Protective Instinct
Really, I shouldn’t have been there.
I’d only technically joined the Avengers about three weeks ago, I wasn’t meant to be going on missions and things. Heck, I hadn’t revealed half of my skills yet- I allowed people to think I was stronger, more agile, and more… perceptive than the average human. No need to let them know I could see auras just yet.
And up until the mission, there had been no need for them to know about my wings.
An angel’s wings are a precious part of themselves, and I wasn’t quite ready to show them to these people. I’d heard tales of wings being cut off, plucked, crushed, even ripped off to be experimented on- and while I didn’t think the Avengers would do that, it was natural for me to be hesitant.
There was only one person, I believed, who I could trust. Her name was Wanda, Sokovian by nationality, red aura twisting around her like vines. It wasn’t a threatening red, but it was powerful, angry and gentle at the same time. I was drawn to her, first out of curiosity, then out of a need for companionship, then, if I dare, romantic interest. She was kind where others were hesitant, a friend where others were just my trainers.
It was she who recommended me for this mission, as they needed to infiltrate a building; some would go from the roof down, the others would walk straight in through the entrance under the guise of a business deal. I was suggested to accompany the latter group as I was a ‘good judge of character’ and would know if we were about to be double-crossed. In reality, I could spot a liar from the subtle changes in their auras, but I kept that to myself.
How we ended up in a fistfight with every bodyguard in the building is somewhat of a mystery, but I believed it had something to do with knowing the second I walked into the building that we were in trouble and being ignored.
Wanda and I were directed to the roof where Captain America and a few others were having some trouble with the overwhelming number of people attacking them. I barely had time to blink before Wanda grabbed my hand, dragged me outside, swept me up into her arms and launched us at the sky. I squeaked in surprise and swung my arms round her neck. She laughed slightly, winking as we flew up to the roof, and deposited me into the fight.
Careful not to kill anyone- I was still an angel, just an aggressive one- I assisted my fellow Avengers in their endeavours. I took down five, six, seven people and they kept coming, surging forward like they genuinely thought they could get one up on several of the most powerful people on Earth. It was almost cute, despite the sickly, corrupted yellow state of their auras.
There were just… so many of them. This couldn’t be natural, and I began to realise that these people were not entirely human. The darkish yellow of their auras wasn’t normal; perhaps they were clones?
I whipped my head around, searching for Wanda to tell her my theory. I found her by the edge of the building, using her magic to push people- if they were people- away from her. I zigzagged my way over to her, and was within two metres of her when I saw the butt of a gun smack her on the back of her head.
I froze. She hadn’t noticed anyone behind her. Neither had I. Time seemed to slow as Wanda crumpled like paper.
She lost her balance.
She was unconcious.
And she fell over the edge of the building.
Every thought about the people-clones, about not killing them, about withholding my power was doused with this powerful protective instinct. It took a split second to unfurl my wings and hurl myself over the edge with the witch.
I shot like an arrow towards her, matching her descent speed and catching her in my arms, holding her the way she had held me a little while ago. I swooped up into the sky, determined to get her as far away from harm as possible. Sparing a glance over my shoulder, I saw that the rest of the people-clones- reminder to myself, talk to someone about that theory- were almost completely dealt with, and I felt no guilt landing on a roof a few blocks away.
I was gentle in laying Wanda down, careful to keep her head on my lap and not on the gravel surface of the roof. After a few seconds, her eyes fluttered open. The adrenaline from the fight must’ve still been in her system as she bolted straight upright, narrowly missing my face, but immediately clutched her head, crying out in pain.
I moved so I was crouched at her side. “You got hit on the back of the head, I suggest you don’t make any sudden movements.” I reached out and placed a reassuring hand on her knee. “The others have dealt with the threat, I suggest we get back to the compound as soon as possible.”
She didn’t respond, staring at something over my shoulder. For a moment, I considered severe concussion before I realised I still had my wings out. I smiled gently at her. “Would you like to touch them?”
Eyes wide and childlike- concussion perhaps a factor- Wanda nodded. I sat cross-legged by her side and stretched a wing towards her. She was so careful, touching the feathers so lightly as if she thought them porcelain, fearful of breaking them. I shivered when she ran her hand down the top, stopping when she reached just above my shoulderblade.
“Wha- when…” Wanda curled her legs under her, sitting on her calves to reach up to my wings.
“I’ve always had them.” I shrugged. “I apologise if this appears a betrayal of your trust- but an angel’s wings are personal. They exist partly in the astral dimension, appearing only when the angel wishes them to. For example,” I poked her cheek. “-when someone they care about is in danger.”
Wanda laughed, and I smiled. She stood up, and held out a hand to help me off the roof. “Well, they’re beautiful. As much as I would like to admire them longer, however, we should get back to the compound.”
As if on queue, the pocket radio Wanda had crackled to life. “Wanda? Where are you? Are you okay?”
Wanda pressed a button, and spoke into the radio. “Yeah, I’m okay,” she met my eyes again, and winked. “I was saved by an angel.”
From the muffled radio, we gathered that everyone was okay, they were heading back to the compound to regroup- the mission hadn’t been what you would call a success, but they’d got what they needed. I rolled my eyes when my name came up, preparing for reprimands for not being involved enough, but to my surprise, Captain America said I did a good job. Wanda grinned at me. “You have no idea, Cap.”
I held out my hand as she put away the radio. “Shall I carry you? Or are you alright on your own?”
Wanda took my hand and tugged me closer. My wings instinctively curled around our bodies slightly, protectively. She wrapped her arms around my neck. “You know, I think I need you to carry me.”
I swept her off her feet, a grin manifesting on my lips. “Only for the sake of your health, right?”
She nodded sagely. “Of course, I did get seriously bumped on the head after all.”
I moved my head slightly closer to hers. “I think I can help with that.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Oh yeah.” I caught her lips in a kiss, holding her close. I could feel her lips curve into a smile as she kissed back, one hand moving up to cradle the back of my head. She was fire and magic and warm and soft and oh god I never wanted to stop kissing her. I laughed internally- I, a holy being, was enchanted by a witch. I’d never been so glad to have fallen.
We broke apart, the witch in my arms gasping for breath. “So,” she panted. “…home?”
I grinned wickedly, and shot up into the sky. And if anyone worked out it was just so she’d hold onto me tighter, it was none of their business.