," she stated, firmly.
He sighed, moving to sit on her bed, while shaking his head, "No, not here, I..." he wetted his lip, before raising his head to look into her eyes, "I want to go home, Wanda." Her shoulders slumped, first Frank, now Pietro.
She breathed out, getting up from her desk, to sit beside him, "Then leave, Pietro, I will be fine."
His brows furrowed, and almost immediately he shook his head, "You know, I can't leave without you."
Wanda frowned, and opened her mouth, to say that she couldn't be the reason for him to not go home. For him to put his life on pause, not run towards his happiness. She knew she wouldn't be here for a little while, but before she could, he grabbed her hand and smiled.
"I know, Wanda, what you're thinking but I can't do anything without you. Even find my happiness," He admitted, Wanda lowered her head, and she hated that, so much, because she knew she wouldn't give up her dream for his happiness, and she desperately wished she would.
He squeezed her hand, gaining the brunette's attention, he smiled, "Can I tell you something?"
She nodded, slowly.
"If I have a daughter, I want to name her Rosalynn, and hope she would go by Rose." She looked into his eyes and saw a wishful glisten.
Wanda's brows furrowed, "Why?"
His grasp around her hand, tightened, "Rose means passion and love, and I can imagine my daughter being the foundation of it, she'd be smart, strong, and so caring, but that won't mean she wouldn't have her thorns," he chuckled, softly, dreamily, "Not only would she know how to protect herself but she will have us." As Wanda stared, she realized, he had thought about this a lot.
It was like he spent his days imagining what his future family would be. How they would laugh, act, look, and love him. She shook her head, "Pietro..."
He didn't let her finish, as he pulled her closer to him. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, resting his chin on top of her head, "Don't, Wanda, I'm staying."
"I can't go home without you, I... I don't want to worry about you," He said, and Wanda closed her eyes, she wanted to tell him she could handle herself, but that would fall on deaf ears. She sighed, nodding her head against his chest, feeling the vibration as he chuckled, "And Natasha would beat my ass if I left you alone."
He pressed his lip against her head, "When you're ready, we will leave."
•
Maximoff's House,
Nighttime.
She stumbled into the house, shrugging off her jacket, kicking the door closed with the heel of her boot.
"Mom!"
Wanda smiled, raising her head, as her son, Billy, rushed towards her. His arms wrapped around her waist. The marine placed her hand on his back, holding him closer, "Hey, bud."
His hold tightened, causing her to chuckle, turning to the direction he ran from. The muffled sound of the TV playing hit her ears, "What are you doing?" She asked, pushing him away, slightly, to see his face.
His wide eyes stared up at her, sparkling with happiness. "We're watching a musical!" He exclaimed, grabbing her hand, and pulling her towards the living room.
"I would rather watch Wizard of Oz," Her wife stated, Wanda chuckled, and Billy's fingers slipped from hers, as she walked behind the couch, resting her hand against the broad. The brunette watched as Tommy rolled his eyes, "we always watch Oz." He offered Wanda a quick hug, and she barely had time to kiss his head, before he was running back in the front of the tv.
“This is so much better anyways.”
Natasha’s head leaned back against the headboard, to see Wanda, she rolled her eyes, and mimicked her son, playfully. The vrunette grinned, shaking her head, turning towards the screen, as a white male wrapped in a gray trenchcoat, went into the scene.
"Do, do, do, do."
Her smile faltered, as her children's singing and laughter disappeared, like a person placed a shell against her ear and moving their voices oceans away.
Her body stiffens, uncomfortably, feeling as if millions of bugs were crawling up her skin, inching towards her mouth. Wanda clenched her jaw, eyes turning to her children, watching as their feet hit against the wooden floor, causing a booming, a bang, noise to echo through the room.
"Let the stormy clouds chase everyone from the place."
Tommy jumped, bang.
"Come on with the rain, I've a smile on my face."
Billy jumped, bang.
She watched as they turned to each other with wide smiles, and their fingers intertwined, feet leaving the ground.
"I'm singing in—,"
•
unknown location,
unknown timeline.
"Don't you just love musicals?"
she lifted her head, languidly. She was tired, done with everything. She didn't even have the strength to blink anymore, barely to breathe. Her bottom lip wobbled, as she tried to focus on the sick man in front of her.
He narrowed his cold eyes, "They bring happiness, don't they?"
She didn't respond, even if she wanted to, her throat was too swollen and dry, and she wouldn't give herself the pain of trying. He doesn't mind the silence, and he goes on like she replied. Shrugging his shoulders, "You probably don't understand that kind, right? You were a sitcom type of gal."
He hummed, mockingly, "Always sitcom, sitcom, sitcom."
She grunted, dropping her head, too weak to hold it up. Wanda closed her eyes, coughing out a sob, that scratched through her throat, peeling her insides as the sound forced itself out.
Everything hurts.
He yanked the chair, causing a loud screeching sound to echo through the dark room. Her body roughly jerked forward, bringing a harsh pain to her neck from the force.
"You ought just die of laughter."
Then he laughs, at himself, at her..., especially her.
"Open your eyes, Wanda."
She forced herself to open them, as his disgusting fingers grasped her face, his nails digging into the sides of her cheeks. He pressed his fingers down roughly, as he pushed them upwards, forcing a smile.
"Laugh with them, Wanda."
Her glassy eyes darted, watching as Gene Kelly hung off a light pole, hand out, smiling in the pouring rain. She doesn't see the humor, or what to smile about. The malicious beast hummed from behind her, "Just sing along." He trilled, his voice rising and falling with each word.
Gene's voice burns into her ears, like it was acid, drowning the endearment of the sound. "What a glorious feeling, I'm happy again." She doesn't see the thrive of being in the freezing gloomy rain. He dances in a way that makes seem to be the best thing on earth.
His sharp nail pierced her skin, like knives digging in her flesh, she tried not to scream, as her eyes shot open. He lets out a gravelly laugh, "Just singing in the rain."
•
"Hey?"
Natasha glances at their children, whose eyes are drawn to the TV, before grabbing Wanda's hand and pulling her into the hall. She had taken notice of Wanda's quivering body and haunted eyes.
"Are you okay?"
The woman didn't respond, just stood there, the only sound coming from her was puffs of shaky breaths. Natasha took a step closer, "Wanda?"
The brunette's muscles tensed at the closeness, it was like a push into reality, and soon her eyes moved, snapping towards Natasha, in surprise, and with an undercoat of a look she could only describe as frenetic.
Wanda blinked, her gaze softening, as it settled on the blonde. Her brows furrowed, seeing Natasha's concerned eyes, "Yeah?" The blonde placed her hand on the marine's forearm, her muscles seemed to relax underneath her wife's touch. The doctor dipped her head to the side, "What's wrong?"
The brunette opened and closed her mouth, briefly, before pausing. Natasha's eyes widened, noticing a wetness that began to surround Wanda's eyes. "Wanda—," The marine cuts her off while pinching the bridge of her nose, and squeezing her eyes shut.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," She stated, before clearing her throat and wiping her hands down her face. Natasha frowned, moving her hand to rest on the marine's hip.
Wanda shook her head, then cracked the lightest smile, one Natasha could tell was forced from a mile away. "I'm just going to call an early night, okay? I'm tired," She told her as if she was trying to convince herself more than the doctor. Natasha nodded, silently, eyes watching her closely. Noticing her suspicion, Wanda sighed and then lifted her hand to the back of Natasha's neck.
The brunette cradled her head, gently, between her fingers, and pulled her closer, laying Natasha's head in the middle of her chest, where her beating heart lay. Then pressed a lingering kiss against her temple, before lowering her head, "I'm okay." she had whispered against her ear, and Natasha tried her best to believe her.
She hummed, as Wanda dragged her other hand up and down her back, "Tell the boys, I'm sorry." And it sounded like it was about more than missing a movie.
Natasha nodded against her chest and heard the brunette sniffle slightly before she let go and pulled out of the embrace.
Natasha watched as her wife walked away, with sad eyes, knowing Wanda wasn't even close to being fine.