they called her the Scarlet Witch
Their flight towards Sokovia turned more silent after their conversation.
Wanda had claimed that she needed to refocus her mind, sitting down on the ground cross legged a few feet away with her eyes closed.
Pietro and Nat were watching her from a distance, their faces filled with concern.
"You have a theory, don't you?", Nat whispered the question, her eyes not leaving Wanda's relaxed facial features.
"What makes you say that?", the sokovian replied, whispering as well while he watched over his sister.
"Just a gut feeling.", the redhead said, forcing her eyes to leave the young witch so she could take a look at her brother.
Apart from the obvious worry, his face also displayed how exhausted and anxious he truly felt. He may have been able to hide his feelings from his sister but to Nat he was an open book.
"There was a story that matka used to tell us when we were kids...", Pietro started speaking after a beat of silence, his tone unusually serious and his eyes still not leaving his sister.
"It's about a witch powerful enough to change reality.", he continued as Nat watched him.
"It was her destiny to destroy the world. At least that's what the prophecies said. Her coven was scared of what she could do, although she promised that she meant no harm and would use her gift to help the innocent.", he paused, struggling to find the right words.
Nat took his hand in hers in encouragement. "It's okay, take your time.", she said as he shot her a thankful smile.
"Did they kill the witch?", Nat asked, still looking at Pietro, who nodded back at her.
"They were blinded by fear and trusted the prophecies more than their own people.", he took a shuddering breath.
"They called her the Scarlet Witch.", he revealed, making Nat look back at Wanda.
"Because of her scarlet red magic?", the russian spy asked, remembering Wanda's red tendrils, which used to crawl up her skin whenever she had been holding Wanda after a nightmare. Pietro hummed in agreement.
"Ever since her death, the Scarlet Witch was reincarnated several times. The witches kept killing her, turning her bitter and evil over the centuries.", Pietro continued explaining. Natasha frowned, understanding why the younger boy was so worried.
"If she was so powerful, how were the other witches able to kill her?", the redhead asked, making Pietro shrug.
"Matka always said that the coven performed a special ritual the first time she was killed."
"And all the other times?"
"I guess the others weren't given enough time to learn about their powers."
They sat in silence after that, both watching Wanda again as she meditated.
"So... The voice in Wanda's head is really-"
"No.", Pietro interrupted her firmly.
"There has to be another explanation.", he stated. "The Scarlet Witch is a myth. A story you tell your children on Halloween.", he continued, making Nat frown.
"We'll find Agatha and then she's going to help Wanda get rid of that voice."
Natasha didn't get a chance to answer before Wanda made her way back over to them.
"Hey, malyshka.", she greeted the younger girl with a smile, easily masking her worry.
The brunette sat down in the russian's lap, wrapping her arms around her neck while Nat pulled her closer by her hip.
"Are you alright?", the redhead asked. Wanda nodded. "Just tired.", she mumbled against the older woman's skin.
"You can sleep, malyshka. We still have a few more hours to go.", with that Wanda's eyes drifted shut.
-
"You really think that you can get rid of me, don't you?", she heard her own voice resonate into the open space, before she even had the chance to open her eyes.
"I promise you, Wanda, that won't be possible."
She finally opened her eyes and stared straight into nearly identical ones, the only difference being the scarlet red coloring them instead of green.
Her reflection smirked mischievously.
"What? Did you lose your ability to speak?", she asked mockingly after Wanda still hadn't managed to say anything.
"Who are you?", she finally got out, her heart beating painfully in her chest.
"I think you know who I am, Wanda.", the other brunette smirked, circling the young witch. Wanda tried to step away, but couldn't. She was trapped.
"Your better half.", her red-eyed reflection whispered into her ear from behind, making the hairs on her arms stand up in dread.
"I-I.... I don't-", she stammered but was cut short by the other woman's laugh, as she stopped circling her to stare straight into her green eyes.
"Stop denying it, Wanda. You know who I am. You know what I want.", she said, grinning but the young girl shook her head vigorously.
"No... N-No, you can't be.", she stuttered, feeling hot tears burn in her eyes.
"Don't be so oblivious, Wanda!", the other woman shouted angrily, a frown evident on her face.
"I'm getting stronger, little one.", her face was back to a bittersweet smile within a second.
"So either you start embracing this power or I'm going to force you out of your own body once I'm strong enough."
-
Wanda woke up with a gasp as the quinjet landed, Pietro immediately by her side.
"Si v poriadku, sestra? (Are you alright, sister?)", he asked worriedly. She simply nodded. She couldn't tell him, not now at least.
Nat joined them from the cockpit after having brought them back down to earth safely.
"Good, you're awake, malyshka.", she smiled, grabbing a backpack and throwing it over her shoulder while still holding onto one of the straps.
"Are you ready to go?", the redhead asked as the twins stood up.
"Do we even know where to go?", Pietro questioned, looking at his sister, who only shook her head.
"Not really. I guess I'll just have to follow my instinct.", she mumbled as Nat brought down the ramp.
They had decided to land outside of the city behind the mountains. The last thing they wanted was to scare the other sokovians.
Wanda was the first to step out into the cold, Pietro and Nat right behind her, exchanging a worried glance.
"You said that she lived in the same house as you did before it was... destroyed?", the russian spy asked hesitantly, wanting to help but not upset the twins.
They nodded.
"It would be a good place to start searching for any hints.", she continued carefully, watching the siblings.
After they didn't answer and just kept on staring into the distance where they were able to make out the outskirts of their hometown, Nat took Wanda's hand, interlocking their fingers.
"I can go alone if you tell me where to go.", she offered but Wanda and Pietro were quick to shake their heads.
"No, we... We want to go there too. We'll just need a moment.", Pietro spoke for both of them and the russian nodded in understanding.
"Come on, let's get into the city first. You can sort through your emotions on our way there. Does that sound okay?", the redhead asked as Wanda took her brother's hand, squeezing tightly to let him know that he wasn't alone.
"Yeah, sounds good.", she answered and hand in hand they made their way towards the town.