Symptom of Your Touch

She’d always been one to rise before the sun, a product of her youth, and this morning was no different. Though there was something entirely different about this morning – before Nat is fully awake, she feels the pressure of someone in the bed beside her. There’s no panic, no moment of wondering how she’d ended up in Wanda’s bed – because no one else in the world touched her quite like the way the sleeping woman was gripping her gently in her sleep.

Opening her eyes, she looks down, sometimes in the night she’d shifted to her back, and the younger woman had laid half on top of her. One of her legs had slipped over Nat, her head resting on Nat’s chest. Nat smiles down at her; this was certainly a way she could get used to waking up.

It's an hour before they get up or wake up, she should say. She hadn’t had the heart to wake the sleeping woman. Not that moving from that warm bed was a thought she’d entertained too long. Instead, she’d pulled Wanda closer, relaxing into the moment.

“Morning.” Wanda rasps out, having shifted slightly to look up at Nat. Who doesn’t bother hiding the small smile that comes over her face at the sleep rattled greeting?

“Morning, how’d you sleep?”

“Perfectly.” Is Wanda’s reply as she presses her face into Nat’s neck, clearly not having any intention of moving any time soon.

“You know we can’t hide in here all day?” She teases.

“None sense, of course, we can. Lock the door, no one will be the wiser.”

“Vision can float through walls.” Nat counters laughing gently at the groan that follows her statement.

“You’re not being very nice this morning.” Her voice is muffled by Nat’s shirt.

The older woman rolls her eyes at the comment, using the arm that’s wrapped around Wanda to tug her closer for a second. She could stay in here all day, but the close contact was doing nothing to damper the heat in her body that the little witch’s touch seemed to cause her, and some distance may be a good thing. Not that she’d regret it giving in but jumping headlong into this would be a disaster.

Two hours later sees a team leaving on one of the jets, Natasha, Steve, and Sam were headed to Peru, Bucky would be meeting them there. After The attack yesterday Nat had reached out to him, wanting to know if he’d heard of anyone selling vibranium that could have only gotten it from the ruins of Sokovia. Though he’d been unsure about reaching out to old contacts, he did, getting them a line on what would hopefully lead them to their attacker. The remaining members of Project Purify were now all being detained and questioned – effectively putting an end to their mission – but whoever had locked them in that bunker was nowhere to be found.

Once the jet entered Romanian air space Steve had quieted to a point that both Sam and Nat noticed.

“You know, he’s okay,” Nat says looking to Sam and then back to Steve.

“I know, it’s just… strange. It’s been so long and we’re both somehow alive, but he’s not the same kid that went to war all those years ago.”

Nat arches a brow. “What, and you are?”

“Pretty much,” Sam interjects.

“No, I know. Steve says shaking his head. “But I didn’t go through what he did. How can he ever be okay after all of that.”

Nat’s mind flashes to her own past, but she pushes the memories away quickly – never wanting to dwell on them. “Well, despite my past… the traumas there. I’m okay.” She pauses. “Well as okay as having this family can make me.”

“You worked hard to better your life, even before we call came along,” Steve warns, not letting her downplay the choices she made to rid herself of that life.

“He’ll be okay, he just needs time, maybe a psychologist too, but I’m not going to tell him that,” Sam says and Nat smiles at him for the help. It couldn’t have been the easiest thing for him – it was clear that whatever Steve and Bucky had had all those years ago stemmed from more than just friendship.

“I hope you’re both right.”

“I am.” Sam grins as the Jet starts it touch down.

They were in Peru for two days before they were able to set a meet with the seller, Bucky had trouble convincing them that he had a seller lined up from his past. Stating that the seller wanted to trap the avengers had peaked interest, however – and that’s how they ended up on a loading dock, tucked away in some ratty warehouse.

“It smells like feet in here.” Sam pulls a face that Nat just shakes her head at.

“Stop being a baby.” They were perched behind some old pallets, watching Bucky as he paced the room, waiting for the seller to arrive. Though he’d been closed off a bit, this morning he’d opened up more – letting Steve see more of the old Bucky come through.

They see lights flicker through the cracks in the old, sea battered wood, and all movement stops. Waiting with baited breaths. This could go one of two ways and given the last interactions They’d all had over the past week and a half; Nat was hoping the seller would give up his buyers with little fight.

He’d folded so easily Natasha was almost worried for another trap. Riker was a young guy, no more than 20, and staring down a fight with Captain America hadn’t been something the guy wanted to try. He supplied them with everyone he and his team had sold to – even went as far as to give them anyone else he knew that was selling.

All in all, it had been a smooth mission, and they were able to spend some time with Bucky, who otherwise had been staying alone. She could tell he was getting a little anxious nearing the end of their visit, which she’d attributed to the fact that having people around wasn’t what he was used to. A sad fact, that in that moment she knew they’d all have to reconcile.

The first instinct when they landed was to seek out Wanda, but she doesn’t – not right away. She could tell herself that she still held some semblance of self-control when it came to Wanda Maximoff. She’d debriefed, giving the team all they needed from her, and listened when Sam and Steve had done the same.

She’d stayed quiet for most of the meeting. The fact that Wanda wasn’t there had left her a little unsettled.

“I think she’s a pod person.” Nat’s brows furrow as she catches Tony’s comment, and she turns questioning eyes on him.

“Ahh, there she is. How was dreamland?” He asks, smiling widely.

“Better than looking at your face.” She fires back, grinning.

“Pfft, this is a beautiful face.”

She does her best to pay attention for the remainder but isn’t as successful as a trained spy should be. Of course, Maria had noticed, she wasn’t a person to miss much – she was also a person that knew well enough to leave something alone.

Eventually, she’d given in and gone on a search of the compound for Wanda. She’d tried to avoid it, to not go running after her like she was some lovesick teenager. Or what she thought one would be, her teenage years weren’t much to draw on when it came to normalcy. The gym hadn’t worked, a run had only served to let her mind wander further. So, eventually, she’d given in – and maybe that meant more than she was letting on as she checked the younger woman’s room.

The unsettled feeling from earlier comes back, not knowing where Wanda was an unpleasant feeling.

Vision would likely know so she moves to find him but comes up empty on that front as well. Maybe they were training, the man was the only one Wanda trusted herself to train with when it came to testing her powers. It was a good bet they were together.

10 minutes later she sees them, walking along the west end of the grounds. A weight lifts knowing that Wanda was safe, even though nothing had pointed to the fact that she may not be safe. Great, now she was worrying without cause.

She leaves the doorway she’d been on her way out of when she’d spotted them, heading back inside. Maybe busying herself with lunch would keep her occupied until Wanda came back inside. When she steps into the common area, on her way to the kitchen, she spots Maria. She’s alone, sitting on a stool, drinking what Nat can only assume is coffee.

“so you do relax.” She comments, a teasing smirk pulling at her lips.

“I’ve been known to, on occasion.”

“What’s the occasion this time?” Nat asks, turning away from her friend to make herself a cup as well. Caffeine counted as lunch, right?

“Figured I’d counteract the impending headache that interrogations usually give.”

Nat stops stirring her coffee, spoon clinking to a stop. “You’ve already got the buyers?”

“Two hours after you called it in.”

“Need help?” Nat says as she turns, planting herself across the table from the other woman.

“Honestly, until we get a definitive I.D on this guy I’d rather not lead you into another trap.”

Nat levels her with a look. “And you’re going to march right in?”

“That’s the plan.” She places her cup down on the table in front of her. “Pretty sure I was just collateral damage the first go around.”

“There are few people I fear in this world, you are one of them. Give yourself more credit than collateral damage.”

She nods, brows rising and falling in the same breath. “Yes, but most of the world doesn’t know I exist. Not like the poster girl for the Avengers.”

“Ew, no.” Nat shakes her head. “Wasn’t always this way.”

“I recall. We didn’t even know you existed for the longest time. Then shield sent Barton to kill you.”

Nat laughs. He could have, out of all of them, he’d been so close. “well, I’m glad he’s got a soft spot for damaged goods.”

Maria beams at her in a way that reminds her of just what the woman had been hiding from her for so long. “Yes, It’s a good thing.”

She holds Maria’s eyes for a beat before coughing gently. “When do you head out?”

“Pretty much now.” She pushes away from the table as if to prove her words.

“Be safe okay?” Nat was worried, no point hiding it.

“Always am.” As if she needs to get away from the situation Maria makes a quick exit.

Nat stares after her, a moment of wonder playing in her mind. In another life, she could love that woman, but this life wasn’t it. No, this one had offered her a stubborn little witch that she was slowly becoming powerless to avoid.

“You’re back.”

Also, it had offered her a woman that seemed to move like a ghost, because again, she’d snuck up on her. Nat straightens, turning to face the little witch with an annoyance on her face. “That’s it I’m getting you a collar with bell.”

“Didn’t think you were the kinky type.” Wanda grins, catching the older woman off guard.

“Well, I’m full of surprises.” Wanda was leaning against the wall entering the room, arms folded loosely over her chest. “How long have you been there.”

“Followed you inside.” So maybe the look on her face was jealousy.

“You could have said something,” Nat says leaving her drink forgotten on the table.

She shrugs “Interrupting seemed rude.”

“Mm, but interrupting a kiss between us wasn’t?” Nat says calmly.

Wanda pushes from the wall letting her arms fall. “That was different.”

“How so?”

“Because you didn’t want to kiss her, you were drinking, avoiding me,” Wanda says confidently.

“You don’t get to tell me what I want.” Nat fires back, suddenly annoyed. Aside from Wanda entering her mind, she’d have no way of knowing any of those things. Or maybe Natasha had been more transparent than she thought she was.

“Am I wrong? Was I wrong to assume you wanted to kiss me that night in your room, or that you were more comfortable with me on that couch.” She points to it, eyes not leaving Natasha’s. “Then you’ve ever been with anyone else? Or that holding me the way you did somehow meant something other than lo…”

“You have no way of knowing that,” Nat says cutting her off, trying to hold back her anger – but failing. Whether that anger was directed at the fact that she hated someone presuming to know her, or the fact that the woman standing before her, with utter confidence on her face, was completely right.

“God, Natasha – stop running from this. Look me in the eyes and tell me I’m wrong?” Wanda was louder now, and Nat almost couldn’t believe the conviction she was seeing.

She couldn’t. She couldn’t tell her she was wrong, and honestly; she didn’t want to. What would be the point now?

“You can’t,” Wanda says. “So why can’t you just let yourself say that you want this, that you want me?” Wanda’s voice lowers on the last words, a hurt stinging them that reaches directly into Nat’s chest.

“I…”

She opens her mouth, but all words falter as her thoughts die out, instinct taking over as she takes the one step remaining between them, crashing her lips to Wanda’s. She hadn’t intended on it, but here she stood kissing Wanda like she was trying to prove a point like she needed the little witch to know she wanted her beyond control. There’s a beat where Wanda stands stark still, but in the next seconds, she’s kissing Natasha back. Kissing her was nothing like she’d thought it would be, where Nat thought she'd be soft and gentle Wanda is pushing back, chest heaving as their hearts beat faster.

Nat’s arms both wrap around her waist, as Wanda’s fall over her shoulders. They break apart a seconds later and Nat rests her forehead on the younger woman’s. “I want you.” She nearly whispers.

“I’m already yours.” Wanda moves her hands to either side of Nat’s face, forcing her to look into her eyes. “You just have to take me.”

How Nat had gone from casual acceptance to losing composure and giving in entirely was beyond her, and certainly beyond her brain power at that moment. The way those words had fallen from Wanda’s lips did something to her that she didn’t quite understand, but she also didn’t care.

Surging forward again she takes her lips, hands burying into the fabric of the sweater she was wearing. She felt like she was drowning under her own feeling, and at that moment, coming up for air wasn’t an option.

Wanda returns the kiss in a way that makes Nat stifle a moan. This wasn’t the place for this.

“Wanda.” She pushes back another moan when Wanda nips at her lip. “Mm… okay.” She pulls back smiling softly. “You keep that up and the common area may become a little less Pg.” her statement is met with a chuckle.

Her grip on Nat tightens and Nat knows she’s worried she’s gonna run. “I’m right here.” She says quietly. “I won’t run. Kinda hard to avoid this after a kiss like that.”

“Hopefully more to follow.” Wanda tilts her head, smiling.

That was certainly a new smile she could get used to seeing. “Like I could say no.”

Wanda is the first to pull away and Nat is very aware of the fact that her body misses the contact immediately – like it had found a home and she’d not let it stay.

“Have you eaten?” Nat asks suddenly, not wanting to let her go anywhere just yet. She wanted to hold on to this moment.

Wanda quirks a brow and Nat rolls her eyes. “You’re incorrigible. Would you like me to cook food is what I meant?”

“I know.” Wanda laughs starting towards the kitchen. “You’re cooking.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She shakes her head before following the younger woman.