Chapter 5
"Okay, so can we go through what happened one more time?" Bucky asked exhaustedly, holding a glass of scotch. "What happened?"
"The ring people were at the party." Wanda repeated. "They took Clint and they said that the way to get him back is to meet them in Rome to hand us over."
"Thanks for involving me in all this." Pietro said, rolling his eyes. "So excited that my life is now on the line."
Wanda smacked Pietro upside the head before crossing her arms over her chest, still wearing Vision's jacket. "Knock it off."
"When did you get so dull?" Pietro asked.
"I grew up. Maybe you should too." Wanda said angrily.
"Okay, well, what are we gonna do?" Sam asked.
"Um... It's obvious, isn't it?" Wanda asked. "You hand me and Pietro over."
"Absolutely not." Vision said, shaking his head. "We are not handing you over to them."
"Well, you could, if you just taught me and Pietro some self defense." Wanda said quickly. "I'm not some princess that needs protection."
Natasha tilted her head. "Well... Technically-"
"Oh, do not bullshit me with that technicality." Wanda said angrily. "I should be able to do whatever I can to ensure my own safety. I can take care of myself. I've been doing just fine for these past four years without anyone's help."
"Wanda... You're a girl. You can't do much." Pietro said cautiously.
"And you're being sexist. I can do a lot more than you can."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, because I didn't drop out of school when I turned sixteen to party. I worked hard."
"Yeah, worked to forget who you are and what you're supposed to be doing later on in life." Pietro said, rolling his eyes. "I'm sorry that I actually wanted to enjoy my life before I have to accept the duty that we owe to our people instead of pretend that we have a normal life."
"Don't you dare talk about what I've worked towards these past few years like that." Wanda said angrily. "At least I'm trying to do something with my life, unlike you."
"Okay, now that is just uncalled for-"
"Is it, though?"
"Okay, you two, you're both at eleven, I need you to take it down to a five." Sam said, stepping between the two. "Vision, you're gonna hate me, but I gotta side with Wanda. It may be a good idea to actually hand them over, get Clint back, and then steal them back. Easy peasy."
"That's not easy peasy, Sam. That's kinda complicated." Sersi said nervously. "I mean, we don't even know where-"
Sersi was interrupted by Natasha's phone ringing. Natasha looked up and said, "Caller ID says that it's Clint calling me."
"That means that it's probably his kidnappers." Bucky said, glancing over at Sersi. "Got the tracking software up?"
"All set." Sersi said, grabbing her laptop. "Answer the call so I can trace it."
Natasha nodded, answering the phone as she said, "Clint, where have you been? Laura and I are worried sick!"
"Natalia, don't go acting like you aren't who you really are." A voice on the other end said.
Natasha sighed as she said, "Where is he?"
"Bring the Maximoff twins to the Collosseum in two days time at noon, accompanied by one agent and one agent only. If you don't, we'll kill Agent Barton." The voice on the other end said, abruptly hanging up.
Bucky sighed, glancing over at Sersi. "Any luck?"
"Nope. They were smart." Sersi said, shaking her head. "They were on and off too quick for me to track."
"You heard the man though." Wanda said, walking closer to Vision. "We have two minutes to get to Rome to get back your friend. Use me and Pietro as bait, get back Clint, and then we'll fight them and run. Put me in, coach."
Vision closed his eyes, starting to massage the back of his neck as he said, "You're not going to take no for an answer, are you?"
"Now Vis," Wanda said teasingly, smirking to herself. "I think you and I both know the answer to that."
"You know, it wouldn't hurt for you to not be as stubborn, just saying." Vision argued.
"You're... Actually listening to her stupid plan?" Pietro asked.
"Well, it's the only plan we have." Vision shot back, almost a bit annoyed. "Look... Can someone get food? We'll stay here for the night, then head to Italy tomorrow."
"I'll go. I want to get out of the hotel anyway." Sersi said, standing up as she looked over at Bucky. "Come with?"
"Yeah, let's go." Bucky said, he and Sersi walking out to go find food.
Wanda sighed, taking a deep breath. "I'm gonna go sit down on the balcony for a little bit... Get some fresh air."
As soon as Wanda was outside, sitting down in one of the chairs, Pietro scoffed and rolled his eyes. "She's seriously sitting out there while people are trying to kill us?"
"It's probably safe out there right now since the people trying to kill you guys are on their way to Italy. Besides, you know your sister... She pretty much does whatever she wants, from what I've seen." Natasha said, shrugging.
"Or maybe you don't know her that well because you abandoned her when you were both sixteen." Vision muttered to himself.
Pietro paused, tilting his head in annoyance. "What did you just say?"
Vision had to stop himself from snorting, realizing that out of the two twins, Wanda was the more intimidating. "Nothing. I'm gonna go outside to keep Wanda company."
Vision walked outside, silently sitting down next to Wanda on the balcony. Wanda kept her eyes trained on the ocean, almost ignoring Vision, before he said, "You know, for someone who hates wearing skirts and dresses, you sure look good in one."
Wanda snorted, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, well, this is directly a result of being in private schools from age ten onward where the uniform was a plaid skirt and blazer."
Vision snorted. "Sounds like schools in England."
Wanda laughed, scratching the back of her neck. Vision asked, "Are you doing okay? You know, with the whole... Brother situation? He was kinda rude to you earlier."
Wanda shrugged. "I don't know what else I expected. He abandoned me when we were sixteen, and now we're back together. Tension was bound to happen."
"But are you okay?"
"Yeah... I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Why so serious all of a sudden? Why are you so concerned about my well-being?"
"I've always been concerned about your well-being. You're easily my best friend who isn't... Mixed up in my line of work."
Wanda sighed, turning her attention back to the ocean. "Yeah, well, I wish I found out about this under much more pleasant circumstances."
"You mean... You wouldn't be angry with me if you had found out that I had been raised to be a spy from birth if you weren't a princess I need to protect?" Vision asked, slightly amused.
"No, I still would have been annoyed, but I wouldn't be as annoyed as I was." Wanda explained, still staring at the ocean to avoid eye contact. "Victor... Everyone I have ever cared about has left me one way or another. My mother, my father, even Pietro, my own twin brother. When those people attacked and you explained that you were a spy... I assumed that you only wanted to be my friend because it was your job. I still kinda think that. I mean, when all this is done, you're going to leave to go save other princesses and I'll be stuck on a throne I don't want."
"I'm not your friend because it's my job." Vision said quickly, reaching over to grip one of Wanda's hands.. "I'm your friend because I enjoy your company. And I'm not going away that easily. You aren't getting rid of me that easily, Lensherr. "
Wanda nodded, turning her hand to grip Vision's, glancing over and smiling nervously. Vision cautiously said, "You know... Just for the record... I think that you're going to make a great princess."
"Yeah, but it's something I'm getting forced to do without any say for what I want." Wanda argued. "I'm not even getting a say in how I want my own life to be ran. In less than a week, I'm going to get crowned Princess of Sokovia, Pietro is gonna be the king, and I just have to... Sit down and let it happen. I always wanted help people, I still do, just... Not like this."
"Then what did you want to do?"
"You're gonna make fun of me."
"No I won't, I promise."
Wanda sighed, finally turning her attention back to the ocean. "I wanted to be a social worker."
"A... Social worker?"
"I grew up seeing all of these kids on the streets who lost their parents. Sokovia had just gotten out of a war when I was ten, and they were casualties. I just... I always knew I wanted to help the people of my country, but not by wearing a sparkly tiara and fancy ballgowns. That's... Not me." Wanda said exhaustedly. "But... It has to be. I don't really have a choice about that. Princesses can't exactly be seen walking around the common folk. I think that the grime would muddy their ballgowns and the people who need it would try to steal their tiara."
"Who says that princesses can't walk around and help the people?"
"Disney movies don't exactly show that."
"So? Do it your own way." Vision said, smirking to himself. "I mean... Your face is certainly beautiful enough to go on a Sokovian postage stamp."
Wanda laughed, shaking her head. "God, no, I never should have showed you The Princess Diaries series."
"Oh come on, that was a good joke." Vision said, laughing with Wanda. When they quieted down again, Vision quietly said, "For the record... You do look really pretty tonight. Not that you never look pretty, but... Blue looks good on you... Not that black doesn't but... You look nice."
Wanda laughed, starting to blush. "Aren't spies supposed to be suave and cool under pressure?"
"That... Is more Natasha's thing than mine."
"So... Is there, like... Any history with you and Natasha? The guy on the phone called her Natalia, so I'm assuming that that's her real name."
"What... Are you jealous or something?" Vision asked, smirking with enjoyment over the conversation.
"No... Of course not." Wanda said, halfway squirming in her seat, her grip on Vision's hand tighter. "I'm just curious."
"Well, you know what curiosity does to cats."
"Last time I checked, I'm not a cat."
"Fair play... Natasha and I basically grew up together. She's a few years older than me, she was born in Russia, so she's technically Russian, but we had to do our training together when we were put into our program. She knows me better than just about anyone, but not in a romantic sense. I haven't exactly dated anyone before, if I'm being completely transparent."
"What are you waiting for, then? I mean... You're tall... Good looking... I'm sure that girls would just fall over themselves to get the chance to date you." Wanda teased.
Vision snorted, rolling his eyes. After a moment, he focused back on Wanda, his own grip tightening on Wanda's hand, as he said, "I suppose I'm just... Waiting for the right person."
"And do you have an idea on where this person might be or who this person is?"
"Yeah... I think I have an idea." Vision said, his eyes fleeting down to Wanda's neck for a second, seeing an old necklace with a red gem on it. "You never told me the story about that."
"It was my mother's. I never take it off." Wanda said, shrugging.
Natasha poked her head out to the balcony as she said, "Bucky and Sersi are back. They brought us sandwiches."
"Okay. Let's head inside, huh?" Vision said, letting go of Wanda's hand as he walked back inside the hotel room.
"Yeah... Head inside." Wanda said, stating at her hand for a second. Wanda glanced up and saw Natasha smirking at her, almost too happy to be there. Wanda sighed, getting out of her chair and walked towards the door, whispering, "Save the teasing for later, okay?"
"You got it." Natasha said, a bit too gidy, as she followed Wanda back into the hotel room.